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.
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.
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