After a visit to Weymouth Hospital to have some stitches out, it was short stop at Radipole Lake, to see what was about from the bridge next to the RSPB visitors centre.
Unfortunately there had been some very heavy rain, and the water levels were very high covering the "beach" around the island just in front of the bridge, so no chance of any waders etc. on the edge here.
After a wet start, it turned out really nice with blue skies and the odd cloud.
I still haven't risen to the occasion, where I will have a short walk down the back garden and back. But I will soon. However I did stick my head outside the conservatory door this afternoon.
This puffed up Wood Pigeon was trying to keep warm in the Sycamore at the bottom of the garden, unlike......
............this Herring Gull which is keeping warm next to this chimney pot.
I will get outdoors eventually. But for the time being, I will be adjusting to my post-op physical capabilities, which sadly doesn't mean walking any distance at the moment.
Well it's my first day at home, having had open heart surgery exactly a week ago, which is quite unbelievable.
Unfortunately the weather wasn't that brilliant so, walking up and down the garden wasn't possible. Hopefully I wont have to wait long before I can get outside.
It was another good day with my recovery, so hopefully some good news later.
Bird sightings:
4 Herring Gull
20+ godwit sps.
2 Wood Pigeons
8 Feral Pigeon
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Magpie
4 Carrion Crow
The Singaporean Container Ship in dock today is the "APL Singapura". More on this vessel here.
And there was good news, as I was allowed home late afternoon. That's pretty good going as discharges for "Redo's" are between 7 to 10 days. So 6 days was brilliant.
Well, the view from the ward window is pretty much like last years, with just slightly more of the right-hand side of the dockyard showing and of course less of where the cruise ships tie up on the left.
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Glen Caravan Park, The Mermaid Track and Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east)
So today was my last walk with Ted, as tomorrow I head off to Southampton General Hospital until the end of the month. He will still be getting his walks with the family. Plus a neighbour asked if she could take him. Ted you're going to be spoilt!
Today was a very quiet day bird-wise with just two Chiffchaffs noted along both sections of the railway cuttings.
The only other things of note were a Grey Squirrel in the caravan park, 2 Gannets heading towards Portland Harbour and 5 Common Wasps on Ivy flowers along Quarry Lane.
Mammals Recorded: 1 Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 2 Gannet Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Dunnock Robin Blackbird 2 Chiffchaff Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
This male Blackbird is really enjoying this Newton Wonder
Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc. Feral pigeon
Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded: 5 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: A few unidentified flies Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata Root-maggot fly Anthomyiidae family Blue Blowfly Calliphora vicina
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Glen Caravan Park, The Mermaid Track and Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east)
Blue skies and lots of sunshine, but wow, what a nip in the air. There has been quite a drop in the temperature since yesterday, but despite feeling brrrr there were quite a few highlights including 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Marmalade Hoverfly.
On the bird front I couldn't locate the Long-tailed Tit flock, and their entourage, but I did record 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests in Wakeham Railway Cuttings, whilst on the east side of the road bridge there was a male Blackcap and a lone Chiffchaff.
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk Herring Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Collared Dove 2 Meadow Pipit Dunnock Robin Blackbird 1 Blackcap 3 Chiffchaff 2 Goldcrest Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
A couple of photos of the local........
...............Sparrowhawk as it looks for its next prey.