It was a change of scenery today, in the hope of finding a Wheatear. So it was off to Fancy's Farm, followed by a quick visit to Tout Quarry. It was certainly a good call as I not only came across several Wheatear, but also a Redwing. Both firsts for the year.
Highlights were:
Stock Dove - Three in the Verne
Meadow Pipit - Two Fancy's Farm
Stonechat - Two females Fancy's Farm
Wheatear - Several just south of Fancy's Farm
Redwing - One just south of Fancy's Farm
1 Song Thrush - One singing at Tout Quarry
Also seen:
Yellow Dung Fly - One Tout Quarry
Fox Moth caterpillar - One in Tout Quarry
Birds Recorded:
1 Shag
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
3 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
2 Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
7+ Wheatear
Blackbird
1 Redwing
1 Song Thrush
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
One of the resident Common Buzzards at Tout Quarry
One of the two Meadow Pipits at Fancy's Farm
Also on the fence surrounding the farm was this Robin and one.........
...........of the two Stonechats here.
Here is the other Stonechat
Below are a few photos of the Wheatears seen just south of Fancy's Farm late morning.
A short video of one of the Wheatear I came across this morning
A bonus bird was this Redwing which was in the scrubland south of Fancy's Farm
One of many Jackdaws at the Verne.
And another Jackdaw having a bit of a "moult".
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
A Yellow Dung Fly on an Alexanders.
Caterpillars Recorded:
Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi)
A Fox Moth caterpillar trundling across the path at Tout Quarry
General Shots and Video:
One of at least three goats............
................in the Verne moat
Ted:
Ted looking south from Fancy's Farm
And across to Portland's west coast and looking south from Tout Quarry
Ships Today:
This is the British Auxiliary Ship - A135 "Argus" just off Portland. More on this Vessel Here.
This is the Cypriot Container Ship "BG Sapphire" on its way from Rotterdam to Cork. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Saudi Arabian Crude Oil Tanker "Dilam" anchored way out in Lyme bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Portuguese Container Ship "Mirror" on its way from Dublin to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.
And finally out in Portland Harbour was........
............the Great Britain Sailing Team onboard "Athena Pathway". More on Athena Pathway Here.