31 Jan 22

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, East Weare, The Grove, Shepherd's Dinner and Bumpers Lane

Ted and I had an extended walk today, too see if there were any Fulmars at their nest sites along the Grove Cliffs. I was also hoping there might be one or two Peregrines about as well. I also had a second-hand Canon SX50HS Bridge camera, which I borrowed with the view to buying, if I could remember all the settings on it.

Well I succeeded on all three accounts, with at least 20 Fulmars and around 8 nesting sites (with pairs at each). I also had a great view of a Peregrine from above, as a male came off a ledge below me as I was peering over the fence close to Shepherd's Dinner. And the refresher with the camera went well, though I do need to find software which converts Canon CP2 (RAW) files to TIFF, PSD and JPEG.

Other highlights were a Honey Bee and 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebees at Church Ope Cove on the flowering Hebes, and it's still January.


Birds Recorded:
20 Fulmar
Cormorant
Buzzard
1 Peregrine Falcon
Kestrel
4 Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

The Fulmars have returned to their nesting sites along Grove Cliffs. I counted at least 8 "nests" and with other birds flying around there were around 20 birds.

This Buzzard having been ousted from the beach by two Carrion Crows, was then helped on its way by a Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gulls.

Plants Recorded:

Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)

A Wallflower in flower along Grove Cliffs. More on Wallflowers Here.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)


General Shots:

A very quiet Church Ope Cove.

And the sun bursting through the clouds.

Ted:

Ted enjoying his walk today.

Ships Today:

This is the British Buoy-laying Ship "Galatea" on its way from Swanage Bay to Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Oil/Chemical Tanker "Monjasa Provider" on its way from Dunkirk to Weymouth bay. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Liberian Reefer "Colombian Star" on its way from Dakar (Senegal) to Portsmouth. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Replenishment Ship "RFA Tidesurge" on manoeuvres in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

30 Jan 22

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Broadcroft Quarry Lane

A very local walk today, with the main highlights being 5 Greenfinches along the lane and a Primrose about to flower in the Butterfly Reserve.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny

Birds Recorded:
Buzzard

2 Kestrel

Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

Pied Wagtail

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Wren

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

5 Greenfinch

A Kestrel soaring over the Lower Horse Paddock

A Robin singing in the reserve. Well let's hear it, I hear............

...........you say

Plants:

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans)

Plant sp.

Well I was expecting to see Primroses in leaf, but not..........

..........a flower head. In fact a bit further down the stem there were two more buds.

 Winter Heliotrope

In amongst the Winter Heliotrope I came across this flower.

It is certainly a vivid pink, but I have no idea what it is. Yet!!!

Ted:

Ted being nosey as he looks over inert recycling centre.

Ships Today:

This is the Bahamian Self Discharging Bulk Carrier "Bontrup Amsterdam" on its way from Antwerp to Glensanda (Loch Linnhe, Scotland). More on this vessel Here.

29 Jan 22

Wakeham

This afternoon I spent an hour in the back garden, taking part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch Here..

Here are my results for 2022:

1 - Woodpigeon

1 - Dunnock

1 - Robin

1 - Great Tit

1 - Blue Tit

2 - House Sparrows

5 - Goldfinches

Four of the five Goldfinches in the garden today.

Goldfinches

Three Goldfinches on the Nyjer Feeder.

One of the two House Sparrows to visit the garden.

A Dunnock

And a Blue Tit

Ferrybridge

having dropped Dawn off at work, I popped into Ferrybridge as the tide was coming in. There was a pretty strong westerly, gusting up to around 35mph, it certainly made your eyes water.

Main highlights were the 120+ waders which were made up with around 80+ Ringed Plovers and 40+ Dunlin. But as each bit of the sandflats began disappear as the tide came in, so small groups would take off and head west up the Fleet.

Also about were a few gulls including 2 Common Gulls.

Birds Recorded:
Oystercatcher
80+ Ringed Plover
40+ Dunlin
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Gull
Carrion Crow

Ringed Plovers

Ringed Plovers and Dunlin

In the foreground 2 Dunlin with 2 Oystercatchers at the back, along with a few Ringed Plovers.

A few Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin running about on the Sandflats.

