31 Jan 20

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

Could the low cloud on Portland get any worse than it today. I thought I had found the perfect time to venture out, as it looked as if it was about to lift, but after 15 minutes the rain began to fall and the visibility went from bad to worse.

However and despite getting a soaking I did manage to see a Firecrest and a Goldcrest in Penns Wood (again) and another Firecrest in a new location at Church Ope Cove. As I was coming off the beach I decided to head up the cliff face path at the north end of the cove. As I did a Firecrest started to call and appeared in the brambles just behind the huts. No opportunity for a decent photo, but an interesting sighting, as all the Firecrests I have seen at the cove, have always been behind the huts at the back.

Other things of interest as I did a bit of beachcombing were lots of sandhoppers as I pulled back a few pebbles on the beach. Also in amongst them were dozens of very small black flies. A lot lot smaller than Kelp Flies and one I've not come across before.

Also on the beach lots of washed up empty Whelk egg cases and a few Cuttlefish bones.

On the way back up to the museum via Rufus Castle I came across an Alexanders in flower. Very early and one to keep an eye on, for any insects feeding on it in the weeks to come.

Here are a few images from today:

Not evident in this photo but it was chucking it down at the cove.

So it was a bit of beachcombing, with several sandhoppers found. There are many species of Sandhopper, but the most common one in the UK is Talitrus saltator. More on this Sandhopper Here.

Also in amongst the pebbles were these tiny black flies.

Here's another at the top of the photo. They are one of the Coelopidae (Kelp Flies) of which there are many.

Washed up on the beach were several Cuttlefish bones and ..................

............empty Whelk egg cases.

As I was leaving the beach, through the cutting at the north end of the cove, I came across this......

..........Firecrest. Honest there is one in the centre of the image. There is a bright orange patch and below it the black and white stripe running through its eye. Not convinced.........

...........thank goodness it popped up behind the Ivy. Just!!

On the Ivy alongside the path up to the Museum was this Wood Gnat, Sylvicola fenestralis

Also on the path this Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) in flower and..........

.........Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) which has been in flower all Winter.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 2 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida), a Wood Gnat (Sylvicola fenestralis) and a Coelopidae sp

Amphipods Recorded: Sandhopper (Talitrus saltator)

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

30 Jan 20

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

Poor visibility today as a Portland was shrouded in fog, but it wasn't all gloom and doom as I came across a Firecrest and Goldcrest in Penns Wood, and another Firecrest behind the huts at Church Ope Cove. Where there "partners" were from yesterday, I have no idea.

Not much else about unfortunately and the only other birds of interest were a Buzzard over the cove and on the beach just the 1 Wren.

On the Alexanders at the cove were a few Leafhoppers, a Marmalade Hoverfly and a strange "aphid" looking critter. More below

Here are a few images from today:

There were quite a few Robins about today with many singing.

I'm sure this is Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima). A plant that seems to be in every corner of Portland. The snail attached to looks like a Strawberry Snail. More on this plant Here.

A Marmalade Hoverfly on an Alexanders. To the left of it this.........

..........strange looking "aphid" type bug, which I have been told is most likely a Collembola. A large family consisting of Springtails. I wish I had seen this at the time and got a better close-up shot.

As the Snowdrops at the top of Penns Wood "go over" and so.......

.........the first Primroses begin to flower along my walk.

And finally that weird looking lichen I came across earlier this month on the stone wall as you head up the steps to St Andrew's Church. This is a lichen called Botryolepraria lesdainii. More on this Here.

Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis) and a Springtail (Collembola sp)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)

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

2019

Today's Sightings Here.

2018

Today's Sightings Here.

29 Jan 20

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

A lovely sunny day and warm enough for a few bees and hoverflies to be out on the wing, especially on the Hebes at the back of the cove.

Main highlights today though were 2 Firecrests and a Goldcrest in Penns Wood, and 2 more Firecrests at the back of the cove.

There were quite a few Long-tailed Tits in Penns Wood with two separate flocks. Five at the top of the wood and 12 at the bottom. Also here a Sparrowhawk which sped through the wood at a rapid rate and silenced the lot for a minute or two.

On the beach were singles of Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and 3 Wrens.

Here are a few images and a video from today:

Getting better, the photography that is. One of the two Firecrests in Penns Wood this afternoon.

And the second bird.

