A mixture of sunshine and heavy showers today. More showers than sun unfortunately, but at least there were a few good birds about with the main highlights being the Yellow-browed Warbler and 3 Firecrests moving between Railway Cutting and Wood at Wakeham, where there was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Overhead there was a very small party of 3 House Martins and a Swallow heading south over Wakeham.
On the beach at Church Ope Cove the 3 Black Redstarts are now 2. Also here a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, plus 15 Rock Pipits.
And finally along Penns weare below The Cuttings a very vocal Little Owl.
Bottom Combe Quarry: 8 Greenfinch and 5 Goldfinch
Penns Wood: 1 Sparrowhawk
St Andrew's Church: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tit
Church Ope Cove: 15 Rock Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Black Redstarts
Penns Weare: 1 Kestrel and a Little Owl
When the sun did come there were 2 Red Admirals flitting about along the Cuttings, a Common Drone Fly on Penns Weare, both Common and German Wasps active around their nest sites and a Wall Lizard by the benches at Rufus Castle.
Here are a few images from today:
This is the old railway cutting with the footpath running alongside. Eventually it will take you through Glen Caravan park and into Wakeham.
Yesterday there were 3, so I can only assume the third bird has either found a new spot or is continuing its journey south.
There is always a Rock Pipit to be seen on the beach with 15 here today. A huge wave is just about to hit the shingle and I'm glad to say we both managed to avoid a soaking.
The sunlit cliffs are just behind Man o'War Cove as seen across Weymouth Bay from Penns Weare. More on the cove Here.
A local fishing boat close to the Shambles Sandbank. Today there are automatic marker buoys around the sandbank. However between 1859 until 1976 there used to be Shambles Lightships. More on these Here.
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, 3 House Martin, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 15 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Black Redstart, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 17+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch and 8 Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Red Admiral
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
This is the Container Ship "Mol Empire" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from London, to Norfolk (Virginia). More on this vessel Here.
Here is a complete break down of what I found today:
Wakeham Wood & Railway Cuttings: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Firecrest, 8 Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 12+ Long-tailed Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Overhead a Skylark, 3 House Martins and a Swallow.
Wakeham Wood & Railway Cuttings: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Firecrest, 8 Goldcrest, a Song Thrush, 12+ Long-tailed Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Overhead a Skylark, 3 House Martins and a Swallow.
Bottom Combe Quarry: 8 Greenfinch and 5 Goldfinch
Penns Wood: 1 Sparrowhawk
St Andrew's Church: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tit
Church Ope Cove: 15 Rock Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail and 2 Black Redstarts
Penns Weare: 1 Kestrel and a Little Owl
When the sun did come there were 2 Red Admirals flitting about along the Cuttings, a Common Drone Fly on Penns Weare, both Common and German Wasps active around their nest sites and a Wall Lizard by the benches at Rufus Castle.
Here are a few images from today:
A double Rainbow to start my walk. Fortunately the next heavy shower was just as I got home.
Between the railway cuttings and the wood in Wakeham were 3 Firecrests.
They seemed unperturbed by my presence, this is another one feeding in amongst the brambles.
The waves are still crashing onto the beach at Church Ope Cove..............
................ even though Saturdays storm has since left.
Good to see that at least 2 Black Redstarts are still here in the cove.
And another shot of one of the 2 birds............
...........and why not a video.
The Grey Wagtail into its 2nd day here. Hopefully an overwintering bird.
At Rufus Castle my one and only wall Lizard seen today. looks like this adult could be moulting!!
Zee Germans are here, busy at their nest site in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, 3 House Martin, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 15 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Black Redstart, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 17+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch and 8 Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Red Admiral
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
This is the Spanish Cargo ship "Anzoras" on its way from Fredrikstad (Norway) to Sevilla (Spain). More on this vessel Here.