4 Mar 25

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Silklake Quarry, Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) and Wakeham

I can get use to this weather, with wall to wall blue skies and sunshine.

Highlights today were two pairs of Stonechats on the butterfly reserve and now two Song Thrushes singing. One on the reserve and the other at the southern end of Broadcroft Quarry Lane.

Also noted were two unidentified Bumblebees.

Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
4 Stonechat
Blackbird
Song Thrush (2 singing)
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

A male Kestrel over Penns Weare. (In slow-motion)

I'm not sure why this Herring Gull was trying to get close to me. It took off from the higher horse paddock, flew just a few feet over my head and...........

..................landed about 3 metres away from where Ted and I were standing. All the Herring Gulls that frequent the horse paddocks normally fly off, as soon as they see you. Not this one!!!

A pair of Stonechats in the butterfly reserve.

A slightly closer view of the male and.........

...............female. Another pair were also present close-by.

A male Blackbird having a good wash. In the background you can hear Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, House Sparrows and Herrings Gulls.

The Starlings are............

.............just starting to lose their winter colours and into their Summer colours.

A male Chaffinch on the right is putting on a show to the female on the left.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Bees Recorded:
2 bumblebee sps.


Ted:

Thirsty work all this running!!

Ships Today:

This is the British fishing boat "Mako My Day" fishing just north of Church Ope Cove. More on this vessel here.

This is the Madeiran Bulk Carrier "Bolten Singapore" on its way from Liverpool to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel here.