Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Higher Horse Paddock and Lower Horse Paddock.
Back to normal with another dreary day. The only highlights today were 2 Redwings along the Railway Cuttings and the pair of Stonechats in the Lower Horse paddock.
The cove was very quiet with just 1 Wren seen and 3 Herring Gull sat on the rocks.
At the top of Penns Wood I came across a flock of 15 Long-tailed Tits, several Great Tits & Blue Tits, plus 6 Chaffinch, well there were 6 until a female Sparrowhawk came steaming in and plucked one out of a tree.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
It looks like November is going to finish on a quiet note, with the only real highlight being this male Stonechat and a.................
..........female in the Lower Horse paddocks.
Here she is feeding in a neighbouring paddock.
The local Carrion Crows are very bold, especially when you realise I had Ted on his lead. This individual was just a few metres from us and just carried on walking alongside us.
Not so the Grey Squirrels, soon as they see you they are gone. I got lucky with this one, but only for a split second.
And on one of the Alexanders in the church grounds I came across this green caterpillar. Not one I think I will be able to ID.
A very quiet Church Ope Cove, where.......
..........Ted had the run of the beach as there were no Rock Pipits, wagtails to upset.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and Bunny
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 2 Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock.
Another sunny day and more importantly a dry one for a change.
With Portland once again under siege with hundreds of visitors doing their exercise walk on the island, it was a case of missing out the cove and Penns Wood and just having an exercise walk around the butterfly reserve, lane and horse paddocks.
Unlike yesterday's bird fest in the lane, all I could find were 2 Blue Tits and a Robin. The only highlight this afternoon was coming across the pair of Stonechats in the Lower Horse paddocks. They were "missing" for a few days, but this afternoon I initially came across them in the butterfly reserve (west), which would probably explain where they have been lately. They have certainly got an extensive range.
Also about were 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails and 2 Starlings in the Lower Horse paddock, with a further 3 Meadow Pipits heading north and 30+ Starlings which moving at a rapid pace over the butterfly reserve.
A female Sparrowhawk was also seen flying at hedge top height down the gardens at the back of Wakeham.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
The only real highlights today were this male Stonechat and........
.......this female in the Lower Horse paddocks. Below are a few videos.
Just for a few seconds these two 1st Winter Starlings dropped into the paddock. Thank you to Ed Wilson for letting me know I had missed off 1st Winter.
No sign of the fawn coloured Bunny today, but there were 4 others about.
And of course Ted, enjoying the sunshine and his walk.
Mammals Recorded: Bunnies
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, The Mermaid Track, The Cuttings, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddock.
A much better day weather-wise and for a change some good birding highlights.
I had intended to walk down through Penns Wood to the cove, but just like last weekend Church Ope Car Park was absolutely packed. So it was a change of route again, which turned out to be a great decision.
Along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings there was a 18 strong flock of Long-tailed Tits, with a few Great Tits and Blue Tits in tow.
Next stop was above Penn's Weare by the Cuttings and a Chiffchaff was in the buddleia on the slopes here.
But the best was left to Broadcroft Quarry Lane, where at long last it was full of birds. To start off there was a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on the teasels with a few Chaffinches feeding below them. Next a few Great Tits and Blue Tits arrived and started to feed in the brambles, these were then followed by a Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock and a Goldcrest.
As I took a few photos of the Goldcrest, a small flock of 5 Long-tailed Tits arrived along with a Firecrest and a Chiffchaff. As usual the Long-tailed Tits didn't stay long and they, plus the Firecrest and Chiffchaff headed off up the lane.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
At long last Broadcroft Quarry Lane was the top spot for me this morning with a Firecrest, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and several other species
The Long-tailed Tits didn't stay long and neither did this Firecrest. A very lucky shot before it disappeared.
Fortunately this Goldcrest was more confiding, though it was an effort to keep up with it.
A quick pose before disappearing into the Brambles.
A very pronounced golden crest, would suggest that this is a male!!
And it was great fun trying to keep up with it, as it made its way through the hedgerow
And a Goldfinch on a Pampas Grass
Hart's-tongue Fern, Asplenium scolopendrium
Here are the fronds of the Harts-tongue Fern. This fern also goes by the name of Burnt Weed, Buttonhole, Christ's Hair and Horse Tongue.
The frown on that face. I dont think Ted is all that keen on the muddy tracks. It was pretty wet underfoot today.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 23 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Ships Today
This is the Latvian Cargo ship "Fehn Courage" on its way from Rye to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Higher Horse Paddock and Lower Horse Paddock.
Another disappointing day and only a couple of highlights, the first a Chiffchaff along Old Quarry Lane and 4 Redwing over the Butterfly Reserve.
At Church Ope Cove there was just 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Wrens and a White-tailed Bumblebee on the Hebes.
