Port and Wey: December 2023

31 Dec 23

Portland Castle Beach, Portland Harbour and Portland Marina

It was very quick trip to the local convenient store at Hamm Beach and then around to Portland Castle Beach for a walk to Portland Marina and back.

Main highlight was a Great Northern Diver close to the esplanade.

Other birds of interest were 2 adult Gannets that appeared over the harbour as I was about to leave and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers just off the marina breakwater.

Birds Recorded:
1 Great Northern Diver
2 Gannet
Cormorant
Shag

1 Grey Heron
6 Red-breasted Merganser
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
3 Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow

Here are a few photos and a video of the Great Northern Diver close to the esplanade.

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As I was leaving to go home, these two........

............Gannets appeared over the harbour.

Spot the Grey Heron in amongst the Cormorants, Shags and Herring Gulls.

General Shots:

Yet another very windy day with the windsock parallel to the ground with gusts reaching over 50mph.

Not only was it very windy, but there were some spectacular clouds like this Cumulus nimbus

Ted and Theo:

Ted and Theo enjoying there walk by Osprey Quay.

And they seem to be getting on okay.

Ships Today:

This is the Liberian Heavy Load Carrier "Xiang An Kou" anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel here.

This is the Maltese Crude Oil Tanker "Ghat" anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel here.

30 Dec 23

Wakeham

I know its Winter, but this year it seems to be wetter and windier than I have ever known. And today was just that wet, windy and very gloomy.

So here we go again.

2022

Teal at RSPB Radipole Lake

2021

Not this actual Frog, but there was one by the "Bath Pond" today.

2020

A Redwing recovering from either hitting a window, escaping from a Sparrowhawk attack or something similar. An hour or so later it had recovered and was seen in the trees in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle.

2019

One of the three Firecrests seen around Church Ope Cove.

2018

One of the 33 Rock Pipits at Church Ope Cove today.

2017

One of the three Firecrests seen around Church Ope Cove.

29 Dec 23

Chesil Cove

It was a quick trip to the cove today, to see what was about. And despite the wind speed dropping slightly, the sea was still pretty rough after Storm Gerrit.

Main highlights were 3 Guillemots close into shore being battered by the waves. Seemed to be a bit odd for them to be there and while I was watching them for a good 30 minutes or more, not once did I see them fishing.

The unusual thing was that having watched them for that length of time, they all vanished bar one, and never reappeared again. Were they sick birds and succumbed to the large waves that were coming over them.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
3 Guillemot
2 Rock Pipit
5 Pied Wagtail
3 Carrion Crow

This Great Black-backed Gull has found a dead fish washed up onto the beach.

A few photos of two of the three Guillemots close in to the beach

And for some reason, only one Guillemot was seen!!

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One of the two Rock Pipits behind the sea wall.

Also in the protection of the sea wall was this family of Pied Wagtails.

A Carrion Crow heads towards the beach, with a Herring Gull close behind.

General Shots and videos:

The remnants of Storm Gerrit,..................

..................with huge waves battering Chesil Beach.

Looking south towards Portland

28 Dec 23

Wakeham

What a disastrous 24 hours we've had, when we had to call the fire brigade out, when our chimney caught fire last night. And then today dealing with the aftermath, with wet carpets, a wood burner in bits and then organising a Chimney Sweep to inspect the damage.

Here are a few photos and videos of the fire crew dealing with the incident, starting off with the Wood Burner as it went out of control.

And from the back of the house.

27 Dec 23

Wakeham

Well that was short-lived. The calm, windless day we had yesterday was once again replaced with gale force winds. This time it's Storm Gerrit causing problems across the UK especially around our coasts. More on Storm Gerrit here.

So once again here are a few highlights from this day.

2022

Seems it was pretty windy on this day last year, with gust reaching 47mph.

2021

Today was a wet miserable day, so I put together my top ten birds for this year here, with the House Sparrow being my top bird species.

2020

A Gannet making its way down Portland's east coast.

2019

A real Pea-souper of a day.

2018

A Rock Pipit at Church Ope Cove.

2017

A Firecrest in Pennsylvania Castle Woods

26 Dec 23

Portland Bill

A trip to the Bill, to blow the cobwebs away from an enjoyable Christmas Day. And for the first time in a good couple of weeks, there was just a very gentle breeze. What big difference after the strong gale force winds we have had to endure.

Not too many highlights on a late afternoon walk, with a dozen or more Gannets being the best of a sea watch.

Birds Recorded:
12+ Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
6 Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling

A Herring Gull in pursuit of a Gannet......

.........it did eventually catch up with it, let a big screech and turned away.

One of 6 Rock Pipits at The Bill.

Mushrooms Recorded:

Field Blewit (Lepista saeva)

This is Field Blewit. It is an edible Mushroom, but must be cooked and never eaten raw. More on this mushroom Here and Here.

Ted and Theodore:

Oh well, Theo's only 6 months old, so time yet.

Ships Today:

This is the British Fishing Boat - WH296 "Portland Isle" fishing off Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.

25 Dec 23

Wakeham

Today was one of those days when I was let loose in the kitchen to cook the Christmas Dinner. And this year it was a bit different as I'm attempted to do it using an Air Fryer.

So as was be tied up for most of the day, here are a few highlights from this day from the past 6 years on Portland.