31 Jan 23

Furzedown Farm, Tidmoor Cove and Lynch Cove

This afternoon it was a visit to the static caravan, just to make sure everything was okay. And then after a quick look, Ted and I went for a walk.

And what a muddy walk it was, so much so, I had to carry him on a couple of occasions.

Still it was a worthwhile walk with for more additions to my 2023 bird species list, which now sits at 78.

Birds Recorded:
13 Brent Geese

5 Shelduck

1 Sparrowhawk

8 Oystercatcher

3 Bar-tailed Godwit

1 Curlew

2 Whimbrel

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

1 Goldcrest

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Thirteen Brent Geese in Lynch Cove

My first Sparrowhawk of the year flying over the farm.

And my first Curlew of the year feeding in Tidmoor Cove

General Shots:

A very muddy Furzedown Farm

And it was much the same on the track leading down to Tidmoor Cove.

On the right is Tidmoor Cove on the left Chesil Beach

Ted:

Someone is in a hurry!!!

30 Jan 23

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

Today was my first trip to the Bill this year and I was able to tick off Purple Sandpiper, Razorbill, 
Guillemot and Little Owl. Still no Sparrowhawk or Linnet yet.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
2 Oystercatcher
3 Purple Sandpiper
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull

Razorbill

Guillemot
Wood Pigeon
1 Little Owl
Rock Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
2 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

My first Purple Sandpipers this year. These three...........

..............were on the ledge just below The Pulpit

And my first Little Owl of the year. Last year they....

.........didn't nest in the Obs Quarry.............

.............so its good to see them back.

It looks a standoff between me and this Rock Pipit. I'm sure it blinked first!!!

At the Obs one of the 7 Long-tailed Tits.....

.........that have been there today.

Ted:

Ted and the Portland Lighthouse.

Ships Today:

This is the British Destroyer D33 "HMS Dauntless" to the east of Portland. More on this vessel Here.

A little closer to Portland was the British Patrol Ship P282 "HMS Severn". More on this vessel Here.

This is the British fishing boat WH296 "Portland Isle" returning to Weymouth Harbour from its fishing just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.

And this is Portland Isle  just about to pass the Trinity House Obelisk

This is the British Fishing Boat WH425 "Quarter Bell" on its way back from its fishing grounds to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

And this is Quarter Bell just about to pass the Trinity House Obelisk

This is the British Fishing Boat PH 37 "Loyal Friend" just off Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.

Aircraft Today:

On the left is the Dassault Falcon 20 (G-FRAI) and on the right Dassault Falcon 20 (G-FRAL) heading east over The Bill

More on G-FRAI Here

More on G-FRAL Here.

29 Jan 23

Ferrybridge and Portland Harbour

On the way back from Weymouth, I dropped into Ferrybridge to see what was about. The sun was just setting, but there was just enough light to see what was on the sandflats.

There were plenty of waders about, including my first Ringed Plovers for the year. Another first was a Great Crested Grebe asleep in amongst a few Red-breasted Mergansers.

Birds Recorded:
1 Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
2 Little Egret
30+ Red-breasted Merganser
Kestrel
2 Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow

A Great Crested Grebe to the right of the Red-breasted Mergansers

A Little Egret under the bridge.

An Oystercatcher..........

........... coming into land

Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and at the back two Mediterranean Gulls.

A Ringed Plover between two Dunlin

A third winter Mediterranean Gull

And another third winter in flight.

And another 3rd winter Mediterranean Gull fishing in Portland Harbour

Ted:

Ted with lots of energy

Ships Today:

This is the Dutch General Cargo ship "Lady Ami" leaving Portland Harbour for Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

28 Jan 23

Pennsylvania Castle Woods, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock

Not the best of days weather-wise. It was so gloomy and bitterly cold, but at least it wasn't raining.

The new horse paddock in the butterfly reserve is proving to be a hit with two over-wintering female Stonechats, a few Robins. and 3 Meadow Pipits.

And at the cove there was a female Black Redstart on top of the south facing cliffs. As people started to leave the cove, she eventually flew down onto the beach.


Mammals Recorded:
1 Bunny

Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
3 Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
1 Black Redstart
Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

One of the three Meadow Pipits in the new paddock.

And another Meadow Pipit.

Also in the new paddock were these two..........

.............female Stonechats.

There was a lot of people on the beach at Church Ope Cove, which was why this female Black Redstart was on top of the south facing cliffs.

So when I walked up the track to the top of the cliff to find it, it was then that I realised that everyone else had left the cove as well, and that the female Black Redstart had flown back down to the beach. I just had that feeling that was going to happen.

General Shots:

What a brilliant job the contractors have done in clearing the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

It has certainly opened it up to the sunlight.

It will be interesting to see how it looks in the Spring.

And the butterfly reserve, doesn't seem to have suffered too much with the new temporary paddock in place.

Ted:

A few Ted's today.

Ships Today:

This is the Cypriot Container Ship "BG Jade" on its way from Rotterdam to Belfast. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Container Ship "YM Wreath" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from London to Suez Canal (Egypt). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Container Ship "Seaspan Kobe" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from Piraeus (Greece) to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Danish Platform "Wind" on its way from Fishguard to Oostende (Belgium). More on this vessel Here.

27 Jan 23

Portland Marina

This afternoon Ted and I had a walk in and around Portland Marina. No new bird species for the year, but I did see 2 Bottlenose Dolphins break surface twice by the marina entrance.

Other highlights were 2 Carrion Crows both carrying fish, and being chased by a Great Black-backed Gull on separate occasions. I can only surmise that the fish had been regurgitated by one or two of the Cormorants stood on the breakwater, and the Great Black-backed Gull had seen both crows fly off with their fish.

The first Carrion Crow was forced into giving up its fish in mid-air and as the Great Black-backed Gull was devouring it whilst sat on the water, it saw another fish-carrying Carrion Crow and took off to pursue that one. I didn't see the outcome as both disappeared behind the breakwater.


Mammals Recorded:
2 Bottlenose Dolphin

The marina entrance where there were two Bottlenose Dolphins. Alas no photos 😞

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
6 Red-breasted Merganser
3 Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
4 Carrion Crow

Cormorants, Shags and a Great Black-backed Gull

Six Cormorants, 2 Shags, the Great Black-backed Gull and far right a Carrion Crow

This Cormorant has just caught a Blenny. More on Blenny's Here.

But it dropped it!!!

A quick look to see where it went and.........

........back down to......

.............retrieve it.

Here it is looking quite smug before.......

......swimming off.

Here are four other Cormorants fishing

An adult Cormorant in flight.

And another Cormorant drying off........

...............those wet wings, with quite some force.

A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and.........

..........a second pair, and.........

...........the third pair.

Two Oystercatchers on........

............the breakwater.

An adult winter Black-headed Gull......

........flying around the marina.

This Black-headed Gull is moulting into...........

..........its breeding plumage. The head is almost "black".

Another adult Winter plumaged Black-headed Gull stood on one of the pontoons.

A very majestic Herring Gull

So what is happening here. An adult Great Black-backed Gull pursuing a Carrion Crow.

It's nearly caught it up and as it gets closer, the.............

.............Carrion Crow..........

.........drops a fish.

The Great Black-backed Gull puts the.......

...........brakes on and heads back to......

.......its prize.

Another Carrion Crow with a fish and........

.......our Great Black-backed Gull has spotted it and is in pursuit. I didn't see the end of this chase as both birds disappeared behind the breakwater.


Ted:

Ted on one of the pontoons. I don't think he's to pleased about having his lead on still.