19 Feb 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove Wood, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track.

I thought I'd timed my walk perfectly today so that I would dodge the showers. How wrong was I and had I left it for another 30 minutes I'm sure I wouldn't have got a soaking. Needless to say birdwatching was pretty difficult and the best I could in the rain was 1 Goldcrest along the Mermaid Track and 2 Rock Pipits on the beach.

A Shag fishing just off the cove was good to watch as it dived down to catch its meal. It was difficult to see what it was catching, but whatever they were it was finding plenty.

Here are a few images from today:

This Shag was fishing just off the beach at Church Ope Cove.

It looks like it was successful, though it was a bit of an effort to swallow this fish.

Unsurprisingly, with the all the storms we have had in the past week or so, that there are so many empty Whelk egg cases washed up onto the beach.

I think this is Sea Fern, but I'm struggling to find anything about it. Maybe its called something else!!

Birds Recorded: Shag, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch

Ships Today

This is the Swedish Tanker "Bonito" on its way from Milford Haven 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.

18 Feb 20

Portland Bird Observatory, Hut Fields and The Bill

Today I made another trip down to the Bill to see the Purple Sandpipers. Unfortunately and despite it being low water, the gale force winds had whipped up the waves and they were still crashing onto their favoured ledges. So plan B was to walk along the more sheltered eastern side, just in case they had moved around there. Even here the waves were rolling in, and after an extensive search, all I could find were 6 Turnstones, 1 Oystercatcher and a Rock Pipit.

Originally when I arrived at the Obs, Martin Cade (Obs Warden) kindly pointed out the Common Scoter to me, which were just north of the Races and to the east of the Lobster Pot. Without his expertise I dont really think I would have spotted them. My count was 9 in a small tight flock sat on the water, though I'm sure there are probably more. Whilst I was here a Grey Wagtail flew over and just as was leaving, a Firecrest was in the Japonica along the driveway

Here are a few images and a video from today:

The Rock Pool and ledge which was the only spot I found along the coastline at The Bill that had any birds on it. They were...........

...........these 5 Turnstones. Honest there are 5. They are so well camouflaged; the hardest one to see is at the very top of of the image.

A close-up of 3 of the Turnstones. If it weren't for their orange legs I think it would be hard to spot them.

Here the Turnstones and a Rock Pipit join each other higher up on the ledge.

A little easier to spot was this Oystercatcher on the same ledge.

One of the reasons why there weren't any Purple Sandpipers here today.

And Ted enjoying a good run on the Common.

Birds Recorded: Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, 9 Common Scoter, Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher, 6 Turnstone, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Tanker "Fredericia" on its way from Falmouth to Portland. More on this vessel Here.

It wasn't until I was editing the image of "Fredericia" that I realised there was another ship behind it, the Italian Tanker "Smeraldo" on its way from Le Havre (France) to Barcelona (Spain) More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

17 Feb 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove Wood, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and the Old Railway Track
As Storm Dennis moved on it left a day of sunshine and the occasional shower. It was still pretty windy, but for the most part it was dry.

Not much had changed since my last visit and there are still single Firecrest at Penns Wood and at the back of the cove, where there were also a flock of 9 Long-tailed Tits.

In the wood the male Chaffinches are still in good voice and more Comfrey are beginning to flower.

On the beach were 5 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, whilst just out to sea were 5 Herring Gulls and an adult Common Gull.

No Wall Lizards seen today, but a bit of a surprise was finding a Tree Bumblebee just below St Andrew's Church on the path leading down to the main steps. This bee normally appears in April!!

And finally another new fly for my list a Calliopum tuberculosum, which was on an Alexanders at the back of the cove.
Here are a few images and a video from today:

Church Ope Cove from Rufus Castle

On the beach the waves were certainly rolling in as you can.........

..........see in this video.

A Herring Gull above and a Common Gull below.

That's twice this year I have seen a Common Gull.........

...........just off the beach at Church Ope Cove.

One of the 5 Herrings picks up a "snack" off the surface.

On the beach were 5 Rock Pipits.

They didn't stay too long as the spray continually swamped the beach.

A Tree Bumblebee was a real surprise. This species normally appears in April, not February!!

This is a Calliopum tuberculosum a member of the Lauxaniidae family of flies............

................... and is found in woodlands and shady moist places.

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: 1 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a Calliopum tuberculosum

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Tanker "Eser K" doing some sort of circuit east of Portland!! More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

16 Feb 20

Wakeham

Not a day for being outside as Storm Dennis made its presence felt. Unlike last weekends Storm Ciara, Storm Dennis was a very wet one, with continuous rain all day long.

