And something new on the Trail Camera last night with a Fox making a number of trips up and down the garden in the early hours of the morning. The tabby cat was back again. It's becoming a regular visitor to the garden and as dawn broke a Magpie, Blackbird and Dunnock were filmed searching for food.
One of the many Portland Foxes having a stroll through the back garden
And its back again
The tabby back again
As it was gone midday, any migratory birds left on the island I presumed would be at the northern tip of the island, having landed at the Bill in the early hours and then made their way up through the island.
And so it proved to be with dozens of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats in amongst the flowering Blackthorn on the reserve. Elsewhere I came across at least 25 Wheatear, more Common Whitethroats, a few Blackcaps and a female Common Redstart.
Here are a few images and videos from my walk between 12:30pm and 2:30pm:
One of many Blackcaps here. This a male.
And plenty of Common Whitethroats as well. Shame about the twig!!
And I wasn't surprised to see the local Kestrel, especially with so many birds passing through.
Here it is hovering over the reserve
And again in Slo-mo this time
There were still plenty of Wheatears about.
With a ratio of around 2:1 males to females.
And another male
A nice surprise a female Common Redstart, my first for the year sat on the fence surrounding Fancy Farm.
Here she is again with another male Wheatear
The last time I was here there was a Stonechat in the very same spot on the reserve.
And Ted, who found it a bit tough going today.
Wakeham
Just before I left for the nature reserve I switched the Trail Camera on, overlooking the water cascade. And what a surprise I had when I downloaded the videos later. The list of birds visiting the cascade and pond were: 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Magpie, House Sparrow and 2 Goldfinch
Two female Blackcaps having a drink and then squabbling.
And last but not least, this is how you fill a frame with a Woodpigeon venturing its way down to the pond.
Mammals Recorded: Bunny
Birds Recorded today: Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Stonechat, 1 Common Redstart, 25 Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 15 Common Whitethroat, 18 Blackcap, 20+ Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Red Admiral and butterfly sp. (A very light brown coloured individual on the reserve)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and a possible Large Meadow Mining Bee (Andrena labialis)
This is the Passenger Ship "Disney Magic" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is presently anchored up in Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.
Ships Today
