I arrived at Ferrybridge right at the bottom of the low tide, when all the sandflats were exposed. Main highlights were 4 Great Northern Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a drake Red-breasted Merganser.
Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Bumpers Lane
It was good to get out for a walk this afternoon and I know Ted enjoyed it, after being cooped in the house for the last couple of days.
Main highlight was coming across a pair of Stonechats in the butterfly reserve. I suspect they have been here for the Winter, but were hidden away the last time I walked this route.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Robin 2 Stonechat Blackbird Great Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch 30+ Goldfinch
In the butterfly reserve were this male and................
...........female Stonechat.
Ted:
Ted enjoying his walk.
Ships Today:
This is the Italian Vehicles Carrier "Gran Bretagna" on its way from Southampton to Valencia (Spain). More on this vessel here.
This s the Lithuanian Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship "Athena Seaways" on its way from Rosslare to Dunkirk. More on this vessel here.
This is the Liberian Container Ship "Chennai Express" on its way from Hamburg to New York. More on this vessel here.
Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, The Grove, Shepherd's Dinner and Bumpers Lane
It was a change of scenery today, and a walk to The Grove to see if there were any Peregrine Falcons about. Sadly there weren't any, but it was good to get out for a long walk anyway.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant 1 Buzzard Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Wood Pigeon 2 Meadow Pipit Robin Blackbird Great Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
By the Grove were these..........
...............two Meadow Pipits.
Ted:
Ted waiting for me again!!
Ships today:
This is the British Fishing Boat DH23 "Hannah Beth II" heading up Portland's east coast. I don't have any info on this vessel, other than.................
..................this video of it leaving Brixham Harbour February 2021.
It was a busy day clearing out the garden shed, before Dawn and I set about demolition it in a few days time. In its place will be a solid vermin proof replacement. The damage the rats have caused is really bad, and has been for a number of years now.
So hopefully the new one with its concrete base and thicker walls will be enough to deter any vermin from attempting to enter.
So unfortunately there wasn't time for a walk, but I still managed to keep an eye out for any birds about, which included a Sparrowhawk which flashed past very low over the neighbouring gardens.
Well that was waste of a day. Having been informed that there was a four hour window for a parcel arriving, which required a signature, it turned up right on the 4hr deadline and with it rain!!
Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Bumpers Lane
It was a quick walk with Ted this morning, before I headed off to Weymouth for a 2 1/2 hour Cardiac Rehabilitation Session, which will be every Monday for 7 weeks. All I can say is I discovered muscles in my body, that haven't been used for years!
On the way to the Rehabilitation Centre I at least ticked off a Sparrowhawk as it flew west over Radipole Lake.
The walk sadly wasn't that exciting, but at least Ted got a walk today.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Robin
Blackbird
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
There were quite a few Carrion Crows about.
Here's another one feeding in the butterfly reserve, plus............
...............two more.
Starlings in the Lower Horse paddock. Most are still in their Winter Plumage.
A camera shy Goldfinch along Broadcroft Quarry Lane.
Ships Today:
This is the Japanese Vehicles Carrier "Eternal Ace" on its way from Sheerness to Walvis Bay (Namibia). More on this vessel here.
It was a day spent at home, with a few household chores to catch up on, including cutting up lots of kindling for the log burner.
And of course who should join me in the garden, but nonother than the resident Robin. Also about were a few Goldfinches plus the "overwintering" Chiffchaff.
Portland Bird Observatory, Obs Quarry, Hut Fields, Portland Bill and Crown Estate Fields
It was another trip to the Bill again, this time in much calmer conditions than a few days ago, when Storm Herminia hit us.
Highlights today were a flock of around 100 Linnets in the Crown Estate Fields, my first this year, plus a "crest" (Firecrest/Goldcrest) which flew from the Fishermen's Cottages across Portland Common towards the Lighthouse. Unfortunately it didn't call and I lost sight of it over the Car Park.
Other highlights were a Chiffchaff in the Obs Quarry, a Raven carrying a dead rat and three Buzzards, including a pale individual, which was sat on the telegraph pole in the Obs garden.
Only disappointment today was not finding any Purple Sandpipers, though two were seen this morning by the Obelisk. And still no sign of the Little Owls in the Obs Quarry, however they have been seen, plus a Barn Owl over Crown Estate Fields early morning and late evenings.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Seal
This Grey Seal was.................
................just off The Pulpit
Birds Recorded: 12+ Gannet Cormorant Shag 3 Buzzard 2 Kestrel Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Guillemot Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Rock Pipit Pied Wagtail Robin 1 Chiffchaff 1 Goldcrest/Firecrest Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw 4 Raven 150+ Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch 100+ Linnet Goldfinch
The Races with a Gannet and a few auks flying past.
An adult Cormorant flying past The Pulpit, and........
..............its smaller cousin the Shag.
A very pale looking Buzzard.
Here are two more Buzzards over the Crown Estate Fields
A Kestrel by the Obs Quarry
Two Great Black-backed Gulls next to the "Red Crane".
A Guillemot leaving the West Cliffs.
Two Stock Doves in the Obs garden
One of the 4 Ravens seen today.
And a large...............
................flock of Linnets in the Crown Estate Fields.
A change of scenery today, which I hoped would produce a Fulmar and possibly a Peregrine. Well I managed 4 Fulmars, but failed on Peregrine.
Other birds of interest were a female Stonechat and a female Black Redstart, both in the horse paddock just south of Reap Lane Barns
Birds Recorded: 4 Fulmar 1 Cormorant 1 Kestrel Herring Gull 2 Great Black-backed Gull Wood Pigeon 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Robin 1 Stonechat 1 Black Redstart Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw 2 Raven Starling House Sparrow Goldfinch
A very distant shot of two Fulmars off Portland's West cliffs.
Also along the cliffs was this adult Great Black-backed Gull
A female Stonechat which I managed to photograph.............
...............in the horse paddock south of the Barns. Unfortunately it flew off almost immediately when I tried videoing it. Hence the slow-motion clip.
Also in the paddock was this female Black Redstart.
This Raven has found something to eat on top of the cliffs
