6 Oct 21

Portland Bird Observatory, Culverwell, Hut Fields, Portland Bill, The Slopes and Obs Quarry

A change of scenery today, with a trip down to the Bill. And as you can see by the list of birds seen below, it was a pretty good visit.

Birds Recorded:
Gannet
Cormorant
2 Kestrel
1 Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Little Owl
2 Skylark
20+ Swallow
100+ Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
6 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
Blackbird
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
150+ Linnet
40+ Goldfinch

A Kestrel over the hut fields

Along the shoreline a lone Oystercatcher

The Mediterranean Gulls around the Bill looked like white confetti on the surface. I don't think I have ever seen so many.

Just a handful of the Great Black-backed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls taking to the air just south of Culverwell.

Here are a few more gulls on the rocky outcrops just up from the Bill.

And a close up of a few of them on one of the rocks.

In the Obs Quarry one of the Little Owls.

A male Stonechat on The Slopes

And one of the 3 Wheatears I came across at The Bill.

One of the many Linnets around at the moment.

Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
Presumed Migrant Hawker over the Hut Fields

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White
1 Speckled Wood

Moths Recorded:

Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

A Double-striped Pug. Not seen on my walk but on the garden wall when I got home.

Bees Recorded:
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

Or
Hairy-saddled Colletes (Colletes fodiens)

Along the edge of the east facing cliffs I came across dozens of bees nesting in the soft soil.

My first impression was that these were Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae). However.......

...........there are no Ivy plants for a good 200 metres or so. Could these possibly be...........

...................Hairy-saddled Colletes (Colletes fodiens). One to check later.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

Plants:
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Also known as Sloe

These berries on this Blackthorn are just going over.

General Shots:

The Obelisk and Portland Lighthouse

And another view of the Obelisk and Portland Lighthouse

Ted:

And a few photos of Ted.

Ships Today

This is the British Cable Layer "CS Sovereign" out in Weymouth Bay, with St Aldhelm's Head in the background. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Portuguese Tanker "Harbour Pioneer" on its way from Good Hope (Louisiana, USA) to Weymouth Bay. 

However at one point it did..............

................ an about turn before heading back to the bay. More on this vessel Here.

These are the sails of the Dutch Sailing Vessel "Rainbow Warrior" on its way from Poole to an unknown destination. More on this Greenpeace vessel Here.