This was certainly the busiest day day I have seen in Wakeham for a long time. The car parks were full, cars were parked on double-yellow lines and were parked just about anywhere they could find a spot. So unsurprisingly Penns Wood was very busy as visitors made their way down to the cove.
Whether the continuous trail of walkers had an an effect on the Yellow-browed Warbler, I'm unsure, but whatever was going on, it was keeping well out of the main wood and keeping to the trees and the Japanese Spindle in the private gardens to the left as you make your way down the track.
Needless to say I did see it and hear it a few times around 1:00pm, but on my return journey, there was no sign of it.
A big surprise though, was the return of the female Great Spotted Woodpecker, which "vanished" from the woods a few weeks ago. Apparently it has been in the gardens of the Portland Bird Observatory and helping itself to Clearwing moth pupae*. Well I'm sure the Obs warden Martin Cade will be pleased to hear that it has left, but will there be any emerging next year!!!
There was no sign of the Black Redstart at the cove, no surprises there and there were just 5 Rock Pipits and an adult Pied Wagtail on the beach. There was no sign of the Chiffchaff and as I made my way back up the steps a Grey Wagtail, was seen and heard flying down to the beach.
Note* I'm not sure which Clearwing species they are at the Obs, but I will try and find out.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
On the left of the track in Penns Wood are these.................
..........Japanese Spindles, where it seems the Yellow-browed Warbler is quite at home, as well as the tree tops.
..........I thought I would slow a section of it down. Love the noises in the background, sounds like the jungle.
Just in case you wondering what a Japanese Spindle Tree (Euonymus japonicus), looks like here are its berries.
And the female Great Spotted Woodpecker returns from its two week break at the Portland Bird Observatory.
Unless of course this is a different bird!!
Beautiful blue skies today, well it was for most of the day, until mid afternoon, when it clouded over.
And nice to lie back and listen to the waves lapping onto the beach
And Ted has his best foot forward. I have no idea why he does that, but he will often have a foot raised.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 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 Container Ship "HMM Algeciras" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Yantian (China) to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Cargo Ship "RMS Veritas" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Belgium Cargo Ship "Melusine" on its way from Zeebrugge to Cork. More on this vessel Here.
Aircraft Today
Not sure what happened on the west side of Portland today, but............
..........this Air Ambulance, a Coast Guard Helicopter and Ambulance were seen and heard.