Well I never thought I would ever say this, but the bird watching is better in the rain. Well it was yesterday. Today was perfect weather-wise, but the best I could do was 2 Firecrests at the bottom of Penns Wood and 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the cove.
The large flock of Long-tailed Tits from yesterday has vanished and the largest group I found today was just 5 birds along the railway cuttings, where there was also a single Goldcrest. Overhead a single Siskin passed by
On the beach there were 24 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail. Out to sea 1 Cormorant.
Other than the Grey Wagtail on the beach there were 2 more birds, one under the bridge at Wakeham and another over Wakeham Wood.
Also about were 2 juvenile Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and at the back of the cove on the Alexanders were 2 new snails for me on Portland a Strawberry Snail and a Kentish Snail. Both to be confirmed.
Here are a few images from today:
Way out to sea and these huge waves were rolling along and then breaking. I can only assume this was on Shambles Sandbank.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 24 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: 1 Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa), Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus) and a Kentish Snail (Monacha cantiana)
This boat is the American Offshore Services 300 Class. Unfortunately out of the 3 vessels in this Class, none of them are showing up on the Marine Traffic Website despite the fact that it came out of Portland Harbour. So it is either "Hos Red Dawn", "Hos Red Rock" or "Hos Renaissance". More on these vessels Here.
This is a navy boat but yet again another vessel that isn't showing up on the Marine Traffic Website. A modern looking warship whatever it is.
Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.
Also about were 2 juvenile Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and at the back of the cove on the Alexanders were 2 new snails for me on Portland a Strawberry Snail and a Kentish Snail. Both to be confirmed.
Here are a few images from today:
A better day for Rock Pipit numbers on the beach, with 24 recorded.
This Grey Wagtail looks a bit overawed by the huge number of Kelp Flies around it.
The 1st winter Pied Wagtail on the look out for its next snack.
Not many adult Wall Lizards about, but these juveniles........
...........seem quite happy to be out in the sun.
A possible Strawberry Snail, Trochulus striolatus
And hopefully I have this right, a Kentish Snail, Monacha cantiana
Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)
It wont be long now before the Japonica berries in Penns Wood are going to open up.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 24 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: 1 Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa), Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus) and a Kentish Snail (Monacha cantiana)
Ships Today
This is the British RNLI Lifeboat "13 04" just off Portland and heading back to Poole. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.