Wow what a beautiful sunny day and I can see why all the local birders, twitchers and photographers are heading off to Portland Harbour. At the moment there are some good divers and grebes to be found there.
For me I shall stick to my local patch. Though as nice as the weather was today, it was extremely difficult to find anything of note. If things don't improve I may well visit the harbour as well.
The main highlights today were 3 Firecrests & the female Great Spotted Woodpecker in Penns Wood and 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the Cove.
As regards to the Chiffchaffs, the past few days has seen just the olive green bird, but today it was rejoined by the grey individual with the white throat and distinct supercilium. Love to know what subspecies it is!!
Also noted today, despite the freezing temperatures was what I believe to be a Eupeodes luniger hoverfly along the Railway Cuttings. I have had this species in the same area this Summer, but I will check.
Anyway here are today's sightings:
Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 6 Long-tailed Tit
Penns Wood: 2 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. Overhead 1 Grey Wagtail
Church Ope Cove: 1 Wren and a Herring Gull
Church Ope Cove Wood: 2 Chiffchaff
Bumpers Lane: 1 Redwing
Here are a few images from today:
A split second shot of one of the 3 Firecrests in Penns Wood. Next second it was gone.
An adult winter Herring Gull at the cove.
Always a delight to see a Greenfinch and today there were........
.........these two in Wakeham wood.
And another Robin also enjoying the sun in Wakeham wood.
These German Wasps are still active in the grounds of St Andrew's Church. What a hardy wasp.
I think this is only the second ocassion I have seen the Isle of Wight from Portland. The headland on the left is St Aldhelm's Head and and I'm guessing that what you can see of the Isle of Wight, is the coastline from Hulverstone running south to St Catherine's Lighthouse on the southwest tip of the island.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 11 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Hoverflies Recorded: Eupeodes luniger
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
This is British Aircraft Carrier "HMS Queen Elizabeth" in Weymouth Bay.
Fortunately the tide changed and here is a broadside view of her. On the flight deck a..........
........it was in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Patrol Ship "HMS Medway" in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.