A trip out today onboard Star, with my lad Tom and his girlfriend Laura. Just one Mackerel and a Pollack caught, both by Tom, while Laura and I blanked.
Bird watching was good though with a couple of Common Sandpipers along the breakwater, along with Turnstones, Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and at least 5 Grey Herons.
Migrants noted flying across the harbour were Swallows and House Martins heading south, whilst heading north there were a scattering of Meadow Pipits, Siskins and a Merlin.
Also seen were 4 Red Admirals flying south over the harbour towards Portland
Here are a few images from today:
.........on the middle Portland Harbour Breakwater. The wader at the back is another Common Sandpiper, though for some reason it has a white rump. Maybe just a trick of the light!! In fact these 4 waders were part of 12 birds consisting of 3 Common Sandpipers and 9 Turnstones.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Shag, 1 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, Merlin, Oystercatcher, 5 Common Sandpiper, 32+ Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, House Martin, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Carrion Crow and Siskin.
Butterflies Recorded: 4 Red Admiral
This is the Passenger Ship "Queen Victoria" flying the flag of Bermuda. It is just preparing to leave Portland Harbour to anchor up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Offshore Multi-purpose High Speed Craft "Manor Endurance" just passing the Passenger Ship Queen Victoria in Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here and Here.
Here are a few images from today:
Turnstones.
There were at least 20 on the Portland Marina Breakwater plus these....
One of the 5 Common Sandpiper seen today.
And there is always an Oystercatcher about.
A very elegant looking Grey Heron. There were at least 5 seen on the breakwaters.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Shag, 1 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron, Merlin, Oystercatcher, 5 Common Sandpiper, 32+ Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, House Martin, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Carrion Crow and Siskin.
Butterflies Recorded: 4 Red Admiral
Ships Today
Aircraft Today
This G-HIJK Cessna 421C (421C-0218) DO Systems Ltd/Meteorological Office. There isn't too much info on this plane, though it did have a minor accident in 2012 Here.
This is a Sikorsky S-76C (M-JCBC) which belongs to JCB (J.C. Bamford Excavators Ltd). I'm not sure if it landed but it was pretty close to the HeliOps airfield.