Ferrybridge Sandflats
It was a quick visit to Ferrybridge Sandflats this afternoon, for my exercise walk with Ted. For once I was glad the wind was from the northeast, as walking along the Fleet side was pretty good, as opposed to walking on the Portland Harbour side of the Beach Road, which was absolutely bitter.
It was a quick visit to Ferrybridge Sandflats this afternoon, for my exercise walk with Ted. For once I was glad the wind was from the northeast, as walking along the Fleet side was pretty good, as opposed to walking on the Portland Harbour side of the Beach Road, which was absolutely bitter.
And here is Portland Harbour. Very choppy and extremely cold in that fresh north-easterly.
Sadly for Ted it did mean his lead had to stay on, as this area of the Fleet is a dog-lead zone, on account of all the waders and Brent Geese feeding here. And so it should be, though sadly there are those that choose to ignore the signs.
Also here were at least 250 Mediterranean Gulls, a few Black-headed Gulls, 5 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Common Gulls. There were many more gulls on the water as well.
There weren't too many Dark-bellied Brent Geese about, in fact I only counted 14, but at least the 2 adult Pale-bellied Brent Geese and their offspring were still about.
Other birds seen were a Little Egret, which I inadvertently spooked by the bridge and it flew across to the bank on the Wyke Regis side.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
One of the three Common Gulls I came across here. I don't doubt there were many more which I didn't see.
One of the few Black-headed Gulls on the sandflats, with 4 Dunlin corralling it.
Three Brent Geese come into land.
And another trio.
Brent Geese and a Ringed Plover
Just a few of the Dunlin which arrived in one huge flock.
Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Dunlin
Three species of wader here. An Oystercatcher, 4 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover (front left)
Ringed Plovers
A Little Egret which unbeknown to me was about to land on the Portland side of the road bridge.
When I headed back to the bridge, I inadvertently spooked it and it flew across onto the other bank
A pretty bird in the sunlight.
And a hungry one as well.
I'm not sure what disturbed it, but it was off.
Birds Recorded: 1 Little Egret, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Oystercatcher, 50+ Ringed Plover, 150+ Dunlin, 12+ Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, 250+ Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail and Carrion Crow
Aircraft Today
This is ZZ379 a Royal Navy Wildcat-HMA2, refuelling at Portland's HeliOps. More on this base Here.
And away she goes.