14 Mar 25

Crown Estate Fields, Top Fields, Sweethill Farm and Culverwell

It was a slightly different walk this afternoon, which saw me and Ted taking in Sweethill Farm and Culverwell. Yet again it was hard going with that brisk cold northerly and the best I could do was 4 Meadow Pipit, 8 Pied Wagtail, 3 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear and 3 Chiffchaff. The latter all at Culverwell.

Other highlights were 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels.

Birds Recorded:
2 Sparrowhawk
5 Buzzard
2 Kestrel

3 Pheasant
Herring Gull
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
3 Skylark
4 Meadow Pipit
8 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
3 Stonechat
3 Wheatear
Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

I inadvertently flushed this female Sparrowhawk from the undergrowth in Culverwell. She flew up onto a pony shed in the field next door........

..........and then after a few seconds she............

...............was off for her next quarry.

One of five Common Buzzards noted at Portland Bill this afternoon.

And another.

One of the "pale " Common Buzzards in the Top Fields.

Two hen Pheasants at Sweethill Farm and a..............

...........male in the field next to Culverwell.

One of many Stock Doves seen along my walk.

One of the three Stonechats seen this afternoon.

Two of..........

.............three Wheatears in the same field I saw them yesterday.

Two Great Tits at Sweethill Farm and...........

...........a third one in the same tree. This one with a BTO ring on its leg.

This Carrion Crow was totally unfazed by me passing it, as it sat on this Ivy-clad post next to the track Ted and I were walking along.

Here it 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.

Similarly this Goldfinch is sporting a ring as well.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

General Shots:

Looking across the Crown Estate Fields towards the Bill

Culverwell where I came across the female Sparrowhawk in the undergrowth.

Ted:

Its good to see that Ted is still enjoying his walks.

Ships Today:

This is the General Cargo Ship "Pregol Hav" flying the flag of Antigua & Barbuda. It is on its way from Goole to Teignmouth. More on this vessel here.

All I can say is, this is a British Frigate. As to which one I'm unsure, as "HMS Somerset", which was here a few days ago, is now in Scotland.