King Barrow Quarries Nature Reserve, Fancy's Farm and New Ground
Whilst every man/woman and their binoculars and cameras, were travelling to Lodmoor to tick off the Laughing Gull and Desert Wheatear, I decided to keep safe and stick to the island. Well it's still Lockdown and were still being advised to stay local. So that's what I'm doing, keeping safe.
As it was fairly late (midday), I decided that if there were any migrants about they would more than likely be at the top end of the island. And so it proved to be, with dozens of Chiffchaffs, several Willow Warblers (with a couple singing), at least 10 if not more Blackcaps, around 10 Wheatears, 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Stonechat, a House Martin (don't think I've ever had a House Martin before I've seen a Sand Martin or Swallow) and the icing on the cake a Ring Ouzel. Phew what a great walk.
There was also a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits heading north in small numbers, and it didn't seem to matter where I was on my walk, you could hear them continuously calling away.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Whilst every man/woman and their binoculars and cameras, were travelling to Lodmoor to tick off the Laughing Gull and Desert Wheatear, I decided to keep safe and stick to the island. Well it's still Lockdown and were still being advised to stay local. So that's what I'm doing, keeping safe.
As it was fairly late (midday), I decided that if there were any migrants about they would more than likely be at the top end of the island. And so it proved to be, with dozens of Chiffchaffs, several Willow Warblers (with a couple singing), at least 10 if not more Blackcaps, around 10 Wheatears, 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Stonechat, a House Martin (don't think I've ever had a House Martin before I've seen a Sand Martin or Swallow) and the icing on the cake a Ring Ouzel. Phew what a great walk.
There was also a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits heading north in small numbers, and it didn't seem to matter where I was on my walk, you could hear them continuously calling away.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
king Barrow Quarries Nature Reserve
And on the north side of the reserve was this...........
And as it flew off I could hear it call. This was the first time I've ever heard a Ring Ouzel.
One of the two Black Redstarts I came across on the reserve.
This was the other one. Well its red tail.
Well this makes it easy to identify. With those straw-coloured legs and......
...........long primaries this has to be a Willow Warbler.
And one more photo of it.
In comparison this is a Chiffchaff, eying up an insect not the Sheep droppings.
The wing tips here are more rounded and shorter than the Willow Warbler.
There were quite a few Wheatear about. This pair were feeding pretty close to each other.
The male here is in pristine condition.
Here is the female Wheatear
And the male Wheatear from the above photo.
Another male Wheatear
And this male Stonechat was in good voice. Unfortunately.........
............I only managed the briefest of songs, before it flew off.
And a pair of Stonechats
Birds Recorded: 4 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 1 House Martin, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 4 Stonechat, 2 Black Redstart, 10+ Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Song Thrush, 10+ Blackcap, 12+ Chiffchaff, 6+ Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 2 Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 5 Peacock
Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Ships Today
This is the Maltese Passenger Ship "Marella Explorer" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.