Port and Wey: 22 Feb 24

Chesil Cove and Portland Castle Beach

After heavy rain through the night and this morning, it was good to see that the forecast was spot on for a break in the weather from 2:00pm onwards.

And so it was off to Chesil Cove to see what the gale force winds had pushed in. Sadly nothing there was nothing of note, so it was off to Portland Castle Beach to see what was there.

Chesil Cove

Highlights here were a lone Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail and two Ravens feeding on a dead Gannet. Other than that it was just a handful of gulls.

Birds Recorded:
10 Black-headed Gull
20+ Herring Gull
4 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Rock Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Raven

A few Black-headed Gulls in various stages of moult. The "black" hoods on two of the gulls (which are actually dark brown) are birds in Summer plumage.

A Winter plumaged Black-headed Gull alights...........

.........delicately onto the water.

Below the esplanade a lone Rock Pipit and......

.........this Pied Wagtail were looking for insects

One of the two Ravens on the beach feeding on a dead Gannet. This Raven has just blinked and appears to have a blue eye. In fact it is a third eye-lid and helps protect the eyes and moistens them. It is called a nictitating membrane.

General Video

Rough seas along Chesil Beach

Portland Castle Beach

Out in the harbour the only highlight was a Great Northern Diver.

Birds Recorded:
1 Great Northern Diver
3 Cormorant
1 Shag
1 Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Carrion Crow

Below are few images and a video of a Great Northern Diver just 40 metres or so off the beach