If you blink you'll miss it. A record shot of one of the 2 Firecrests at the back of the cove.

Also at the back of the cove were a few bees and hoverflies on the Hebe. This is an Early Bumblebee.

This is a Honeybee

A Common Dronefly.

Not a brilliant video I'm afraid. One it looks like I've got the shakes and secondly this Buff-tailed Bumblebee was partially hidden by the Alexanders.

Church Ope Cove with Rufus Castle in the background.

On the beach here today was this 1st Winter Pied Wagtail, still showing a yellowish tint around the face.

Also here were 3 Wrens, playing hide and seek in amongst the rocks.

And finally a Grey Wagtail.

At the bottom of Wakeham the first Daffodils are out in flower.

The ones at the top of Penns Wood are yet to open, however the......

...........the Mahonia just behind them is very much in bloom now.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: 2 Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), 3 Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and 2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Ships Today

This is the British Combat Vessel "HMS Albion - L14" in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Offshore Supply ship "SD Northern River" 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.

28 Jan 20

Out and About

A busy day today getting bits for the boat, so it was a quick walk down to Church Ope Cove this morning via Penns Wood. It was made even quicker by the lack of birds, and apart from a handful of Long-tailed Tits in the wood and a noisy Raven at the back of the cove, that was it. Where have all the birds gone!!!

Church Ope Cove. Sadly very quiet today apart from this very vocal........

..............Raven

More empty Whelk egg cases washed up on the beach.

I've yet to see a giant Oak Tree on Portland, but..................

..............judging by the size of this acorn at Rufus Castle there must be a huge tree somewhere. 😂

After I got back it was off to the boat to check it was running okay and in Portland Marina I came across a Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 3 Turnstone. Not seen the latter here before. As I was leaving the marina there was a drake Mallard waddling around the lawns in front of "The Boat That Rocks". A few weeks ago there were a pair of Muscovy Ducks here. What on earth is going on!!

In the marina next to the boat was this Great Northern Diver.

And on the lawn next to "The Boat That Rocks" was this.......

...........drake Mallard.

From the Marina it was a trip into Weymouth for a few accessories for the boat, and while I was there I dropped into Lodmoor for the Penduline Tit, seen here early on this morning. Unfortunately the location on Twitter wasn't where I thought it was and thankfully I met my friend Andy who kindly showed me where it was seen. I was definitely in the wrong place, in fact a good half-a-mile away from where I was stood.

Sadly when we got there it was either long gone or hidden away in the reed beds. Not surprising really when you consider the gale force wind and constant showers passing through this afternoon.

So after a short time Here we gave up and headed back to the car. On the way back we had a look for the Scaup, that Andy had seen earlier, and though he didn't see it again I did get a view of it, albeit for a few brief seconds before disappeared up a creek. Here is a photo Andy took earlier.  Also here were 2 Marsh Harriers, a pair of Bullfinch and at least 3 parties of Bearded Tits, plus many other birds.

One of the two Marsh Harriers seen at Lodmoor today.

Here we can see why Shovelers are called Shovelers.

Here is a female Shoveler and that large bill.

It might be hidden in the Hawthorn, but there is no mistaking this male Bullfinch. The female was close by.

And finally thank you to Andy for letting me add his Scaup photo to my Blog. This or another close-by!! was the one I saw disappear up a creek close by to where Andy took this photo earlier.

Birds Recorded Today: 1 Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Pochard, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 2 Bullfinch

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

27 Jan 20

Portland Bill

A day of heavy showers and the occasional burst of sunshine. Fortunately my walk this morning coincided with a brief interlude between the showers. The main reason for my visits to the Bill is in the hope of seeing a Red-throated Diver and of course the Purple Sandpipers. Unfortunately neither showed today, but there's always tomorrow.

Here are a few images from today:

One of the many Guillemots around The Bill.

One of the may small flocks of Guillemots leaving the West Cliffs in search of food in and around The Races.

Here two Razorbills lead the way with a Guillemot close behind.

Not too many Gannets about, this one was close in to the Pulpit.

One half of a large flock of Starlings by QinetiQ

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 200+ Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and 5 Goldfinch

Cheyne Weare

On the way to The Bill this morning, there was a Stonechat by the entrance to the Cheyne Weare Car park.

Ships Today

This is the cargo ship "Lumen" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way Drammen (Norway) to Leixoes (Portugal) More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.