29 Feb 20

Portland Bird Observatory and The Bill

With Storm Jorge hitting our shores this morning, it certainly livened up the sea off Portland Bill and up the east coast. If there were any Purple Sandpipers about I think they probably ended up in Lulworth Cove, it was that windy.

I parked up at the Obs and made my way past the Obs Quarry, where there were 3 male & 1 female Stonechat. From there I headed down through the hut fields towards the Red Crane. The only birds enroute were a couple of Meadow Pipits and a Skylark singing away.

The east coast from the Red Crane down to the Obelisk was pretty impressive as huge waves were crashing in one after the other, sending spray high into the air. On one occasion as I was videoing, I heard a young lad shriek with excitement as a wave hit the rocks behind me. At that moment I just knew I was in for a soaking, and sure enough a huge deluge of spray came right over the cliff and absolutely soaked me.

I wasn't in any danger, but it did make me laugh that on hearing the lad, I knew what was coming.

At the Obelisk it was pretty obvious that there wouldn't be any Purple Sandpipers, especially when wave after wave was crashing into the rocks between the Obelisk and the Pulpit. In fact this is first occasion I have ever seen waves going over the top of The Pulpit.

I really wasn't expecting to see any birds along this stretch, but surprisingly I saw 12 Gannets pass through from west to east, a lone Guillemot, 1 Cormorant and 3 Herring Gull.

In the distance the sky was beginning to blacken as a shower threatened to hit the coast. With the wind speed really picking up, it was a race to get back to the Obs before the heavens opened. I managed it with just minutes to spare before this particularly shower hit the mainland.

Here are a few images and lots of videos from today:

As I was leaving the Obs I came across these 3 Stonechats. This is a male.

And another male

This is a female, however................

............and despite it being lighter I pretty sure this is another male.

Three of the Stonechats by the Obs Quarry. Two males and the female

The Red Crane is taking a bashing

And a video following the waves in towards the Red Crane

Down at the Pulpit, the waves were even higher.

And here's another wave coming over the top of the Pulpit

One of the 12 Gannets around The Bill.

Here's another.

And two more.

And one more.

Not brilliant but a short video of the Gannets just off the Pulpit.

Ted being Ted

And just as I was about to finish videoing I heard a young lad shout and then next thing I was covered in spray.

The Storm clouds gather as I headed back very quickly to the car.

Birds Recorded: 12 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 3 Herring Gull, 1 Guillemot, Wood Pigeon, 1 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, Blackbird, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow and Chaffinch

Ships Today

This is the American Container Ship "Maersk Ohio" on its way from Norfolk (South-east Virginia, USA) to Antwerp (Belgium). More on this vessel Here.

28 Feb 20

Ferrybridge Sandflats

An absolutely awful day weather-wise with rain lasting well into late afternoon. On the way back from a shopping trip to Weymouth I pulled into Billy Winters car park at around 2pm. From there I walked under the road-bridge to see the Dark-bellied Brent Geese, which were right in close to waters edge.

After awhile as the water levels dropped, a huge flock of 100+ geese took off and headed down the Fleet leaving another 50+ geese on the sandflats further up by the Visitors Centre.

Also on the sandflats, but right up against Chesil Beach were 100's of waders. In the appalling conditions it was difficult to tell if there were anything else but Dunlin.

Also on the sandflats were a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls in Summer plumage.

Here are a few images and a couple videos from today:

Here are 2 pairs of Brent Geese.

The pair on the right are not to happy about the pair to their left.

Back to feeding again with a Mediterranean Gull for company.

You get the feeling as you watch this video that they are very nervous birds as they continually check for danger and probably what the other Brent Geese are doing.

Here another group are.........

.........joined by a small flock coming into land as the weather really began to deteriorate.

These 4 have had enough and are off.

A close up of one of the Mediterraneans Gull on the sandflats.

Rubbish photo, but looking at all these birds in the photo, I can't see anything other than Dunlin.

Likewise in this photo as well. There were probably around 100 birds close-up to Chesil Beach.

In amongst the washed seaweed was..........

..........Eelgrass which is what the geese were feeding on.

Birds Recorded: 150+ Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 100+ Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow and Starling.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

27 Feb 20

Wakeham Wood, Perryfields Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove Wood, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum.

Yet another day which saw the morning rain move away to leave a bright, sunny but still breezy day.

Lots of highlights today with the cove throwing up a single Firecrest, a Peacock Butterfly, a Blood-nosed Beetle and several Tapered Droneflies.

In Penns Wood there was no sign of the 2 Firecrests and in fact there was very little bird life other than singles of Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinch singing, plus a fly-by Grey Wagtail.

The church grounds turned up trumps with 12 Wall Lizards and there was a lone lizard at Rufus Castle and 2 behind the beach huts again.

Here are a few images and a couple of videos from today:

I just managed to photograph this very busy Firecrest at the back of the cove. However the two normally seen in Penns Wood were nowhere to be found today.

Other than the Robins and Chaffinches, the Dunnocks are also in good voice as you can...........

.............tell by this one at the top of Penns Wood. The grass strimmers you can hear in the background is from the Perryfields Quarry Butterfly Reserve. There was a team there today, from presumably the Dorset Branch of the Butterfly Conservation Group, cutting back the grass to create clear circular areas for the butterflies.

I'm not sure if the weather is going to remain sunny or not over the next few days, so here are a few Wall Lizard photos showing you just how mild and sunny it has been to date.

Here the Wall Lizards of all ages jostle for the sunniest spot.

