Highlights today were a bit thin on the ground and the best I could find was a Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrests in Penns Wood, and 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the cove.
The "Eastern" Lesser Whitethroat appears to have moved on, and there was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler or the large number of crests seen of late. Where have they all gone!!
The only excitement today was a Raven being mobbed by 3 Carrion Crows over Penns Wood and a fly-by Fulmar just off Church Ope Cove.
Here is a breakdown of the birds I recorded today
Penns Wood: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Raven overhead
Church Ope Cove: 5 Rock Pipit and a Pied Wagtail. Out to sea a Fulmar headed south
Church Ope Cove Wood: 2 Chiffchaff
Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 15+ Long-tailed Tit. Overhead 2 Siskin
Wakeham Wood: 1 Stock Dove and 5 Long-tailed Tit
Also noted today there was a bit more activity around the Common Wasp nest which appeared "dead" yesterday. The German Wasp nest is busy as ever and if I've got this right I found my first ever Girdled Snail on Portland. The latter a snail first introduced to England in 1950. more below.
Here are a few images from today:
In fact there wasn't anything friendly about this encounter. This Carrion Crow plus 2 others close by, were not happy about this Raven being on their patch and is it circled over Penns Wood was subjected to a continuous bombardment. The claws on the Carrion above just show you they meant business. Eventually the Raven got the message and headed off down the island.
It lands in the same spot as Robin#1 but he's long gone. This will carry on for awhile yet and eventually their winter territories will be sorted. Well see!!
This German Wasp leaves its nest within the grounds of St Andrew's Church. The Common Wasp nest at the back of the cove showed a bit more life today as one individual left as I watched on.
This is the invasive Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella) which I came across in the grounds of St Andrew's Church. It is a common Mediterranean species and was introduced to England in 1950 where it was first found in Devon in 1950. It can now be found as far north as the Midlands.
If I have got this right these little white mushrooms are Ramariopsis kunzei and will eventually grow into coral-like fronds, giving it its English name of Ivory Coral, White Coral or Coral Mushroom. More on this mushroom Here and Here. Just as note of warning though, I'm not a mushroom or fungi expert so if you find a similar looking mushroom, please do not attempt to eat it, just in case it isn't edible.
Mammals Recorded: 3 Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Herring Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 27+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)
Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.
Synchronised flying a Raven on the left and a Carrion Crow
A change of formation.
Just 4 Rock Pipits on the beach today and no sign of the Meadow Pipit here yesterday.
The 1st winter Pied Wagtail looks to be overwintering here.
Always nice to get something a bit different even if...............
..............its just a Fulmar.
As the light began to fade so the Robins at the top of Penns wood began. This is Robin#1..........
............singing away. But as you can hear there is another Robin singing close by.
And here it is Robin#2 singing just 30 feet from Robin#1. However after..........
.............just a few more notes it was off chasing the Robin#1.
The Japonica berries in Penns Wood are about to burst open.
Mammals Recorded: 3 Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Herring Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 27+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.