This is a screen grab from the Portland Heights Webcam.

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

15 Feb 20

Chesil Beach and Portland Marina

With the arrival of Storm Dennis just a few hours off, it was off down to the marina to make sure that all the mooring ropes were tied off on "Star". En route I stopped off at Chesil Cove, just to see if anything had been blown in. There were certainly a lot of gulls, mainly Herring Gulls and the odd Great Black-backed Gull, but not a lot else.

As I walked along the pontoons towards "Star" there were 2 male Red-breasted Mergansers feeding close-in. However it wasn't until I left that 3 Great Northern Divers appeared. A "pair" were tight into the boulders in front of "The Boat that Rocks" restaurant and a lone bird was right at the back of the marina. Unfortunately the weather really deteriorated and all sorts of error messages were appearing on my camera. I was amazed it still worked as the rain hammered down.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

The Environment Agency keep an eye on the approaching storm at Chesil Cove.

As the waves begin to crash onto Chesil, so the gulls work their way along the churning surf for a morsel or two.

A Great Black-backed Gull makes its way along the beach.

Here another Great Black-backed Gull makes its way out to sea.

An adult Herring Gull, one of many along Chesil.

Just a few waves crashing onto the Chesil. Later when the wind speed increases, I should imagine these waves will be a lot higher up the beach.

In the marina were these two Great Northern Divers.

Possibly a pair!

Further out in the marina another Great Northern Diver.

Also in the marina were these..........

..........2 male Red-breasted Mergansers.

The Red-breasted Mergansers were only on the surface for a few seconds, before diving back down in search of a meal.

Birds Recorded: 3 Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Shag, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

14 Feb 20

Radipole RSPB Reserve

My third visit to Radipole this year, which to be honest was a bit disappointing. Though not over the paths it was noticeable that the water levels were very high and with the wind picking up there just seemed to be a dearth of birds. Maybe they've sensed that a storm is approaching.

No real highlights other than a few fleeting calls from just 3 small flocks of Bearded Tits. Around the reserve were a few male Reed Buntings singing and it was good to see & hear a few Greenfinches wheezing from the hedgerow close to the North Hide.

Along the Buddleia loop there was lone Chiffchaff and out in the open water a Great Crested Grebe and its mate. There were a few people along the loop hoping to see the Penduline Tits, but sadly they were proving hard to find.

By the Centre were the usual Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, plus a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and Common Gulls.

Here are a few images from today:

The staff on the reserve have been busy clearing a few areas around the North Hide.

A pair of Gadwall

Two male Pochard. The bird on the right has been diving deep into the "mud".

A Common Gull in flight, a Black-headed Gull on the water, and a Shelduck dwarfing its cousin the Teal.

Plenty of Robins around the reserve.

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) is just beginning to flower along the pathways.

A Violet, though as to which one I'm not sure. But there were quite a few beginning to flower.


Mammals Recorded: Brown Rats

Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, 2 Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting
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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

13 Feb 20

Portland Bill

 A change of scenery today and even though Storm Ciara passed over us 4 days ago, the gale force winds and rough seas are still with us. In fact another storm, this time Storm Dennis is set to hit us on Saturday. Its never ending!!

I timed it right today as the tide began to turn and to the left of the Obelisk were 12 Purple Sandpipers preparing themselves to feed on the lower ledges. One by one they dropped onto the ledge, but every now and then were sent scurrying, as the odd large wave came crashing in. I hadn't noticed it at first but a Turnstone was keeping them company. However as the sandpipers dropped below, it decided the waves were too much of a risk to join them.

With huge waves breaking out to sea, there was very little sea passage of birds, in fact all I managed were several Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, 5 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 1 Shag and a dozen or so Herring Gull and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls. It was pretty wild out there.

On the land just a handful of Rock Pipits and the resident corvids.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

There seems to be no let up with the rough seas.

And having seen one storm pass another is on its way.

The "Red Crane" gets a battering.

A Turnstone mingles with the Purple Sandpipers

Two of the 12 Purple Sandpipers by the Obelisk.

The Purple Sandpipers doing a bit of rock hopping in their search for a meal.

A blue-eyed Carrion Crow. In fact it is a third eye-lid and helps protect the eyes and moistens them. It is called a nictitating membrane.

There were go eyes uncovered.

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, 12 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Rock Pipit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven and Starling

Ships Today

This is the Russian Cargo Ship "Darina" on its way from Klaipeda (Lithuania) to New Ross (Ireland). More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Vehicles Carrier "Isar Highway" on its way from Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.
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