Ships Today:

The two ships anchored in Weymouth Bay are on the left the Oil Products Tanker "Sunny Lion" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. And the ship to the right is the British LNG Tanker "Kmarin Emerald". More on "Sunny Lion" Here and "Kmarin Emerald" Here.

28 Jan 22

Portland Bird Observatory, Hut Fields, Portland Bill and Obs Quarry

And yet another trip down to the Bill, though it was a bit disappointing this time with the only highlights being a Turnstone on one of the ledges by the Red Crane, two Chiffchaffs, one in the Obs garden and the other in the Hut Fields, and a Redwing calling just east of the Obs.

Mammals Recorded:
Brown Rats

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
Kestrel
1 Turnstone
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Razorbill
Guillemot
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
1 Redwing
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

A Kestrel sat on top of the Obs Quarry

One of the local Ravens at The Bill

General Shots:

Portland Lighthouse and Ted's bonce at the bottom of the frame.

The fishing boat "Quarter Bell" passes the Red Crane on its way back to Weymouth Harbour.

27 Jan 22

Out and About

First stop was Lynch Cove, Littlesea and Tidmoor Cove. Main highlights here were 30+ Brent Geese, 60+ Shelduck, 10 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, Green Woodpecker and Goldcrest

Second stop was Portland Harbour, where the main highlights were: 1 Great Northern Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 10 Black-necked Grebe, 30+ Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Curlew, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Raven, Greenfinch and Bullfinch

Birds Recorded today:
1 Great Northern Diver
5 Great Crested Grebe
2 Slavonian Grebe
10 Black-necked Grebe
Cormorant
Brent Geese
60+ Shelduck
30+ Red-breasted Merganser
Oystercatcher
10 Curlew
2 Whimbrel
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Robin
1 Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch

Two of the five Great Crested Grebes I saw in Portland Harbour

Two Brent Geese at Lynch Cove

Also at Lynch Cove were 60+ Shelduck and..........

..................ten Curlew.

Along the north beach in Portland Harbour was another Curlew.

General Shots:

Lynch Cove

Looking over Portland Harbour towards Portland

Ted:

Ted enjoying a walk from Tidmoor Cove back to Lynch Cove.

Ships Today:

This is the Liberian Bulk Carrier "Sakizaya Unicorn" on its from Las Palmas to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Crude Oil tanker "Tigani" on its way from Novorossiysk (Russia) to Butinge (Latvia) via Weymouth bay. More on this vessel Here. I believe the smaller ship alongside it, is the Liberian Oil Products Tanker "Monjasa Promoter". More on this vessel Here.

This is the British LNG Tanker "Kmarin Emerald" just anchoring up having left the Isle of Grain yesterday morning. More on this vessel Here.

26 Jan 22

Portland Bird Observatory, Hut Fields, Portland Bill and Obs Quarry

It was another trip down to the Bill today, with the main highlight being two Turnstones just east of the Obelisk, with a Purple Sandpiper for company. There were a further 3 Purple Sandpipers west of the Pulpit.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny

Birds Recorded:
Gannet

Cormorant

Shag

Buzzard

Kestrel

1 Oystercatcher

4 Purple Sandpiper

2 Turnstone

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Razorbill

Guillemot

Wood Pigeon

6 Rock Pipit

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

1 Chiffchaff

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Wren

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Linnet

Goldfinch

A sleepy Oystercatcher, though I should imagine it has one eye open.

Just three Purple Sandpipers today at the Pulpit. Or so I thought!!

Just east of the Obelisk I came across my first Turnstones of the year. It was only when I was editing this photo that I realised there was another Purple Sandpiper in the shot.

One of the four Purple Sandpipers feeding on one of the ledges

There were at least 6 Rock Pipits at The Bill today. A couple of days ago I didn't see or hear any here.

General Shots:

The setting sun behind the Lighthouse

Ted:

If Ted could talk, I'm sure he would say I have freedom!!

Ships Today:

This is the Greek Crude Oil Tanker "Amazon Fortitude" on its way from Antwerp to New York. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Quarter Bell".............

.....................returning to Weymouth Harbour. In front of it are a few Guillemots. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Clar Innis" on its way back to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Loyal Friend" returning to Portland Harbour.