Port and Wey: 26 Dec 21

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddock

At long last some decent weather, with sunshine and blue skies. Some great highlights as well with a Firecrest and a Goldcrest together at the top of Pennsylvania Castle wood. Whereever the Goldcrest went, the Firecrest followed.

Other highlights were 7 Greenfinches along Broadcroft Quarry Lane, hundreds of Herring Gulls & several Gannets fishing a mile or so off Church Ope Cove, and one of the 5 Song Thrushes I came across was singing in the Lower Horse paddock

It was so mild today there was also a Buff-tailed Bumblebee flying about on Penn's Weare.

Birds Recorded:
7+ Gannet
Cormorant
Kestrel
2 Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
3 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
2 Collared Dove
5 Rock Pipit
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
10+ Robin
Blackbird
5 Song Thrush
1 Goldcrest
1 Firecrest
Great Tit

Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
7 Greenfinch

Despite the fact that there were dozens of people on the beach, these..........

...............two Oystercatchers just continued feeding in amongst the rocks .

Every now and then I come across a Stock Dove on my walks and today in Bumpers Lane Quarry there was this one and two others close-by.

The constant rain we have had over the past week or so, has certainly flooded the Lower Horse paddock, much to the appreciation of this thirsty Collared Dove.

It was a good day for Robins with at least 4 in Pennsylvania Wood and many more seen and heard along my walk.

I didn't get to see the singing Song Thrush and I was pretty lucky to see this one hiding in the brambles. Such shy birds.

A Goldcrest at the top of Pennsylvania Castle wood with this..........

.................. Firecrest as a companion.

Along Old Quarry Lane were several Magpies.

This one flew off to join another flock in Wakeham Meadow.

Not rare but scarce I would say. On the mainland, especially places like Lodmoor, you can see and hear Greenfinches pretty much daily. On Portland you could go weeks without seeing or hearing one. Today I came across seven which was a welcome surprise.

Here are all seven Greenfinches along Broadcroft Quarry Lane

Bees Recorded:
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Leaf miner Recorded:

Leaf miner sp.

A leaf miner has been busy on this Alexanders leaf.

Plants Recorded:

Mahonia sp.

Japanese Spindle Tree (Euonymus japonicus)

This is Mahonia and quite late in flowering this year. In previous years it has flowered around the 17 Dec 21.There are around 70 species of Mahonia, so you can take your pick as to which one this is. More on this plant Here.

Japanese Spindle

Fungus Recorded:

Green Elfcup (Chlorociboria aeruginascens agg.)

After a bit of research this blue fungus is........

..............Green Elfcup. However there are species Chlorociboria aeruginascens and the similar but much rarer Chlorociboria aeruginosa. They can only be separated by microscopic examination. More on Green Elfcup Here.

General Shots: