11 Nov 20

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane and Lower Horse Paddock.

A much cloudier day, with a very fresh southerly wind, which unfortunately made it almost impossible to find any small birds in the trees. In fact it was a good 10 minutes before I saw any Goldcrests along the Railway Cutting; even though I heard them straight away, but couldn't find them in amongst the swaying branches and falling leaves. Not easy at all.

Unfortunately not too many highlights with just a few birds noted at the following locations:

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 2 Chiffchaff (again), 3 Goldcrest, Great Tits and Blue Tits

Penn Wood: 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, 7+ Long-tailed Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The latter only head

St Andrew's Church Grounds: 1 Chiffchaff.

Church Ope Cove: 12 Rock Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. (No sign of any Black Redstarts)

Bumpers Lane Quarry: 1 Chiffchaff

Lower Horse Paddock: 2 Pied Wagtails.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Rufus Castle and the flag fully perfectly straight in the strong southerly wind.

Even the waves were piling in.

Fortunately the wind didn't put these Rock Pipits off.

And they were doing quite well catching insects like this sandhopper and............

...........of course Kelp Flies.

And I believe this is a Strawberry Snail and a very small individual at that.

This is Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and these yellow blotches are Alexanders Rust (Puccinia smyrnii), which is a rust fungus that affects Alexanders. More on this rust fungus Here.

Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus) which I came across in the Lower Horse Paddock. I'm amazed it hasn't been stood on yet. More on this fungi Here.

And Ted wouldn't be Ted if he...........

........didn't do a bit of climbing every now and then.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, 12 Rock Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 5 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)

Ships Today

This is the Panamanian Tanker "Scarlet Ibis" on its way from New Orleans (USA) to Antwerp (Belgium). Appropriately named as it passes the Portland Bird Observatory Lighthouse. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Passenger Ship "Marella Explorer" on its way from Weymouth Bay to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Offshore Supply Ship "Ocean Osprey" on Fishery Patrol in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

10 Nov 20

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

A slightly shorter walk today as I spent quite awhile along the Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood and St Andrew's Church Grounds. The reason being I was hoping to see the Pallas's Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest seen yesterday in Penns Wood, and at the cuttings and church grounds in case any of them pitched up there.

So did I see any of them today, nope and the closest I got was a possible Firecrest calling in Penns Wood.

The only highlights today were:

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 5, Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaff , 2 Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail

Penns Wood and St Andrew's Church: dozens of Goldcrests, several Long-tailed Tits, a few Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinches.

And that was it apart from a Grey Heron flying south over Church Ope Cove.

Other highlights were a Grey Squirrel, a White-tailed Bumblebee, several Common Wasps, a Silver Y moth and 2 Marmalade Hoverflies

I also came across a very small flies and a caterpillar, both of which I'm hoping I'll be able to ID later.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

It was that sort of day, with rain clad clouds passing overhead. It did pour down once, but only for a short burst.

This is the Private Road adjacent to the Wakeham Railway Cuttings. Last Autumn/Winter the "Eastern" Lesser Whitethroat was here for a number of days. Today there were just 2 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Goldcrests.

Here is one of the Chiffchaffs and a short.............

............video of it feeding in amongst the Sycamore leaves.

At this time of year the Grey Squirrels are very active collecting and burying food.

An unexpected surprise was this Grey Heron heading down the island over Church Ope Cove.

The two I saw last week were both heading up the island.

Now in the centre of the frame is a Silver Y, but its not alone......

........to the right and slightly higher is this very orange and black caterpillar. I only noticed it when I was editing the image.

This is a Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and can be told apart from other wasps by the anchor-shaped mark on its face. I believe the markings on this individual indicates a male.

We're going through a bit of a mild spell at the moment. So it wasn't too much of a..........

.........surprise to find a couple of Marmalade Hoverflies. I think they always look better in flight.

Now this little critter, could possible..................

........be a difficult one to ID. I've certainly not come across this fly before, but hopefully someone on one of the diptera social media sites, will be able to help me out. Quite a pretty fly, looks similar a Celery Fly.

Talking about pretty, here's Ted all fluffed up. After we got caught out in yesterday's heavy shower, it took a while to get him to look normal. Is that possible!!

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 10+ Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 20+ Goldcrest, possible Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Note: Not seen by me, but Kevin (Twitter @Kojak020) who I have met twice in the past few days, recorded a juv/female Black Redstart at the Cove early today. But no sign of the male. He also had a Yellow-browed Warbler in Penns Wood. 

Moths Recorded: Silver Y (Autographa gamma)

Caterpillars Recorded: To be ID'd

Bees Recorded: White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Fly sp.

Ships Today

This is the Passenger Ship "Queen Mary 2" flying the flag of Bermuda. Here it is doing circuits around Portland. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

9 Nov 20

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Mermaid Track, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock.

What a weird day not so much with the weather which was showery at times but bird oddities I came across. First off there were 15 Goldcrests, along the Railway Cuttings and then I came across 2 House Martins heading south over Penn's Weare.