I counted 12 in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

Here are 4 of them (there are 2 together at the bottom of the photo)

I would normally pick up rubbish from the paths and beaches, but these two are loving the heat coming off this piece of plastic at the back of the cove. Tomorrow I will replace the plastic with nice flat stone for them to bask on.

My first Bloody-nosed Beetle of the year. This was on an Alexanders which is proving to be a lifeline for so many insects, tempted out by the mild conditions.

Also on the Alexanders this pollen covered Yellow Dung Fly and........

............Muscid Fly, Phaonia subventa.

As I was talking to one of the gardeners, who works for Pennsylvania Castle, I noticed these.........

.............which are Jelly Ear Fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) on the tree next to us. This fungi is usually seen in Winter through to Spring. More on this fungi Here.

This is Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. It also goes by many other names such as Red Robin, Death come quickly, Storksbill, Fox Geranium, Stinking Bob, Squinter-pip, Crow's Foot, or Roberts Geranium.

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Kestrel, Herring Gull, 2 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 15 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 1 Peacock

Hoverflies Recorded: 6 Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax)

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) and Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Bulk Carrier "Sakura" on its way from Jelsa (Norway) to Portland. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Container Ship "Allegro" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Rotterdam (Holland) to Dublin). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Container Ship "Jork" on its way from Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

26 Feb 20

Lower Horse Paddocks, Broadcroft Quarry Pools, Shepherd's Dinner, The Cuttings, Rufus Castle, Penns Copse, Penns Weare, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Wood, St Andrew's Church and Penns Wood

A brighter sunnier day, with a stiff WNW wind coming across the island. Apart from my first leg of my walk, the rest was in the relatively sheltered eastern side of Portland, though there was a bit of a draft coming down through Penns Wood.

Main birding highlights today were 3 Firecrests, 2 in Penns Wood and a single bird at the back of the cove. They seemed to have seen off the Goldcrests, not seen the latter apart from an odd one, for a few weeks now.

Was nearly caught out by a Great Tit calling not once but twice, both occasions I thought it was Chiffchaff. It wont be long I'm sure, before they start appearing.

Also seen today were 12 Wall Lizards with 9 in the church grounds, 2 behind the beach huts and another at the top of the steps by Rufus Castle.

The biggest highlight today though was a Common Shrew which was sunbathing (until I nearly stood on it) on the diagonal path which takes you across the south facing cliff at the cove, from the main steps down to the beach huts Here. More on Common Shrews Here.

I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or it. It didn't venture far and I could see it under the Ivy leaves. No opportunity for a photo, but lovely to see and my first on Portland.

There were a few bees about with a couple of Tree Bumblebees, an Early Bumblebee and a Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Three species of hoverfly seen with Common Droneflies and Tapered Droneflies, and a Syrphus sp. possibly S. torvus which does appear in Winter, but then the weather is mild enough for any of them to appear. Not a single Migrant Hoverfly found today.
Lots of flies again with good numbers of Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) and a few Yellow Dung Fly.

Here are a few images from today:

Some good numbers of Wall Lizards out today. All........

..........jostling for the best spot.

This one has found a good ledge to sunbathe on.

This Wall Lizard was one of two which are on the coast path just behind the beach huts.

A Tree Bumblebee. I'm starting to see a few these now. This one was "sunbathing" on Comfrey leaf in Penns Wood.

One of the Syrphus hoverflies. Very early, could possibly be Syrphus torvus which can be seen in Winter. However with this mild Winter it could be any of the Syrphus's.

With the Alexanders flowering just about everywhere, there are more and more of these Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) appearing.

A Black Slug also on an Alexanders.

And Ted

Mammals Recorded: Common Shrew (Sorex araneus)

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 12 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Amphibians Recorded: Toad Spawn

Bees Recorded: Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) and a Syrphus sp. possibly S. torvus

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) and Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Black Slug (Arion ater)

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Container Ship "Ever Gentle" on its way from Tanjung Peleps (Malaysia) to Rotterdam (Holland). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Container Ship "CT Rotterdam" on its way from Rotterdam (Holland) to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

25 Feb 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove Wood and Church Ope Cove

A break in the weather around midday saw me and Ted off on our daily walk. Main highlights, as the sun came out, were singles of Firecrest in Penns Wood and another at the back of the cove. A Grey Wagtail was on the beach, but flew off just as we arrived.

Other sightings were 5 Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and there was another one in its usual spot at the back of the cove.

The sun was out long enough (before the clouds rolled in again) for a few flies (mainly Muscid flies) and a Migrant Hoverfly to be out on the Alexanders.

Here are a few images from today:

Quite a few Dunnocks are in good voice at the moment.

And also several Robins were.........

.........singing as well. This one at the back of the cove.

In the centre of the frame should have been the Firecrest. However the little so and so had other ideas and ended up in the top left hand corner of the frame. They are so quick.

When the sun goes, its time to head back to your hole...........

...........and wait.........

...........for the sun to come back out again.

A Migrant Hoverfly. I'm finding more of these than the "usual" Marmalade Hoverflies.

Not the most inspiring of names, Yellow Dung Fly, but a pretty looking fly nevertheless.

One of the Muscid Flies. This is Phaonia subventa and out in good numbers especially around the Alexanders and Japanese Spindle

Rufus Castle from Church Ope Cove.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis)

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida), Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) and several Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Ships Today

This is the British Supply Vessel "Wind Innovation" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo ship "Hav Dolphin" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Hamburg (Germany) to Coruna (Spain). More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Tug "MTS Valour" on its way from Brixham to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.