20 Jan 21

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

It was a wet miserable day and very windy, as Storm Christoph arrived upon our shores. There wasn't much on land bird wise, apart from a male Sparrowhawk bursting through Penns Wood, but a brief seawatch produced a Fulmar, a few Gannets, Cormorant, 1 Shag, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gulls.

On the way back through Penns wood I came across a dead Fox in the bushes, by the main road.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Stormy seas at the cove

Following the Waves

One of the many Gannets feeding just off Church Ope Cove

Having just caught a fish, this Gannet is off to find another one.

Another Gannet just off Church Ope Cove


On the beach were 19 Rock Pipits and 2 Pied Wagtails searching for Kelp Flies.

With the sea churned up by Storm Christoph, there were many gulls along Portland's east coast like this adult Great Black-backed Gull.

A size comparison between a Great Black-backed Gull and an adult Herring Gull.

This is a 2nd Winter Herring Gull

And a 1st Winter Herring Gull

This is one of those infrequent times when a Black-headed Gull visits the cove. A scarce sight here.

And a nice surprise was this Fulmar passing through.

And of course Ted

Mammals Recorded: Fox

Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, 1 Shag, 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 19 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

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On this day..........
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.