Having dropped David off at his friend's house near Dorchester, I carried on further up the road to Hardy Monument, a location I last visited in July 2019 Here. From the monument I then walked down to Blackdown Wood. Location of both places can be found Here.
I had some really good highlights with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch and 2 Siskin.
Despite being the third week in November, I came across a Red Admiral and a Common Dronefly.
Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Robin
Blackbird
6 Fieldfare
5 Redwing
4 Goldcrest
4 Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
3 Nuthatch
Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
Chaffinch
2 Siskin
Goldfinch
High up in one of the spruce trees was this Common Buzzard.
The way its looking over each shoulder, I think he's seen me.
This is a Fieldfare and one of our thrushes to visit us for Winter. Not an easy bird to photograph.
This is a Coal Tit and I was lucky enough to find 3 more around the wood.
Here it is being very vocal.
And my first Nuthatch of the year. Always good to see one and in fact there were 2 more close-by.
A Rook calling out to others as it headed south along with a further 19.
Butterflies Recorded:
1 Red Admiral
Wasps Recorded:
1 German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Hoverflies Recorded:
1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Plants:
Blackberry
spruce sp.
I came across a Blackberry in flower on Portland not so long back, and there are even more here in the wood.
This is a spruce, possibly.........
.........a Sitka Spruce, Picea sitchensis or maybe a Norway Spruce, Picea abies. More on conifer cone trees here.
Toadstool sp.
A toadstool to ID later, hopefully!!
General Shots:
Hardy Monument. More on this monument Here.
There are stunning views from monument car park, with the Isle of Portland in the far distance.
And looking south with the sun reflecting off the sea.
And the town centre frame is Poundbury, built on Duchy of Cornwall land. More on this town Here.
The Blackdown sign at the main entrance to the wood.
A video of the wood from Black Down
It's quite an interesting wood, in that all the deciduous trees are surrounded by firs and larches.
Ted:
Well I can honestly say, Ted thoroughly enjoyed his walk today.....
...............even if the sun was in his eyes at times.
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Weymouth
On the way back from Hardy's Monument I stopped off at Weymouth's quayside, in the hope of seeing the Little Auk, which has been there for several days now.. Sadly I blanked, but I'm sure it will be around for a bit longer.
Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
1 Cormorant
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
1 Rock Pipit
Magpie
One of many Black-headed Gulls in the harbour area. This one is an adult in Winter plumage.
And the head of a juvenile Herring Gull.
Hmm. It doesn't look impressed by the attention I'm giving it.
Spot the Rock Pipit
Maybe this shot will help.
Later it flew down onto the quayside. I had to slow the video down as it was "sprinting" along the boardwalk making it difficult to record.
Looking down the River Wey towards Stone Pier and Weymouth Bay.
This is the Crude Oil Tanker "Front Polaris" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and is anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
Quarter Bell moored up in Weymouth.
Likewise Coralie Dawn and...
.......Portland Isle. All three boats I normally see off Portland fishing.