Well it was an excellent start to the day weather-wise, with wall to wall blue skies, very little wind and lots of sun. The only downer was that biting cold wind, which is now coming from the north-east.
Only highlights this afternoon, with a trip to Portland Castle Beach, were 15+ Red-breasted Merganser in the Portland Harbour and an Oystercatcher in the marina.
Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
15+ Red-breasted Merganser
1 Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow
The Portland Marina Breakwater where there always seem to be Cormorants, Shags and gulls resting up.
Further out in the harbour there were quite a few female Red-breasted Mergansers with these.....
...........four drakes.....
..........close in to Portland Castle Beach
A lone Oystercatcher feeding inside Portland Marina
Where there are posts in the harbour, you'll inevitably find a few Great Black-backed Gulls stood on them.
Portland Harbour from Portland Castle Beach
Ted:
Seems Ted has found a new playmate as he does his Bichon Buzz with Dawn and the owner of the other dog looking.
Ships Today:
This is the Cypriot Oil/Chemical Tanker "Baltic Advance" still anchored up in Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.
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Wakeham
This morning I had an interesting sighting of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the Valerian in the back garden and also a Red Admiral flying about. That has to be the first December Hummingbird Hawk-moth I have ever recorded.
