31 Dec 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, The Cuttings, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Higher Horse Paddock and Lower Horse Paddock.

I hadn't intended in walking the length of Penn's Weare, but with huge numbers of Gannets, auks and gulls feeding along Portland's east coast, I decided to follow them from Church Ope Cove up to Balaclava Bay.

And what a muddy walk it was, which dare I say, I wasn't properly dressed for, well certainly in the footwear department. However the walk was good and Ted certainly enjoyed a slightly longer time off the lead.

The seawatch was excellent and on the return journey with a muddy dog and my shoes a mess, I decided to return home via Bumpers Lane and the very wet Lower Horse paddock. I'm glad I did as the field was full of birds, with a 2 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 15 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 2 Stonechat, 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, Magpie, 1 Raven, 4 Starling and House Sparrow. I don't think I missed anything off the list.

Also noted today despite the temperature not rising much above 5C were 4 White-tailed Bumblebees.

Anyway here are a few images and videos of my extended walk.

In the bay, behind the WW2 Pill Box were hundreds of Gannets, auks and gulls fishing.

Seven Razorbills make their way up Portland's east coast

Two Razorbills waiting for the fish to arrive.

There were definitely more Razorbills than Guillemots here. At least I managed to photograph one Guillemot with a Razorbill on the left.

One of the many Gannets flying up the coast.

Most were heading into Weymouth Bay

One of many Gannets heading up into Weymouth Bay. Apologies for the video going in and out of focus.

Another striking black & white bird was this Magpie perched on one of the many boulders and rocks along Penn's Weare

At Church Ope Cove and despite the many visitors there, were 10 Rock Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails and a few Wrens, like this one searching for food around the beach huts.

On my return trip home I decided to walk through the Lower Horse Paddock.

I'm glad I did as I came across this male Stonechat and its mate.

It's been awhile since I have seen Stonechats in the horse paddock, but there again its been awhile since I visited the field.

Here is the female Stonechat with a Meadow Pipit for company.

This Raven dropped into the field, much to the annoyance of the local Magpies.

And despite the real nip in the air, I was amazed to find 3 White-tailed Bumblebees on the Mahonia at the top of Penns Wood. A fourth White-tailed Bumblebee was spotted on Penn's Weare.

I think Ted enjoyed this walk in the sun.

Well he was certainly full of bounce as we headed back up the old Weymouth to Easton railway track.

And finally we get too many frosts on Portland, but we did last night. This was around 2:00pm by The Cuttings.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 15 Meadow Pipit, 10 Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: 4 White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Tanker "Frederica" about to refuel one of the passenger ships in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

30 Dec 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds and Church Ope Cove

I hadn't realised it, but the last time I walked through Penns Wood was eleven days ago on the 19 Dec. And guess what, absolutely nothing has changed, other than the berries on the Japanese Spindles, which are obviously a lot riper now.

However as I walking down the footpath next to the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle, I noticed a Blackbird-sized bird stood on the lawn under one of the Sycamores. Through the binoculars I could see it was a "puffed up" Redwing and it was pretty static. In fact when I returned an hour later it was still stood in the same spot.

To me this bird had all the signs of being sick, so I walked up to the main road and headed off to the other side of the Castle main gate, to get a closer look. As I peered over the wall, it saw me and flew up into the tree. Well if its a sick bird, at least it can fly. However looking at the video, it could well be something else.

As I mentioned before the woods were quiet, but at least the grounds of St Andrew's Church was a bit busier, as a small flock of Long-tailed Tits passed through.

Down at the beach and nothing here either, not even a Wren. So it was a case of sitting down to have a seawatch. And I wasn't disappointed, as 1000's of sea birds were feeding over the Shambles Sandbank.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

This Redwing was very static in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle. In fact an hour later and it was still stood in the same spot.

Looking at the video though, I'm wondering whether the "loose" feathers blowing around on its chest, are the result of it being attacked either by a bird of prey or a cat, or possibly it flew into a window.

At least when I walked along the main road an hour later, to get a closer look, it saw me looking over the wall and flew up into the tree. So if it had a trauma, maybe it had recovered Well here's hoping.

At the back of the cove the "resident" Robin is still about. Some kind soul has been topping up the coconut shell with bird seed.

Way out to sea and beyond the capabilities of my camera to get a decent photo, is this automatic marker buoy on the Shambles sandbank. Along this stretch of water were thousands of Gannets, gulls and auks.

I did attempt to video the feeding frenzy. Unfortunately the Shambles are a bit too far out for decent footage from Church Ope Cove, but you get the idea. The birds you can see clearly are Gannets with the remaining birds flying across the screen most likely Razorbills and Guillemots. Whilst flying about with the Gannets were many gulls.

No real change in Penns Wood, other than these berries on the Japanese Spindle bushes a lot riper than they were 11 days ago.

