7 Jan 20

Portland Marina

This afternoon I dropped into the marina to check the boat and there were 2 Great Northern Divers feeding in amongst the pontoons.

Lower Horse Paddocks, Broadcroft Quarry Pools, Shepherd's Dinner, The Cuttings, Rufus Castle, Penn's Copse, Penn's Weare, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, St Andrew's Church, Penns Wood and Wakeham Railway Cuttings.

Well that was a struggle this morning, with the visibility down to around 100 metres. The fog was pretty persistent and with that fine misty rain it made it difficult to use the binoculars and camera.

However it wasn't all gloom and doom, and I did manage to find 3 Firecrests at The Cuttings, Church Ope Cove and Penns Wood. Also in Penns Wood were several Chaffinches and a Goldcrest. Another Goldcrest was with a small flock of Long-tailed Tits along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings.

In the Lower Horse paddocks the Meadow Pipit still remain with 29 here today. Also with them the 1st winter Pied Wagtail.

Elsewhere 20+ Goldfinches landed in the tall trees along the Railway Cuttings before heading off within seconds off landing.

Here are a few images from today:

As I made my way up the steps to st Andrew's Church I was greeted by this male Blackbird.

Shepherd's Dinner Quarry and dozens of Giant Viper's Bugloss (Echium pininana) on the slopes. These will flower this year having been in leaf last year. (Also known as Tree Echium and Pine Echium)

I'm pretty sure this is Tapioca Slime Mold, Brefeldia maxima.............

.......and a new mold which has just appeared in Penns Wood. More on this mold Here.

This is a lichen called Botryolepraria lesdainii.

As above but taken with flash. More on this lichen here.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 29 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and 20+ Goldfinch

Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

Mold Recorded: Tapioca Slime Mold (Brefeldia maxima)

Lichen Recorded: Botryolepraria lesdainii.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

6 Jan 20

Radipole RSPB Reserve

A change of scenery today and my first real visit to Radipole this year. Yesterday's sightings here were from the car park on the other side of Radipole Avenue. En route though to Radipole there was a Great Northern Diver in Portland Marina along with 5 Red-breasted Merganser and at Ferrybridge at least a dozen or so Dunlin on the sand-flats.

Main highlight at Radipole had to be the Bearded Tits up by the Visitors Centre, sadly by the time I got there the drizzle was really beginning to fall, so no opportunity for a decent photo.

Elsewhere on the reserve there was Marsh Harrier quartering over the reedbeds, a Stonechat by the North Screen and in amongst the Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls at the visitors centre there were 2 Common Gulls.

Quite a few finches about with Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a male Bullfinch.

Here are a few images from today:

A Marsh Harrier quartering over the reedbeds.

The unmistakable Shelduck

A pair of Gadwall

Two Common Gulls.

A Bearded Tit

And a Stonechat.

Winter Heliotrope, Petasites fragrans

And the Great Northern Diver I spotted in Portland Marina before I headed off to Radipole.

Birds Recorded: 1 Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Shag, Mute Swan, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, 12+ Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

5 Jan 20

Out and About

I seem to be quite busy lately, with another quick walk on my local patch followed by a shopping trip in Weymouth

Here are a few highlights from today.

Penns Wood: 3 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 12+ Chaffinch

Church Ope Cove Wood: 1 Firecrest

Penn's Copse: 1 Song Thrush

Lower Horse Paddock: 16 Meadow Pipit, 1st Winter Pied Wagtail, 20+ House Sparrows and 1 Raven

Ferrybridge: 20+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Small Mouth: 1 Great Crested Grebe

Radipole: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Coot

Here are a few images from today:

At the back of the cove was this Raven and..............

...........its mate flying about. Eventually both were flying over the cove.

Yellow Brain Fungus, Tremella mesenterica which I came across in Wakeham wood.

The first signs of White Comfrey, Symphytum orientale in Penns Wood

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and 3 Bunnies

Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, 5 Mute Swan, 20+ Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 16 Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 3 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: A large Bumblebee sp.

Ships Today

This is the British RNLI Lifeboat "17 32" and it is on its from Dartmouth to Poole. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

4 Jan 20

Out and About

Yet again another busy day so just a quick walk around my local patch and then a trip into Weymouth for the Opticians.

So here are a few highlights from today:

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 2 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tits

Penns Wood: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 8 Long-tailed Tit

Church Ope Cove: Nothing on the beach but out to sea 1 Fulmar, a Gannet and 5 Oystercatchers.

Church Ope Cove Wood: 1 Firecrest

Bumpers Lane: 1 Firecrest

Lower Horse Paddocks: 20 House Sparrows, 24 Meadow Pipits and a 1st Winter Pied Wagtail.

Along the Portland Beach Road I had good views of a Little Egret by the visitors Car Park, plus 30+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 150+ Mediterranean Gulls on the Fleet.

Here are a few images and a video from today from today:

I found a couple of Firecrests today.

This one was in the bushes along Bumpers Lane, whilst the other was at the back of the cove.

As always these tiny birds are constantly on the go.

Probably the only time it paused.

A vocal Firecrest as it continually flitted through the bushes.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, 1 Gannet, 1 Little Egret, 30+ Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Kestrel, 5 Oystercatcher, 150+ Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 24 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 20+ House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Leafhoppers Recorded: Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Delphine" on its way from Zeebrugge to Dublin. More on this vessel Here. 

