After yesterdays horrendous weather, when the wind speed actually reached a confirmed 87mph on Portland, it was back to a relatively peaceful day, apart from the odd squally shower.
Main highlight this afternoon, was a decent flock of finches in the Sycamores, down Old Quarry Lane, which consisted of 4 Chaffinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin, 16 Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch.
Around Wakeham Meadow there was a party of 17 Long-tailed Tits, with a Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, 2 Great Tits and 2 Blue Tits tagging along.
Along Wakeham Railway Cuttings there was a Grey Wagtail.
Penns Wood was quiet, apart from a few Great Tits, Blue Tits and a single Chiffchaff.
Behind the huts, at the cove, was a small flock of Long-tailed Tits, which also had a Chiffchaff and 2 Great Tits travelling with them.
Out to sea, there were still plenty of Gannets, Cormorants and Shags. But as opposed to yesterday when they were all close in, these were all a fair way out.
The surf crashing onto the beach yesterday and overnight, brought in a huge amount of seaweed. And whereas yesterday when there were thousands of Sandhoppers, today and with less wind, the hoppers had been replaced by millions of Kelp flies. In fact walking along the edge of the seaweed threw up thousands of them, covering both me and Ted.
With so many flies on the beach, it was great to see that most of the Rock Pipits from yesterday had remained, with 28 from yesterday's 33.
As another shower looked imminent I headed back home via Bumpers Lane where there was another Chiffchaff close to the Quarry.
No bees or hoverflies seen today, but I did come across a Red Admiral along Old Quarry Lane, plus a good dozen or more Common Wasps on my travels.
Mammals Recorded:
2 Grey Squirrel
2 Bunnies
Penns Wood was quiet, apart from a few Great Tits, Blue Tits and a single Chiffchaff.
Behind the huts, at the cove, was a small flock of Long-tailed Tits, which also had a Chiffchaff and 2 Great Tits travelling with them.
Out to sea, there were still plenty of Gannets, Cormorants and Shags. But as opposed to yesterday when they were all close in, these were all a fair way out.
The surf crashing onto the beach yesterday and overnight, brought in a huge amount of seaweed. And whereas yesterday when there were thousands of Sandhoppers, today and with less wind, the hoppers had been replaced by millions of Kelp flies. In fact walking along the edge of the seaweed threw up thousands of them, covering both me and Ted.
With so many flies on the beach, it was great to see that most of the Rock Pipits from yesterday had remained, with 28 from yesterday's 33.
As another shower looked imminent I headed back home via Bumpers Lane where there was another Chiffchaff close to the Quarry.
No bees or hoverflies seen today, but I did come across a Red Admiral along Old Quarry Lane, plus a good dozen or more Common Wasps on my travels.
Mammals Recorded:
2 Grey Squirrel
2 Bunnies
A Grey Squirrel raiding a bird table full of food.
This one on the other hand, appears to be burying his food for later.
A Bunny trying to blend in with the rock. It's not working, I can still see you!!
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
28 Rock Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
4 Chiffchaff
1 Firecrest
17 Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
4 Lesser Redpoll
6 Siskin
16 Goldfinch
2 Greenfinch
A Rock Pipit giving me a long stare.
This one seems to have his eye on me as well.
With so many Kelp Flies around you, it's sometimes difficult to decide which one to go for.
This Rock Pipit was having a real feast.
This Long-tailed Tit was part of a 17-strong flock close to Wakeham Meadow.
And another from the same party.
A female Siskin.
I had great difficulty photographing the Siskins as you can see. This one has a metal leg ring.
A slightly better photograph. This is a male Siskin.
And eventually a half-decent photo of another male Siskin showing his small black cap and bib.
Butterflies Recorded:
1 Red Admiral
Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
General Video:
Church Ope Cove
As you can see there was a fair bit of seaweed washed up onto the beach.
Ted:
Ted wandering through the seaweed.
And having a good old sniff as well. There is probably a dead fish he can smell under all that Kelp.
Yes me and Ted were covered in Kelp Flies
This is the enhanced photo of the Bermudian Passenger Ship "Queen Mary 2" in a squally shower.
And this is the original shot, when she was in the shower.
As you can see, she was having a bit of a sail around the English Channel. More on the Queen Mary 2 Here.
This is the Dutch Cargo Ship "RDJ Johanna" on its way from Kinsale (Ireland) to Portsmouth. More on this vessel Here.