14 Dec 22

Portland Bird Observatory, Obs Quarry, Hut Fields and Lower Horse Fields

It was a really bitter day to be out in. With temperatures hovering just above freezing and that very cold north-easterly, it felt pretty nippy.

Main highlights in very dull conditions were around 150 Golden Plovers and 50+ Lapwings in the lower horse fields just north of the Observatory. In fact on the way home I came across a further 8 Lapwing in a horse paddock, just south of Coombefield Quarry Here.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny
Brown Rat


Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
3 Kestrel
150+ Golden Plover
50+ Lapwing
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
Blackbird
3 Song Thrush
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

One of the Golden Plovers in the fields just north of the Observatory

And a few more Golden Plovers feeding in another horse field

Two Lapwings

In the Crown Estate Fields the Carrion Crows and Jackdaws gather.

A Raven on the roof of the Bird Observatory

General Shots:

Looking south across the fields towards the Bird Observatory (right) and the main Lighthouse at The Bill

Ted:

Ted following me down the track to the Hut Fields. The Observatory is on the right and top left is the Higher Lighthouse, which is not in service anymore.