28 Dec 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood and Bumpers Lane

The thick fog of yesterday finally dispersed this morning and even though it was cloudy, the main thing was you could actually see where you were walking. Not that there was much about and with just a Firecrest at Church Ope Cove and a Goldcrest in Penns Wood it was pretty dire.

Elsewhere there were 5 Rock Pipits and a Wren on the beach, plus 2 Ravens overhead.

Along Bumpers Lane close to to the west side of the railway cuttings there were 15+ Chaffinches in the Buddleia. Also moving through a flock of around a dozen Long-tailed Tits. A Song Thrush and 3 Blackbirds were here also.

The biggest "commotion"of the day, which actually started at around 8:30am this morning outside the front of the cottage, was still carrying on at the back of Portland Museum 2 hours later and was a "murder" of 26 Carrion Crows. I've not heard them here before and I have no idea why they turned up today, but what a racket. And I thought the local Herring Gulls were noisy!!!

Here are a few images from today:

Behind Portland Museum were these............

..............very noisy Carrion Crows. The only thing I can surmise is that having left their roost they have met up again to "discuss" where the best feeding grounds are. I witnessed something similar in Swindon a few years back where they would meet up for 20 minutes or so before dispersing. Just a theory!

Just a few Rock Pipits on the beach today plus..........

............this Wren feeding in amongst the boulders.

There are still quite a few empty Whelk egg cases being washed up onto the beach.

I also found these "Mermaid" Purses, which of course are the egg cases for rays and sharks. I'm not an expert but this could possibly the egg case of what sea anglers call a Dogfish. The scientific name would be Scyliorhinus canicula (Small-spotted Catfish), but there are other similar catfish.

The shape of this egg case would suggest a Ray and most likely possibly Thornback or Blonde Ray. These two rays are often caught around the Shambles Sandbanks. Here's a useful website from the Shark Trust. Click Here.

This is Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)............

................and these yellow blotches are Alexanders Rust (Puccinia smyrnii), which is a rust fungus that affects Alexanders. More on this rust fungus Here.

And finally a Robin to brighten up the day.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 26 Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

Fungus Recorded: Alexanders Rust (Puccinia smyrnii)

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Delphine" on its way from Zeebrugge to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Tanker "Anuket Ruby" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Rotterdam to Plymouth. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Offshore Supply Ship "Ocean Osprey" in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.