7 Feb 21

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, Penn's Copse, Penn's Weare, St Andrew's Church Grounds and Penns Wood.

It was a change of route today, to avoid the weekend visitors to the beach. And a quick scan with the binoculars from Penn's Weare, revealed nothing on the beach anyway, so the plan worked.

In the Lower Horse Paddock the male Stonechat is still about, but the female has definitely departed. Also here were a couple of Starlings, 2 Pied Wagtails and 12 Herring Gulls. In the trees just behind the Alexandrea Hotel there were 2 Greenfinches.

Down Broadcroft Quarry Lane I came across 6 more Greenfinch, with another one at the bottom of the lane. So 9 Greenfinches in total, which is pretty good for a finch which is pretty scarce on the island.

Not much on the Weares, but out to sea with that bitter north-easterly there were good numbers of Guillemot and Razorbills heading into Weymouth Bay, along with a few Gannets. In amongst the auks were good numbers of Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls and several Common Gulls.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

This male Stonechat has been here all Winter in and around the lower Horse paddock.

I'm not sure what happened to the female, she disappeared sometime back.

A selection of the 12 Herring Gulls in the Lower Horse paddock. From left to right an adult, a possible 2nd Winter could be a 3rd, then a 1st Winter and another adult. The guide I used  is Here.

Not a brilliant photo, there's always a twig in the way, but this is one of the 9 Greenfinches I came across this afternoon.

Church Ope Cove, quiet now, but 10 minutes later it was busy with weekend visitors.

Out to sea and here are 3 Razorbills. (There's one on the left)

Plenty of gulls today, including several Common Gulls.

Here's an adult Common Gull in Winter plumage.

These Razorbills were sat quietly on the water until a 2nd Winter Common Gull spooked them and they all dived.

And a bouncy Ted

Hmm not so bouncy now with his lead on. Well there is a 40ft drop behind him.

Mammals Recorded: 2 Bunnies

Birds Recorded: 3 Gannet, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Stonechat, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 9 Greenfinch

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Ro-ro Cargo Ship "Opaline" on its way from Rozenburg to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

On the left is the British Fishing Boat "PH2200 Wiron 6" and on the right is British Trawler "PH1100 Wiron 5". Both have left Ijmuiden and are off to Fishing Grounds somewhere in the Southwest. More on this PH2200 Wiron 6 Here. and PH 1100 Wiron 5 Here.

Here is a bit more info on Wiron 5 and Wiron 6 from 2017 Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.