A busy day, so it was a quick walk down to the cove via Penns Wood this morning, followed by an hour working on the boat in Portland Marina and then a quick trip to the Portland Obs before the sun set.
In Penns Wood there were 2 Goldcrests and several Chaffinches, Great Tits and Blue Tits.
At Church Ope Cove there were 9 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Wren on the beach, whilst just off the beach there was a Black-headed Gull bobbing about on the sea and a Cormorant crossing the cove. At the back of the cove there was a Chiffchaff by the huts.
Along the Railway Cuttings at Wakeham there were a good 30 Chaffinches and Goldfinches, plus a small flock of Long-tailed Tits calling as I was leaving.
In the afternoon I was in Portland Marina working on the boat and ticked off a Shag and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers fishing in amongst the boats.
Late afternoon and it was off to Portland Bird Observatory where there was a male Blackcap in the garden feeding on the "staked-out" apples. Also here were a couple crests calling, but so softly that I couldn't make out if they were Goldcrests or Firecrests.
In the Crown Estate Fields a male Pheasant was strutting his stuff and overhead 2 Starlings were making their way up the fields.
Still no Greenfinch or House Sparrow to add to my year list though!
Also seen today another Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), a possible Lance Fly (Lonchaea tarsata) and a Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)
Here are a few images from today.
Not to many birds about to photograph today, so it's back to my trusty........
.......Rock Pipits.
You can always rely on them to stop and pose.
Leafhopper, Empoasca vitis. In the same spot I found one last year at the back of Church Ope Cove.
Possibly a Lance Fly, Lonchaea tarsata
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Shag, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 1 Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit, 9 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 2 Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Bees Recorded: Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a possible Lance Fly (Lonchaea tarsata)
Leafhoppers Recorded: Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)
Ships Today
Here is "Lowlands Amstel" later this afternoon and now anchored in Portland Bay. More on this vessel Here.
Here "Fredericia" and "Bekau" pass each other just off The Bill.