It's only been quite recent, that the weather has turned a bit cooler, so it will be interesting to see whether these flowering Alexanders will survive for any length of time.

Ted checking out the beach at Church Ope Cove

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

29 Dec 20

Portland Bill

Today was sunny but pretty chilly, so I decided on another trip down to the Bill. Main highlights were 1000's of sea birds in a feeding frenzy along The Races. The sky above The Races was absolutely teeming with birds, with 1000's of Gannets, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Kittiwakes, whilst on the surface were Guillemots & Razorbills, with many flying back and forth to the West Cliffs.

As I headed off towards The Pulpit from the Obelisk I asked another birder heading towards me, whether he had seen any Purple Sandpipers at the Pulpit. "No" he replied, "too many people there". So imagine my surprise then when I got there and I came across 9 Purple Sandpipers, 7 Turnstones and 2 Rock Pipits feeding on the ledges close to the sea. Not sure how he missed them.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Just the left of the Pulpit is this rocky ledge which at low water is a great attraction to both Purple Sandpipers and Turnstones.

Today there 9 Purple Sandpipers.

This one is keeping an eye on me

Five Purple Sandpipers

Two Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

These 3 Turnstones have found a safe haven..........

..........unlike these 2.........

...........they just managed to get off the rock before a wave came crashing over it.

This Turnstone has a morsel of food. Possibly a Common Periwinkle!!

Turnstone

Three Turnstone

Three Turnstone

Looking east from the Pulpit to the Obelisk. In the foreground are the Purple Sandpipers and Turnstones.

2 Purple Sandpipers and 5 Turnstone

A feeding frenzy out in the Portland Races with Gannets, gulls and auks.

Another video slightly zoomed in.

And if the two videos above were too quick well here is a Slo-mo

A Rock Pipit. There were 2 on the ledges and 2 by the Lighthouse

Is there nothing this dog can't do............

...........Ted flying through the air.

And a mini Bichon Buzz.

Birds Recorded: Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher, 9 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Turnstone, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Razorbills and Guillemot, plus 4 Rock Pipit.

Ships Today

This is the Panamanian Container Ship "HMM Helsinki". It is on its way from Singapore to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Tanker "Monjasa Provider" on its way from Felixstowe to Portland. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British fishing boat "Boy Lynham", just off Portland Bill. 

And there is quite a swell out there. Behind it is the British fishing boat "Portland Isle".  More on "Boy Lynham" Here and "Portland Isle" Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

28 Dec 20

Portland Museum, Rufus Castle, Penn's Copse, Penn's Weare and Church Ope Cove

A huge difference from yesterday, in that the sea was a lot calmer with the wind coming from a more westerly direction. Unfortunately that meant a barren seawatch, without a single Gannet, Razorbill or Guillemot seen.

At least the beach had a bit more to offer and today there were 5 Rock Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Wrens all feeding in amongst the rocks, large pebbles and washed-up crab pots.

On the way back a single Siskin overhead.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Every now and then the skies darkened and being so cold, there was also that chance of a wintry shower.

Looking north and the sun was out on Man O'war Cove. To the left of the frame, just out of sight, is Durdle Door. More on the cove Here.

The sea was pretty quiet today, but fortunately this Grey Wagtail was great entertainment as it.......

........bombed around the pebbles catching flies.

At times it was hard to keep up.

There's certainly a lot of flies for this Grey Wagtail to feed on.

Such a busy bird I though I'd slow it down a bit

And it wasn't just the Grey Wagtail here, but also these Rock Pipits.

In fact there were 5 today, which is a big improvement as there have been so few here this Winter.

Looking at the amount flies on the beach I'm sure there will be more Rock Pipits arriving soon, as the weather turns colder.

These 3 Rock Pipits are working the beach together. Good team work

A Wren "trapped" in a Crab pot. Surely not.............

............Nope he's free to come and go, and it appears there are plenty of insects for him as well.

And he's off.

Lots of empty Whelk egg cases on the beach.

Ted's on a mission. The nose is a twitching and he's on the trail of something. Whatever it is he's off to find it.

Later, Ted and I were on Penn's Weare. Here he is watching lots of visitors arriving at the beach. It was very very busy here today.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, 1 Siskin and Goldfinch

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Container Ship "Em Kea", on its way from Antwerp to Montreal (Canada). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Vehicles Carrier "Glovis Caravel" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Malmo (Sweden) to Brixham. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Finnish Cargo Ship "Finnsea" on its way from Salerno (Italy) to Avonmouth. At the moment it is in a holding area between the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Portland. More on this vessel Here.

As a footnote, thank you to my good friend Ed Wilson who came across the reason why there are so many ships just holding up outside our UK Ports and not going anywhere. The article is Here.

This is the British Oil Products Tanker "Rix Merlin" on its way from Hull to Falmouth. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Cargo Ship "Astrid" on its way from Sodertalje (Sweden) to Newport. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.