At least everything else I came across was more in line with what I thought I might find. So the other highlights were:

Old Quarry Lane: 3 Greenfinches and 2 Redwing, plus a Raven overhead

Railway Cuttings: 2 Chiffchaffs plus a Grey Wagtail overhead

Pennsylvania Castle Woods: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests

Church Ope Cove: 1 Chiffchaff at the back of the cove

Church Ope Cove: The male Black Redstart still in the northeast corner of the cove

Church Ope Cove: 5 Rock Pipits on the beach

Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve: a Fieldfare and 4 Meadow Pipit

Lower Horse Paddock: 8 Meadow Pipits and the long staying pair of Stonechats.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Well, other than for myself, Penns Wood was the place to be with a Pallas's Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest. All seen after I had moved on down to the cove. That's birding for you.

I did have a couple of good highlights myself with 2 House Martins making there way south over Penns Wear and along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings 15 Goldcrest. Here's one of them feeding in amongst the Ivy clad Sycamore.

The view looking south from Penns Weare.

A little lower down on Penn's Weare and a beautiful view of the cove. And despite all the rain, wind and crashing waves over the past week, the sea today was really clear.

Now I did get down to the northeast corner of the cove and managed to see the male Black Redstart. However a heavy shower passed overhead and that was the last I saw of it. Well............

.............so I thought. As I walked across Penns Weare, it flew up over my head and started to feed along the east facing cliff just north of the cove.

Other than the rain, this might be one of the other reasons the Black Redstart moved on.

I managed to photograph this Kestrel with its head turned towards me, but would it turn around for the video!!

There's no excuse for not photographing a Robin, especially when one pops right up in front of you.

One of these days I might be able to buy myself a half-decent camera and lens. Despite being fairly close to this Fieldfare, the Bridge Camera I use, just doesn't cope in poor light. One day.

Here's my attempt at videoing it.

And even worse was my effort at videoing a Redwing.

Now close ups I can do. Especially when the subject is moving slowly. This is a Garden Snail surrounded by what I believe are Heath Snails. To the right and adding a bit of colour a Daisy.

Talking about colours there are still quite a few wildflowers about. This is bright yellow one is Common Hawkweed, Hieracium vulgatum.

And here is Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris. More on this plant Here.

A very wet Ted. But at least his jacket kept most of him dry. He just needs a hat.

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 House Martin, 12 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart, Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 4 Chiffchaff, 17 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and 3 Greenfinch

Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa) and Heath Snail (Helicella itala)

Ships Today

This the British Frigate "HMS Richmond" on military operations in the English Channel More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Range Safety Boat "Smit Wey" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Quarter Bell".......

............. returning to Weymouth from fishing off the Bill and Chesil Beach. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

8 Nov 20

Wakeham

It was a stay at home day today and a bit of a tidy up in the garden and shed.

A few highlights with the same/different Grey Heron making its way up the island again with the usual posse of Herring Gulls making sure it did just that. Also about was a small flock of Long-tailed Tits and a couple of Chaffinches and Dunnocks visiting the neighbours feeders.

A Honey Bee visited the last few flowers on the Ivy, and as I was getting one of the feeders out of shed I came across a Rusty Dot Pearl moth

With the very damp conditions it wont come as a surprise that there were dozens of snails.

Here are a few images from today:

A male Chaffinch and a........

...........Dunnock. Both visiting the neighbours feeders.

This is a Rusty Dot Pearl, which I inadvertently disturbed in the shed.

I am pretty sure this snail and......

..........this one are Girdled Snails.

Birds Recorded: 1 Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Moths Recorded: Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis)

Bees Recorded: 1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa) and Girdled Snail (Hygromia cinctella)

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.

7 Nov 20

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Mermaid Track, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane Pools, Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock.

Well I was hoping my exercise walk would see me take in Church Ope Cove, but having got to Church Ope Car park, I changed my mind straight away. So many cars and as I looked around me, I can honestly say I have never seen so many people "Exercising" in Wakeham.

So it was a change of direction and instead of going through Pennsylvania Wood down to the cove, I missed them both out completely and headed down the Mermaid Track, to the Lower Horse Paddock via Bumpers Lane and Broadcroft Quarry Lane & Pools.

Unfortunately I wasn't going to take the chance to see the male Black Redstart at the cove, but at least I know it's still about as a friend of mine was there very early this morning and took these wonderful photos of it Here and Here.

So what did I see on my much shorter walk, well I came across 6 Goldcrests making their way along the Railway Cuttings, a Chiffchaff along Bumpers Lane, 4 Redwing along Broadcroft Quarry Lane and finished with the pair of Stonechats in the Lower Horse paddocks.

To be honest there wasn't too much about as the strong wind from the past few days had been replaced by very foggy/misty conditions, hence the naff photos and videos below.

A very distant shot of a Redwing in Bumpers Lane. You can just about make out the eye-stripe above its eye.

And my attempt at along distance video of the Redwing.

The female Stonechat in the Lower Horse Paddock, with the.....

.........male close by.

And in Bumpers Lane I came across these.........

.........again. I say again, as I came across them in November 2017 Here, and I still dont know what they are!!

And today Ted was doing some very odd things on our walk. First it looks like he's about to do a Lions roar.

And then a bit head banging.

Well thank goodness he's back to himself, as he lets the local Foxes know he can smell them in Bumpers Lane Quarry.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch

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On this day

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.