Port and Wey: February 2024

29 Feb 24

Wakeham

Yet another wet miserable day.

And of course this year being a Leap Year I only have one highlight from 2020.

2020

The Pulpit gets a battering from Storm Jorge

Portland Bill

With the forecast for rain around midday, it was a quick cup of coffee before setting off to The Bill before it arrived.

Unfortunately not too many highlights, on a visit where I thought I might see an early Wheatear or Swallow, as both have been seen in the past week on the mainland, with the latter seen at RSPB Radipole Lake a few days ago.

The best today were four Skylarks coming off the sea and heading inland, plus the female Black Redstart, which is still present on the small cliff face east of the lighthouse.

And as I was heading back to the car, before the ticket ran out for 10:35am, it began to rain. Seems I timed it just right.

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Razorbill
12+ Guillemot
Wood Pigeon
4 Skylark
5 Rock Pipit
1 Black Redstart
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling

An adult Herring Gull

And a 4th calendar year Herring Gull

Just off the Red Crane was this Razorbill.

And to the west of the Pulpit was this Guillemot with.....................

............other individuals taking off from the west cliffs.

A few Rock Pipits....

.....were about. But no sign of any plastic leg ringed birds.

And the female Black Redstart is still present to the easy of the lighthouse.

Ted and Theo:

No guesses as to which one of these is the puppy. I know Ted likes a good buzz every now and then, but Theo never stops.

Ships Today:

This is the British Fishing Boat WH425 "Quarter Bell" fishing southwest of Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Tug "Polmear"...............

............on its way from Poole to Portland Harbour via a location just off West Bexington. More on this vessel here.

27 Feb 24

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

After most the day sowing flower seeds in the back garden, there was just enough light to have a walk with the hounds. I decided to give the cove a miss, as the rainwater was still running down the steps to the beach, making it a slippery walk.

So this afternoon I kept to the high ground, with just a few highlights for the Blog, being 4 Stock Doves and two female Stonechats in the Butterfly Reserve.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
4 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
Blackbird
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

An adult Great Black-backed Gull heading down the island.

Two of the four Stock Doves which were feeding in the butterfly reserve.....

.......As was this female Stonechat and another close by.

Plants:
Common Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Field Garlic (Allium oleraceum)

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)

From front to back Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna), Field Garlic (Allium oleraceum) and Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea).

Ted and Theo:

As Theo jumps up onto the wall, so Ted.......

.............looks the other way.

Ships Today:

This is the Panamanian Container Ship "Ever Grade" on its way from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia). More on this vessel here.

This is the British Fishing Boat - WH296 "Portland Isle".............

.............. on its way back to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel here and here

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Veendijk" on its way from Pembroke to Antwerp. More on this vessel here.

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

This is the British General Cargo Ship "Neptune" on its way from Belfast to Whitstable via Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel here.

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.

26 Feb 24

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

It was a real change in the weather today. Gone was the torrential rain, but instead there was a very cold north-easterly, which at times was gusting up to 50 mph. The outdoor thermometer was reading 5°C, but add on the wind-chill factor and it felt more like minus 5°C.

Highlights were all on the beach again, with 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 female Stonechat, 1 female Black Redstart and 3 Chiffchaff, with one Chiffy singing.

Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
1 Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Rock Pipit
3 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
1 Black Redstart
Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

A Cormorant in full breeding plumage makes its way across the cove

And the Black-headed Gull is still at the cove. It is very close to full Summer plumage.

Just the one Rock Pipit on the beach.

And there was just this..........

............female Black Redstart here today.

And the female Stonechat was present, but there was no sign of the male.

And one of the three Chiffchaffs on and around the cove. This individual was singing, but the wind drowned out the recording I made of it.

Reptiles Recorded:
2 Wall Lizard

Despite the freezing conditions, a couple.........

.........of Wall Lizards were basking in the sun. Brrrrrr.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) on a flowering hebe

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

A Common Dronefly on a flowering Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

And my first shieldbug of the year. This is a Hairy Shieldbug.

Ted and Theo:

Theo stretching his legs as.........

...........Ted looks on.

Ships Today:

This is the Greek Offshore Tug/Supply Ship "Astrea" on its way from Esbjerg to Ceuta (Spain). More on this vessel here.

This is the Belgium General Cargo Ship "Marie" on its way from Immingham to Aviles (Spain). More on this vessel here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Tucana" on its way from Newport to Rotterdam. More on this vessel here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Ual Bodewes" on its way from Teesport to Las Palmas (Spain). More on this vessel here.

25 Feb 24

Wakeham

Yesterday it was my choice to stay at home, to catch up on some housework. Today though, it was the weather that put a stop to my walk, with heavy rain falling for most of the day. So here we go again...........