Port and Wey: December 2022

31 Dec 22

Wakeham

Well what a miserable day to end the year. Earlier in the day I went to the Portland recycling centre and was going for a walk afterwards. But the slight drizzle which was falling when I left, just intensified and got worse as the day wore on. In fact by midday, it was darker than it was a daybreak.

So sadly no highlights to end the year. But for 2022...................

Firsts for the UK

Sabine's Gull - Chesil Cove - 14 Nov

White Wagtail - Lodmoor - 4 Sep

Blue-headed Wagtail - Lodmoor Reserve - 16 Sep

Citrine Wagtail - Lodmoor Reserve - 16 Sep

Cirl Bunting - Reap Lane - 21 Dec

Firsts for Portland and Weymouth since May 2017

Cattle Egret - Radipole - 6 Sep

Pintail - Radipole - 23 Mar

Goldeneye - Radipole - 12 Jan

Curlew Sandpiper - Lodmoor 4 Sep

Other notable birds were:

European Bee-eater - Wakeham - 12 Sep

Yellow-browed Warbler - Broadcroft Quarry Lane - 24 Oct

Ortolan Bunting - Broadcroft Quarry Lane - 12 Sep

Sabine's Gull

Portland and Weymouth bird species - 2022

154 species

Portland and Weymouth bird species since 30 May 17

227 species

UK - 2022

165 species

30 Dec 22

RSPB Radipole Lake

It was another shopping trip into Weymouth followed by a walk around the Visitors Centre and Swannery Car Park.

Main highlights were a very mobile Kingfisher flying up and down the lake to the south of the visitors Centre and several Bearded Tits calling from the phragmites. Other than that there wasn't much else as the high water level had covered the islands and turned the water a muddy brown.

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant

Mute Swan

Mallard

Teal

Tufted Duck

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

1 Common Gull

Wood Pigeon

1 Kingfisher

Robin

Blackbird

Bearded Tit

Magpie

Carrion Crow

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

One of several Cormorants sat on the posts in the lake.

Teal

An adult winter Black-headed Gull

An adult Black-headed Gull with a "Summer" black head. It's either just moulted into its breeding colours or is in the process of losing that black head. I haven't a clue

An adult Herring Gull.

And a 1st winter Herring Gull.

Another adult Herring Gull sporting a.........

........metal leg ring...........

................. GC23012

On the left a Common Gull and on the right a 1st winter Black-headed Gull

Ted:

Ted stretching his legs

29 Dec 22

Portland Bill and Hut Fields

Today was all about meeting my niece from Reading, for a walk around The Bill. We chose today as the forecast was for dry and sunny conditions. What hadn't realised, was just how windy it was, with wind gusts reaching 40mph.

Needless to say, the walk, as enjoyable as it was, was pretty cold, but at least we all managed to have a good chinwag.

This was obviously not a bird watching walk, but I did keep my eyes open, and was rewarded with a stunning male Black Redstart in the hut fields.

Birds Recorded:
Gannet
Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
4 Rock Pipit
1 Black Redstart
Carrion Crow
1 Raven
100+ Starling

A real stunner of a bird on our walk was........

...........this male Black Redstart in the hut fields.

One of the resident Ravens on a hut roof

There are a good number of Starlings at the Bill. This is just a a small number of them taking off.

General Shots:

The Red Crane with one of the waves being squeezed upwards as it hit the rocks.

A lot more dramatic in this video

Ted:

Ted sporting his new waterproof coat and thoroughly enjoying his walk.

28 Dec 22

Dewflock Farm

On the way to Dorchester today I noticed a flooded field Here, which was full of birds. So on my way back I parked in a lay-by close-by and had a look to see what was there.

The flooded field at Dewflock Farm

At first it appeared to be just Black-headed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls, and then I realised there were quite a few ducks as well. In fact there were 4 duck species and 5 gull species. Not bad for a flooded field.

Here are the birds I noted:
2 Mallard
12 Gadwall
21 Wigeon
13 Teal
50+ Black-headed Gull
10+ Mediterranean Gull
8 Herring Gull
5 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Common Gull
1 Wood Pigeon
4 Carrion Crow
6 Jackdaw

Wigeon

A slow-motion video of Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Common Gull.

A mixture of mainly Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull and Common Gull

From left to right- Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and two Black-headed Gulls

Mainly Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull and Common Gull. In the centre of the frame are 3 Mediterranean Gulls in flight along with Herring Gulls

Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull and Common Gull. Also Gadwall in the background.

27 Dec 22

Portland Castle Beach and Portland Marina

Yet again it was another late afternoon walk along the esplanade, between the beach and marina. It was also a quick walk, as I could see a squally shower coming in from the southwest.

In very dull and extremely windy conditions, there was very little to see. In fact I didn't see a single Red-breasted Merganser. I'm not sure where they've gone,

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag

1 Grey Heron
Black-headed Gull
11 Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
1 Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow

A mixture of mainly Cormorants, a few Shags, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Grey Heron far right.

An adult winter Mediterranean Gull

And another adult winter Mediterranean Gull in flight.

These two adult Great Black-backed Gulls have got the right idea, hunkered down out of the wind.

And an adult male Pied Wagtail, which is almost as confiding as the Robin in my back garden. Which reminds me, I'm hoping to tempt the Robin with some live mealworms tomorrow. Watch this space!!

General Shots:

Yep it was windy with gusts reaching 47 mph today.

Ted:

It looks like Ted has had enough of running in straight lines.

26 Dec 22

Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church and Pennsylvania Castle Woods

Today was a Boxing Day walk to stretch those legs from yesterday's Christmas Day over-indulgence in food and drink.

The walk wasn't too bad with the following three highlights:

3 Rock Pipits - Church Ope Cove
1 Stonechat - East Weares
2 Chiffchaff - East Weares and Pennsylvania Castle Woods

Mammals Recorded:
2 Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded:
1 Gannet
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Pied Wagtail

3 Rock Pipits
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
Blackbird
2 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

A lone Gannet heading down the coast

Four Herring Gulls, with a slightly smaller individual centre of frame

Just the one Robin on the beach.

It looks like its just found a meal under one of the beach huts.

And it was just three Rock Pipits feeding in amongst the washed up Kelp. This is number one.

Number two and......

.....................number three.

A Rock Pipit feeding on Kelp Flies and............

.............their larvae on the beach at Church Ope Cove

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:

Kelp Fly and larvae (Coelopa frigida)

Plants:
Japanese Spindle Tree (Euonymus japonicus)

Japanese Spindle and.........

..........its berries.

General Shots:

It never amazes me as to the wildlife you find on Portland. A Raccoon, really!!

Ted:

No foxes here today Ted!!

Ships Today:

This is the Maltese Ro-Ro Cargo Ship "Opaline" on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

25 Dec 22

Wakeham

Merry Christmas to all my followers, especially to Ed Wilson, Don Young and Martin Newman, who have been very kind in their comments about the Blog and with Ted's antics this year.

Not much today, as I prepare Christmas Dinner for the masses who are about to descend on the Cottage. So all my bird watching today was looking out of the kitchen window, with the occasional excursion to the food waste bin outside.

My view today from the kitchen window.

Birds Recorded in and around the garden:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Collared Dove
2 Dunnock
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
2 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch