10 Jan 24

Portland Bird Observatory, Obs Quarry, The Slopes, Higher Lighthouse, Top Fields, Culverwell and Crown Estate Fields

It was a late afternoon trip to the Observatory Quarry and neighbouring fields, in the hope of seeing a Little Owl and Short-eared Owl. I failed on both counts, but I did at least record a couple of first for the year with Stock Doves in the Crown Estate Fields and a Goldcrest in the front garden of the Obs.

Birds Recorded:
Gannet
Cormorant
1 Little Egret
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Song Thrush
1 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Its not often you get to see Little Egrets on mainland Portland, but this individual has..........

.........taken a liking to the pool at Culverwell, where just recently the trees and bushes were scrubbed out, giving the area a good facelift. I cant wait to see what this area will be like in the Spring.

A Meadow Pipit bathed in the light of the setting sun.

And this Raven has found............

..............a dead bunny and was enjoying its meal when one of the ponies in the field came to investigate and the Raven flew off. I'm sure it came back later.

General Shots:

Portland Bird Observatory

In the distance stands..........

..............Portland Lighthouse.

Ships Today:

This is the Maltese Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Monjasa Provider" on its way from Falmouth to Portland. More on this vessel here.

This is the British Minesweeper M34 "HMS Middleton" on manoeuvres just off Portland. More on this vessel here and here.

This is the Panamanian LNG Tanker "SM Kestrel" ...........

on its way from Milford Haven to Portland...........

........................ More on "SM Kestrel" here.