5 Oct 18

Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Horse Paddocks

Evening
An evening walk to see what was about. The Hoopoe has somehow found its way down to the bottom of the lower horse paddocks and is now feeding next to Bumpers Lane. Eventually after being harassed by a Magpie and then spooked by walkers it landed in a conifer next to the Old Stone Firms Office Here.

Still plenty of Chiffchaffs along Broadcroft Quarry Lane with at least 10 birds now. Only one Blackcap seen, but 2 others heard. And was that a Firecrest I heard, it only called once and despite my efforts to locate it, it had gone!!

Here are a few images from this evening:

The local Magpie wasn't to happy about this Hoopoe being on its patch.

Just when it thought it was safe from the Magpie.............

.........2 walkers put it up and it then decided to call it a night.

Bumpers Lane gate and the old Stone Firms Office on the right. In the centre the conifer where......

.....the Hoopoe has decided to rest up for the night.

Along Broadcroft Quarry Lane this evening this.........

.........Linnet was singing away.

Also here several Chiffchaffs.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Morning
A late morning walk and I was rewarded with another good sighting of the Easton Hoopoe in the Horse Paddock. The Hoopoe is getting a lot of disturbance from visitors wanting to get a closer look, fortunately it's a very confiding bird and once left alone comes back to its regular feeding spot here.

Other highlights were down Broadcroft Quarry Lane where there were 3 Robin, 2 Common Redstart, Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, and 8 Chaffinch.

Overhead plenty of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, 2 Siskins and 5 Ravens.

Here are a few images from this morning:

You don't have to go walkabout in the paddock to see the Hoopoe.

This Hoopoe is really confiding and if you wait patiently at the end of Moorfield Road it will come to you.

The Hoopoe returning to its its favoured spot once the "walkers" had vacated its "patch"

The Easton Hoopoe into its 4th day here on Portland.

Its not just twitchers watching the Hoopoe but even the quarry men in their trucks having a look.

Overhead 2 Ravens............

.........make that 5 with these 3 close behind.

One of the 4 Stonechats in the lower horse paddock

Pleased with this, one of the two Common Redstarts in Broadcroft Quarry Lane Here

Birds Recorded: 2 Kestrel, 3 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Hoopoe, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 20+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 4 Stonechat, 2 Common Redstart, Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 5 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, 8 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet, 2 Siskin and 3 Goldfinch.

4 Oct 18

Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Horse Paddocks

A misty morning with low cloud and a fine drizzle coming down. More birds in the lane this morning with 3 Robin, 7 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and 5 Chaffinch.

In the top horse paddock 4 Herring Gull, 8 Pied Wagtails, 2 Magpie and 5 Jackdaw.

The lower paddock was busy with Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails, with a Kestrel looking on. After scanning the field for a good 10 minutes the Hoopoe dropped in at 9:38am and remained until it flew off and landed in a Sycamore tree Here. It stayed her for a good 20 minutes resting and preening before flying back to its favoured feeding spot here.

Overall a very good morning with increased numbers of warblers, wagtails, thrushes and crests.

Here are a few images and videos from this morning:

A Meadow Pipit in the grounds of the building site at Bumpers Lane

Along Broadcroft Quarry Lane one of the 3 Chiffchaffs Here.

At the end of Moorfield Road the arrow points to the Hoopoes favoured feeding area.

A close-up view of the paddock.

And the Hoopoe......

......which is in its 3rd day here.

If its not feeding its sat in the local Sycamores.

Birds Recorded this morning: Kestrel, 4 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 1 Hoopoe, 400+ Swallow, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 20+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 10 Blackbird, 4 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, 5 Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also recorded 1 Red Admiral.

3 Oct 18

Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Horse Paddocks

Just the 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Robins and a Blue Tit in the Lane Here.

Most of the action was in the lower Horse paddock Here, where there were 80+ Meadow Pipits, just the 1 Stonechat, 1 Blackcap in the brambles and a Wheatear. Also about were a dozen or so Starlings in winter plumage and a small flock of 7 Linnets heading south.

Here are a few images and a video from this morning.

The lower Paddocks just north of Bumpers Lane

In the northeast corner 80+ Meadow Pipit and a Wheatear.

One of the Stonechats still here......

.......at the top of Moorfield Road.

Along the fence line a Meadow Pipit............

.........with others feeding on insects in amongst the horses dung.........

.......and grasses.

A Chiffchaff on its way south.......

.....via a bramble.

Two Starlings now taking on their winter colours.

A Wheatear was in amongst the Meadow Pipits.

Looks in good condition as well.

Which it will need for its long journey south.

Its been a good few days in the horse paddocks with Wryneck, Hoopoe, turtle Dove and now a Wheatear.

I suspect a garden plant.

I did wonder Jasmine, but these flowers were completely scentless.

Birds Recorded this morning: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 80+ Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 7 Linnet and Goldfinch.

Butterflies recorded: 1 Red Admiral and 2 Large White.

2 Oct 18

Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Horse Paddocks

The past few days have seen, Wryneck, Hoopoe and Turtle Dove (yesterday) in and around the paddocks. Sadly no "unusual" birds today, but 2 Goldcrests at the the top of Moorfield Road were my first of this species this Autumn.

Other birds of interest were 33 Meadow Pipits in the bottom paddock, with one very light individual, which stood out against the olive-green of the other birds around it, a Blackcap in the lane and a Chiffchaff in the scrubland to the north of the top Paddock.

Here are a few images from this morning:

The bottom paddock

Looking south

Stonechat

Stonechat

Stonechat

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Something has caught the eye of this Kestrel.

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly

This is Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana..........

.....an ornamental plant that has been growing wild since the 1920's. More on this grass here.

Birds Recorded were: 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 33 Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also recorded: 1 Large White, 3 Speckled Woods and a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)

1 Oct 18

Wakeham

I was up fairly early this morning to see if anything had dropped in along Broadcroft Quarry Lane and around the horse paddocks. The Wryneck has definitely moved on but a Blackcap was a new arrival. The 2 Stonechats are still in the field here and were joined by several Meadow Pipits and 20+ Starlings.

Other birds noted were 4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail and several Robins, with the latter singing from their "winter" patches I guess.

However all was not lost, as a Hoopoe turned up late morning in the same area the Wryneck was spotted yesterday. Fortunately I was about to see it and after a good recce, a dog walker put it up Here and it landed on the roof of a bungalow Here before dropping down into a lucky neighbours garden.

As I made my way back home across the paddock a Clouded Yellow flew past me.

Here are a few images from this today:

I might have dipped on yesterdays Wryneck.......

......but amazingly this Hoopoe pitched up in the same area.

This Hoopoe dropped into the same area the Wryneck had visited yesterday. Unfortunately a dog walker got a bit close and it landed on this bungalow roof before dropping down into a neighbours garden.

One of the "winter" Robins in the local area.

Autumn is here as the leaves on this Field Maple start to change colour.

A few of the Field Maple leaves which are still green. Not for much longer I'm sure/

For some reason the building work has stopped at Bumpers Lane. However talking to the Site Manager, that's not the case. The reason it's quieter, is because the pile drivers, which have been hammering away for a few months now, have done their work. Though they will be back sometime in the future for an area to the north of the site.

Ships Today

This the Crude Oil Tanker "New Prime" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from Rotterdam, Holland to the port of Jose Terminal, Venezuala and should arrive there on 16 Oct 18. More on this vessel Here.