Now that's more like it, with some really good highlights today:
Oystercatcher - One on the rocks at Church Ope Cove
Rock Pipit - Five on the beach including "AL"
Pied Wagtail - Three on the beach
Grey Wagtail - One on the beach
Robin - Quite a few seen on my walk, including three around the beach.
Stonechat - The/a different pair at the cove.
Black Redstart - Its been a long time coming but my first Black Redstart at the cove this Autumn
Other things of interest were:
A Buff-tailed Bumblebee at the cove and two Marmalade Hoverflies at the top of Penns Wood
Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel
A Grey Squirrel raiding a bird table along the railway cuttings
Birds Recorded:
2 Gannet
1 Cormorant
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
5 Rock Pipit
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
1 Black Redstart
1 Blackbird
7 Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
An Oystercatcher landed on the rocks in the cove but................
...............didn't stay long.
And "AL" the Rock Pipit is still at the cove along with 4 others...........................
................................I first noted this bird on 15 Oct and further investigation revealed it was first trapped as a juvenile and ringed on the 30th August 2023 (Ring number 2699306 by Portland Bird Observatory) in a small cove just north of the Lobster Pot Cafe and has since moved to Church Ope Cove.
Bees Recorded:
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
The northeast corner of Church Ope Cove where there were an Oystercatcher, 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Robins, 2 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart and 2 Wrens.
Ted:
Ships Today:
This is the privately owned yacht "Obsidian" flying the flag of the Cayman Islands. It is owned by an unknown billionaire and is worth just over 96 million pounds. It is on its way from Portland Harbour to
Saint Thomas (US Virgin Islands). More on this vessel here, here and here
And I really did think there was a story in the making here. This Police Boat, from Portland Harbour, was fast tracking its way towards "Obsidian". And in fact "Obsidian" had stopped its engines just off Weymouth Bay and from my viewing point at Rufus Castle I was just waiting for the outcome. Half way out into the bay and the Police Boat did a 180° turn and headed back to port. What was that all about!!!
One of the three Pied Wagtails on the beach along with............
.................a Grey Wagtail.
And as in previous years a Robin has set up its Winter quarters by the rocks on the beach, with.....
........another taking over the beach hut area.
And could this be the same pair...........
................of Stonechats I came across on the 6 Nov 23!!
Below are a few images and videos of a female/juvenile Black Redstart at Church Ope Cove. My first here this Autumn.
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Marmalade Hoverflies on these........
...............flowering daisies sp.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
fly sp.
A fly sp. at the cove.
General Shots:
Looking north along Penns Weare.
And looking south across Church Ope Cove.
Ted:
I'm coming Ted.
This is the British Fishing Boat - WH296 "Portland Isle".................
This is the British Fishing Boat PH 37 "Loyal Friend" fishing just off Portland's east coast. More on this vessel Here.
Saint Thomas (US Virgin Islands). More on this vessel here, here and here