In the Lower Horse paddock there were 3 Bunnies, including the fawn coloured individual I came across in October last year as a juvenile.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Having been spoilt with Black Redstarts, Stonechats, Firecrests and Chiffchaffs, it has all gone eerily quiet. Here at the cove just 1 Rock Pipit and 3 Wrens, plus this............
.............Great Black-backed Gull just off the cove.
Even Penns Wood was quiet, other than 4 Robins setting up their Winter quarters.
Its taboo to say the "R" word on Portland so Bunny it is. This is the fawn coloured one I came across in October 2019 Here.
Even the Bunny on the left has a bit of light banding, though overall it is a grey/brown colour.
And there was a third Bunny in the Brambles.
And there are still Large White Butterflycaterpillars on the Nasturtium leaves behind the Alessandria Hotel.
And alongside the steps up to Rufus Castle, I found several Alexanders which had these odd looking "dots"
Maybe a leaf miner of some description.
Ted is on the lookout for the local Fox in Bumpers Lane Quarry.
And he wants them to know he can sense them.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and 3 Bunny
Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 4 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 15 Linnet and Goldfinch
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Butterfly Caterpillars Recorded: 1 Large White
Moth Caterpillars Recorded: Possibly one of the Leaf Miners
Ships Today
This is the Passenger Ship "Norwegian Bliss" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way back into Weymouth Bay, having just done a circuit west of Portland. More on this vessel Here.
Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum
What a dire day, no sun, gloomy as anything and absolutely nothing of note to write about.
The only 3 birds of any interest were a Grey Wagtail and a Goldcrest along the Railway Cuttings, and a Peregrine Falcon heading north over the cove. At least Ted had a good walk, without me stopping every minute.
Here are a few images from today:
Normally seen on the beach at Church Ope Cove, this male Grey Wagtail was back at its normal residence in the Wakeham Railway Cuttings. The only other bird of interest down here was a single Goldcrest.
So many Grey Squirrels about, and another one with a peanut in its mouth.
And a deserted beach, no Black Redstarts, Rock Pipits or wagtails, just 3 Wrens.....
........and Ted, with his snout in amongst the rocks again.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Peregrine Falcon, Wood Pigeon, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
This is the Korean Vehicles Carrier "K. Asian Beauty" on its way from Antwerp to Conakry (Guinea). More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Trawler 'Nicola-L' on her way back into Weymouth Harbour. No info on this vessel but a close-up photo of her in Weymouth Harbour Here.
Aircraft Today
This Merlin spent a good 15 minutes or so flying around Weymouth Bay.
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfields Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane and Lower Horse Paddock.
A beautiful day but very few birds about. In fact all the regulars have disappeared. There was no sign of the Black Redstarts, Pied Wagtails and the Grey Wagtail at the cove. The pair of Stonechats in the Lower Horse Paddock were nowhere to be seen. And there weren't any Chiffchaffs seen or heard ,or even the Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The best I could do was 12 Long-tailed Tits & 2 Goldcrests in Penns Wood, 3 Rock Pipits at the cove and 1 Meadow Pipit and 2 Pied Wagtails in the Lower Horse Paddock.
I did have some other good news though, and that was Ted joining me for his walk. He was going to the vets for a brush and polish of his teeth, but we had a change plan when we found out how much it was going to cost. We are now actively looking for another Vet.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
By the look on his face I think this Grey Squirrel has "clocked" us
The one thing you have to be careful of when you're running away and that is..........
..........you don't trip over. Ouch
Church Ope Cove and on the horizon the passenger ship Disney Dream on its way to Portland.
It seems to be that sort of a day when the wildlife is watching me. One of the 3 Rock Pipits at the Cove.
On the cliff above The Cuttings were these two.........
..........Feral Pigeons, also keeping an eye on me. Time to go home I think.
This fungi is still in the Lower Horse Paddock and I......
...........still don't know what it is. I will find out!!
And a very early Primrose with an interesting leaves, which I believe have been "mined" by a moth caterpillar. Another one to investigate.
The ever inquisitive dog. Ted with his snout "stuck" under a pebble.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and Bunny
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
This is the Passenger Ship "Disney Dreams" flying the flag of the Bahamas.
It is on its way from Brest to Portland. More on this vessel Here.
And a short video of it approaching Portland Harbour.
Well I have seen some odd things in my life, but this is a really good example of an optical illusion. This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Neptune Dynamis" on its way from Southampton to Bristol, and you would be forgiven in thinking that it is a large white vessel. But as you can see from a higher advantage point.........
...........it is actually more blue than white. More on this vessel Here.
And way off on the horizon the Portuguese Container Ship "Mirror" on its way from Dublin to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.
Aircraft Today
I first saw this Hawker Hunter on 21 Jul 20, so it was good to see it back again over island.
And after it had completed a few circuits around Portland it headed back to Sherbourne. More info on this aircraft Here from 21 Jul, at the bottom of the page
