It was an early start (6:45am) in the hope of finding both Whinchat and Common Redstart. But yet again I failed miserably.
However there was still plenty to see, with the following highlights noted:
Swallow: 50+ passed through starting at around 8:00am
Yellow Wagtail: My first this Spring heading north over Sweethill farm.
Stonechat: Five dotted around the fields.
Wheatear: A male and two females in the Top Fields
Common Whitethroat: Several noted along my walk.
Lesser Whitethroat: One at Sweethill Farm
Blackcap: 1 singing at Southwell Business Park
Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler: 15+ moving up the island with a least 4 singing Willow Warblers.
Mammals Recorded:
1 Brown Rat
Birds Recorded:
5 Gannet
Kestrel
8 Pheasant
Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
However there was still plenty to see, with the following highlights noted:
Swallow: 50+ passed through starting at around 8:00am
Yellow Wagtail: My first this Spring heading north over Sweethill farm.
Stonechat: Five dotted around the fields.
Wheatear: A male and two females in the Top Fields
Common Whitethroat: Several noted along my walk.
Lesser Whitethroat: One at Sweethill Farm
Blackcap: 1 singing at Southwell Business Park
Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler: 15+ moving up the island with a least 4 singing Willow Warblers.
Mammals Recorded:
1 Brown Rat
Birds Recorded:
5 Gannet
Kestrel
8 Pheasant
Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
6 Razorbill/Guillemot
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
50+ Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
1 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
5 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
Blackbird
7 Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
15+ Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
40+ Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
50+ Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
1 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
5 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
Blackbird
7 Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
15+ Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
40+ Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
A male Kestrel at the business park looking for his breakfast.
One of 8 Pheasants noted this morning.
This Skylark landed on this post............
..............and then started singing.
One of 5 Stonechats seen along my walk.
Just three Wheatears today. All in the Top Fields.
There were several Common Whitethroats...........
............singing along my walk. Well this one was before it flew off. (In slo-mo)
A Lesser Whitethroat singing at Sweethill farm
A Willow Warbler at Culverwell
2 Large Whites
General Shots:
Early morning sun at The Bill.
From left to right the Obelisk, Portland Lighthouse and the Obs Lighthouse.
Looking south towards Higher Lighthouse, with Ted photo-bombing my photo again!!
Ships Today:
This is the British General Cargo Ship "Beaumont" on its way from Ghent (Belgium) to Ringaskiddy (Ireland). More on this vessel here.
This is the British Charter Fishing Boat "Meerkat" on its way from Weymouth to its fishing grounds just off Portland. More on this vessel here, here and here.
This is the British Charter Fishing Boat "Fish On 2"on its way from Weymouth to its fishing grounds just off Portland. More on this vessel here, here and 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.
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Portland Castle Beach
As I was close to Portland Castle, I stopped off for a few minutes to see what if anything was about. There were streams of Swallows crossing the harbour and to my surprise there was Great Northern Diver still over-wintering here.
A Great Northern Diver is still..........
..............lingering in Portland Harbour, along with two others apparently.