9 Jan 21

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

It was a pretty gloomy today weather-wise and with lock-down now being stringently enforced, it was just a quick walk around the local patch for mine and Ted's daily exercise.

Unsurprisingly there wasn't too much to see bird-wise, especially as I left my walk until 3:00pm. And the only highlight was watching an adult Herring Gull and its offspring braving the waves at the cove. However there was a very smart looking gull further out and I'm pretty sure it was an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

A 1st Calendar year Herring Gull comes into land.

And is soon joined by an adult bird.

And here is their first dunking, followed by..............

..........a retreat to higher ground.

I had assumed that this very smart looking Herring Gull was the other parent, but it always kept its distance. When I say smart, its head, neck, breast and underparts were "pure" white.

I'm now wondering whether this individual may well be an adult Yellow-legged Gull, as all the adult Herring Gulls along this stretch of Portland's east coast are still heavily streaked.

Laurustinus 'Gwenllian' (Viburnum tinus) which is just............

.........coming into flower. It is a native shrub of the Mediterranean and North African maccchia regions and was first cultivated in Britain in the 16th Century. Ever since then it has been a popular garden plant and also on Penns Weare by the looks of it. (More on macchia and maquis Here and V. tinus Here).

Ted's pose today. Hmm not sure what that's all about. Come on Ted smile

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Ships Today

This is the Passenger Ship "Aurora", flying the flag of Bermuda. It is on its............

.................. return trip from just off the north French coast. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Passenger Ship "Marella Explorer" still off Portland's east coast. More on this vessel Here

This is the General Cargo Ship "Fehn Companion" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Llanddulas (North Wales) to Rye. More on this vessel here.

This is the Container Ship "NYK Romulus" flying the flag of Singapore. It is on its way from Savannah (USA) to Southampton. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.