This is the Cargo Ship "Tiwala" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda.....................

...............It is on its way from Terneuzen (Holland) to Liverpool. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Vehicles Carrier "Schelde Highway" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Zeebrugge to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

3 Jan 20

Out and About

A busy day, so it was a quick walk down to the cove via Penns Wood this morning, followed by an hour working on the boat in Portland Marina and then a quick trip to the Portland Obs before the sun set.

In Penns Wood there were 2 Goldcrests and several Chaffinches, Great Tits and Blue Tits.

At Church Ope Cove there were 9 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Wren on the beach, whilst just off the beach there was a Black-headed Gull bobbing about on the sea and a Cormorant crossing the cove. At the back of the cove there was a Chiffchaff by the huts.

Along the Railway Cuttings at Wakeham there were a good 30 Chaffinches and Goldfinches, plus a small flock of Long-tailed Tits calling as I was leaving.

In the afternoon I was in Portland Marina working on the boat and ticked off a Shag and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers fishing in amongst the boats.

Late afternoon and it was off to Portland Bird Observatory where there was a male Blackcap in the garden feeding on the "staked-out" apples. Also here were a couple crests calling, but so softly that I couldn't make out if they were Goldcrests or Firecrests.

In the Crown Estate Fields a male Pheasant was strutting his stuff and overhead 2 Starlings were making their way up the fields.

Still no Greenfinch or House Sparrow to add to my year list though!

Also seen today another Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), a possible Lance Fly (Lonchaea tarsata) and a Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)

Here are a few images from today.

Not to many birds about to photograph today, so it's back to my trusty........

.......Rock Pipits.

You can always rely on them to stop and pose.

Leafhopper, Empoasca vitis. In the same spot I found one last year at the back of Church Ope Cove.

Possibly a Lance Fly, Lonchaea tarsata

Another example of the handy work of the Golden Pygmy Moth (Stigmella aurella) caterpillar where it has mined this bramble leaf.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Shag, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 1 Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit, 9 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 2 Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Bees Recorded: Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a possible Lance Fly (Lonchaea tarsata)

Leafhoppers Recorded: Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

Ships Today

This is the Cargo Ship "Lowlands Amstel" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Rouen (France) to Portland Harbour.

Here is "Lowlands Amstel" later this afternoon and now anchored in Portland Bay.  More on this vessel Here.

This is the Tanker "Limerick Spirit" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Fawley to Portland harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Liberian Tanker "Fredericia" on its way from Portland Harbour to Hamburg Cove Landing (Connecticut, USA). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo Ship "Bekau" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Teignmouth to Southampton. More on this vessel Here

Here "Fredericia" and "Bekau" pass each other just off The Bill.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2 Jan 20

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Bumpers lane, Bumpers Lane Quarry, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Lowe Horse Paddocks and Wakeham Wood

A few more more birds to add to my year list today, though oddly enough House Sparrow still hasn't made it, even though I had an extended walk, in the hope of seeing one.

Penns Wood was where most of the birds were today with 1 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tits, lots of Chaffinches, Great Tits & Blue Tits. Also here a fly-by Raven.

On the beach just 1 Rock Pipit, whilst out to sea several Gannets.

So my new birds today were Gannet, Kestrel, Feral Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Jackdaw, Raven and Chaffinch

Very lowlight conditions so just a few images from today:

In the Lower Paddock a Blackbird and Song Thrush

Also in the paddock were 14 Meadow Pipits and a 1st Winter Pied Wagtail.

A "Charm" of Goldfinches in Wakeham Wood

A Girdled Snail

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 7+ Gannet, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, 14 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

Ships Today

Hmm, well this is the Japanese Container Ship "One Cygnus" on its way from Yantian (China) to the Suez Canal (Egypt) where it is expected to arrive tomorrow at 11:00am. However it is heading up the English Channel, so somehow I dont think it will make the Suez tomorrow. More on this vessel Here and an interesting one to watch over the next few hours/days, to see where it's actually heading.

This is the Tanker "Advantage Pride" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from Coruna (Spain) to Portland Harbour). More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

1 Jan 20

Wakeham

I think last nights celebrations went to my head a bit, as a couple of tweets I made in the early hours of this morning I wrote 2012 instead of 2020. I have a feeling it wont be the last time I make that mistake.

Well 2020 got off to an early start with the first birds of the year being Herring Gulls making a racket (as they normally do) at around 7:15am. Later, after I got up, the next few birds on a wet miserable start to the year were Robin, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit and Goldfinch.

This afternoon the cloud lifted slightly and I managed to add Blue Tit, Magpie, Collared Dove and Great Black-backed Gull to my list.

The weather didn't improve much for the rest of the day, so it was a mediocre start of 10 birds to start the year off

A real Pea Souper to start the year off.

Chiswell

The most unusual sighting today was by Dawn, my other half. She came across 2 Muscovy Ducks on the field between Portland Beach Road and Lerret Road Here. Most likely escapees from someones wildfowl collection. But an unusual sighting nevertheless.

Note

The totals below are the bird species I have seen around Portland and Weymouth over the past few years. Maybe I'll get into the 170's this year.

2017 - 148 (From 30 May)
2018 - 167
2019 - 166

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On this day..........

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.