26 Mar 25

Out and about

Reap Lane Barn

With news that the Blue-headed Wagtail was still around, I spent a good hour looking for it in the ploughed field, where it was seen last. Alas it appeared not to be around but I did manage some good migrants with 1 Swallow, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 5 Wheatear and 5 Chiffchaff

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Skylark
1 Swallow
10+ Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
5 Wheatear
Blackbird
5 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

A pair of Stonechats

In the ploughed field were #1..............

#2

#3

.......and #4 & #5 Wheatear. And all males.

Ted

And Ted looking very clean after his visit to the Dog Groomers. I wonder how long that will last!


Ships recorded:

This is the British Trawler WY37 'Nicola-L' back out trawling along Portland's west coast. There is no info on this vessel but there is a close-up photo of her in Weymouth Harbour here.


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Barleycrates Lane

With no joy with the Blue-headed Wagtail at Reap Lane, I tried Barleycrates Lane, where it had been seen a few days earlier. There was no joy here either but I did at least find a female Black Redstart and a couple of Chiffchaffs.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
1 Black Redstart
2 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch

This Robin was singing at the top of his voice. I don't think he could get his beak any wider.

And a female Black Redstart.


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Watery Lane

Having missed out on the Blue-headed Wagtail I did at least think I might get lucky and see the Hoopoe at the north end of Watery Lane, where it had arrived a few hours earlier.

Nope that didn't happen either. As I arrived at the spot it had been seen earlier, sea fog rolled in and up & over the island, blanketing the whole area.

As I trudged away feeling a bit disappointed a Redwing flew past me and up into a tree in one of gardens nearby. It was there for a few seconds before flying down into the garden hidden by high walls. Well I wasn't expecting that.

Along Watery Lane were a few Chiffchaff flitting about in the Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and a Rook was calling somewhere in the fog.

Birds Recorded:
Wood Pigeon
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
1 Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

The field where the Hoopoe had been seen earlier. If it was still about it was well hidden in the sea fog.

And this Redwing...........

...........was a bit of a surprise, though not unexpected as it flew up into a tree in front of me, before diving down into somebodies back garden.