19 Oct 22

Portland Bird Observatory, Obs Quarry, Hut Fields, Crown Estate Fields, Top Fields, Higher Lighthouse, The Slopes and Portland Bill.

With gust up to 44 mph, you could say it was pretty windy!! Despite being blown off my feet a couple of times there were quite a few birds about, but it was hard graft.

Main highlights were 2 White Wagtail, 5 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Fieldfare, a Goldcrest and several Siskins.

Unfortunately I just missed the 5 Ring Ouzels in the Crown Estate Fields, as I was held up in the Pharmacy. The story of my life that is!!

Birds Recorded:
5 Gannet
5 Cormorant
Buzzard
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
5 Stonechat
1 Black Redstart
1 Fieldfare
1 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
2 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
7+ Siskin
Goldfinch

A real brute of a bird a Great Black-backed Gull. I once watched one lift a Cormorant out of the water at Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. It did eventually drop it and the Cormorant dived into the hidden depths, never to be seen again.

A Meadow Pipit and for comparison........

..........a Rock Pipit.

A male Stonechat hanging on for dear life in the extremely windy conditions.

A Raven on Portland Common 

A Goldfinch next the Lighthouse

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

An Ivy Bee

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

A Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

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

Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

General Shots:

Portland Bird Observatory

Ted:

Ted's there somewhere

Her he comes.

Ships Today:

The images and video below are of the British Sailing Vessel "Vis A Vis" battling its way towards Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.