Portland Bill and West Cliff
Another dull gloomy day with a chilly south-easterly coming straight off the sea. Main highlights today were 10 Purple Sandpipers on the ledges between the Obelisk and Pulpit, until that is a wave washed them off and they took off and went around the Pulpit.
Out on the Races were hundreds, possibly thousands of gulls, Kittiwakes, auks and Gannets feeding along a good mile or two stretch of "turbulent" water.
Closer inshore, it appears that the auks are now returning to their nest sites along the west cliffs, especially below QinetiQ Here. I had a good look for Bridled Guillemot, but none seen. Plenty of time yet though.
Also along here were 4 or 5 Fulmars and the usual Cormorants and Shags.
Here are a few images from today:
One of 10 Purple Sandpipers at The Bill today.
Here another two take a break from their foraging, but as soon as............
................they carry on a large wave forces them..............
..........to take off.
The Fulmars were very..........
............flighty along the west cliffs around QinetiQ.
My first count was just 3 birds, but watching this video back I reckon there could be 4 possibly 5.
And on the sea a few rafts auk are starting to appear. Here are 7 Guillemots and a lone Razorbill.
One of the few Guillemots in winter plumage.
And here are two in Summer plumage.
Just one of the auk rafts below the cliffs at QinetiQ.
Birds Recorded: 3 Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, 2 Buzzard, 10 Purple Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, 8 Rock Pipit, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Note
Just an update and a big thank you to Emma Williams of the British & Irish Fungi Facebook group who checked out my mushroom I found on the West Cliff on 12 Jan and confirmed under the microscope that the mushroom was Silky Pinkgill, Entoloma sericeum. Emma also confirmed that the odd mutation on top is called Rosecap.
Here are a couple of images of the Silky Pinkgill and the spore which Emma put under the microscope.
Ships Today
This is the British sailing vessel "Natural Force" just approaching The Races. More on this vessel Here.
