17 Jan 20

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove Wood, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, East Weares, Grove Cliffs, Shepherd's Dinner, Broadcroft Quarry and Wakeham Lower Horse Paddocks.

An extended walk today and apart from a couple of short sharp showers it was a pretty decent afternoon.

There were a few highlights with a Chiffchaff at the back of the cove, whilst on the beach there were 16 Rock Pipits.

Along East Weares I came across 2 more Chiffchaffs which were just below the Grove Cliffs. On the cliff ledges I counted at least 20 Fulmars.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

Another shower behind Rufus Castle, whilst on the beach here a few........

...........Rock Pipits

This one seems spoilt for choice with all those Kelp Flies "buzzing" around its head.

Also on the beach more washed up whelk egg cases.

The WWll Pill Box along Penn's Weare

Along the Weares a 1st Winter Great Black-backed Gull lands on a rock occupied by an adult Herring Gull. The only only reason I chopped its wings off was because I was about to photograph the Herring Gull and the Great Black-back "bombed" the photo.

Here you can see the size difference.

And the Great Black-back was pretty vocal as well. You can almost see what it had for lunch!!!

Well it didn't hang around for long and.......

..........it was off in search of for more food no doubt.

I was right about about the weather as a shower moved in. A rainbow over the Portland outdoor bowling green.

Along the cliff face I counted at least 20 Fulmars on the ledges.

Here are two.....

..........circling around the cliffs.

Also here a Kestrel looking for its next meal.

This unusual plant growing at the top of Penns Wood is a Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii..........

 and goes by the common names of  Albanian Spurge and Mediterranean Spurge. More on this plant here and here.

And finally a very happy Ted who has been.......

.............stuck indoors for the past few days because of the rain and gales we have had.

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 16 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Ships Today

This is the British Combat ship "RFA Lyme Bay - L3007" on its way back into Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is is the British Patrol Ship "HMS Trent - P224" just going past Man o' War Cove .........

............on its way to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Italian Vehicle Carrier "Grande Napoli" on its way from Hamburg (Germany) to Sagunto (Spain). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo ship "Claude A. Desgagnes" flying the flag of Barbados. It is on its way from Rotterdam (Holland) to Port Said (Spain). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Polish Cargo ship "Tollund" on its way from Riga (Latvia) to Warrenpoint. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Dutch Cargo Ship "Deo Volente" on its way from Poole to Milford Haven. Note the Motor Boat on the forward deck. More on this vessel Here.

Here "Deo Volente" has just overtaken "Tollund".

This is the Container Ship "NYK Vega" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Singapore to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

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

This is the Maltese Oil Tanker "Amarthea" on its way from Houston (Texas, USA) to Southampton via Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

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

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.