Port and Wey

6 Apr 22

Portland Bird Observatory, Obs Quarry, Portland Bill and Hut Fields

As I still haven't seen any hirundines this Spring I decided to visit the Obs and The Bill, just in case a few were coming in off the sea. However any hope of seeing any was blown right out the window as the wind was gusting to around 42mph, with anything flying across the Channel, continuing their journey at speed onto the mainland.

The only grounded migrant I found was a lone Willow Warbler in the Obs Quarry. The sea watch was a little better with my first Red-throated Diver of the year, several Gannets heading east and a few Fulmars and auks just off The Bill.

I have also yet to see the Little Owls in the quarry. In fact the only bird sat at their entrance was a Stock Dove.

Other sightings in very windy but dry conditions were a Buff-tailed Bumblebee, a Tawny Mining Bee and a Dock Bug.

Birds Recorded:
1 Red-throated Diver
Fulmar
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Pheasant
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Razorbill
Guillemot
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Dunnock
1 Willow Warbler
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

If only I had a bigger lens or this.............

............diver was closer. A record shot of my first Red-throated Diver of the year.

A Fulmar just off The Bill

There were a few Gannets about. All of which were heading east.

An adult Herring Gull and its much larger cousin............

..........the Great Black-backed Gull.

A Guillemot follows a Razorbill to the nest sites along Portland's west cliffs.

And a few more here settled on the water. There are 6 Razorbills and 2 Guillemots. The latter are just right of centre and a bit greyer in colour.

The same auks as above but a little closer to each other.

Where the Little Owls reside in this gap in the rocks (I still haven't seen them this year), this Stock Dove was sat on the ledge until a Carrion Crow buzzed it for some reason!!

This Willow Warbler preening itself in the Obs Quarry, was the only warbler I came across today.

A ringed male House Sparrow in the Hut Fields.

Bees Recorded:

1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

1 Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)

Apart from a lone Buff-tailed Bumblebee I came across this afternoon, I also found my first Grey-patched Mining Bee of the year by the Obs.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)

My first Dock Bug of the year

Woodlice Crustaceans Recorded:

Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica)

This is a Sea Slater and also goes by the names of Sea Roach, Sea Louse or Common Slater. More on this Sea Slater Here.

General Shots:

The Pulpit getting a bashing.

And also the ledges around the Red Crane.

There were some pretty big waves coming in.

Ted:

Ted stuck. There was a way down, but Ted being Ted wanted a more direct route. So I had to carry him down.

And then he nearly got blown off his feet as another big gust of wind hit us.

Ships Today:

This is the Dutch Oil/Chemical Tanker "Thun Gazelle" on its way from Plymouth to London. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Gibraltarian Asphalt/Bitumen Tanker "Iver Accord" on its way from Blaye (France) to Portland. More on this vessel Here.

5 Apr 22

Out and About

It was back to Bodenham today for Dawn's post-op review, on her key-hole surgery she had back in January Here. This time it was a fairly short visit, so Ted and I had a walk through Bodenham to the River Avon and back.

However the journey to Bodenham was pretty good, with a Red Kite close to Cashmoor Here and followed up by a Cuckoo at Martin Down Nature Reserve Here. A further 3 Red Kites were spotted on the way back home.

Around Bodenham and River Avon, the main highlights were a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests all singing.

Mammals Recorded:
Weasel (Seen by Dawn)

Birds Recorded on walk:
Mute Swan

Mallard

Gadwall

1 Sparrowhawk

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Skylark

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

1 Cetti's Warbler

3 Blackcap

7+ Chiffchaff

Goldcrest

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Nuthatch

Wren

Magpie

Rook

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Additional Birds Recorded enroute:

4 Red Kite

Pheasant

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

1 Cuckoo

Along the River Avon were these two cob...............

.......... Mute Swan separated by about 100 metres. Their respective mates I assume were sat on their nests.

Also on the river was this drake Gadwall and his.......

.............mate.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)!!

An unusual looking hoverfly. A Tapered Dronefly maybe

There were several along the path.

And another. I have seen many Tapered Droneflies before, but these just look different. Don't ask me why though!!

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Caddisfly sp.

A Yellow Dung Fly up.....................

..........close and personal.

The length of the River Avon I walked along was alive with these Caddis Flies. I wonder which one they are from this selection Here.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula)

A 7-Spot Ladybird

A very iridescent beetle. It's a Green Dock Beetle on, you've guessed it a Dock Leaf. More on this beetle Here.

Plants:

White Dead-nettle (Lamium album)

Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)

White Dead-nettle. More on this nettle Here.

Red Dead-nettle. More on this nettle Here.

General Shots:

A few images of the River Avon

Ted:

Ouch it looks like Ted has found a bramble

And finally Ted being Ted

4 Apr 22

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Museum

At long last the wind direction has changed and instead of the north-easterlies we have endured for the past few weeks, it has now swung round to the west.

However there is still a nip in the air, but it certainly didn't put the Summer migrants off, with 8 or more Chiffchaffs noted, plus a Willow Warbler and a male Blackcap in the church grounds and a female Black Redstart on the beach.

On the downside there were no butterflies, Honey Bees or hoverflies seen.

Birds Recorded:
Buzzard
Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Rock Pipit (singing)
Dunnock
Robin
1 Black Redstart
1 Blackcap
8+ Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

A female Black Redstart at the cove

A male Blackcap in the grounds of St Andrew's Church, where there...........

...............were a few Chiffchaffs feeding in amongst the Alexanders.

Another Chiffchaff at the back of the cove.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

Plants:

Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis)

Ivy-leaved Toadflax. Also known as Kenilworth Ivy, Coliseum Ivy, Oxford Ivy, Mother of Thousands, Pennywort and Wandering Sailor.

Ted:

The grounds of St Andrew's Church where there were a few Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and Ted.

3 Apr 22

RSPB Radipole Lake

After a busy day shopping in Weymouth and I had a walk around the Buddleia Loop at Radipole to get some fresh air. And believe me there was plenty of it, as the temperature is still in the low single figures. Brrr weather.

Just a a few highlights, with at least 7 Chiffchaffs and a lone Willow Warbler singing.

Birds Recorded:
1 Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Shelduck
Mallard
Teal
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Moorhen
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Cetti's Warbler (lots)
8+ Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Bearded Tit
2 Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting

A pair of Mute Swans bonding.

I was on the other side of the path as this Mute Swan started hissing at me and Ted. Fortunately having picked Ted up, we were both able to walk past without incident.

A Dunnock.

And of course everyone's favourite, a Robin.

One of the many Chiffchaffs singing on the reserve.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Ted:

Ted watching the Mallards.

2 Apr 22

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Broadcroft Quarry Lane

With the weather closing in this afternoon, it was a quick walk around the "block" to see what was about.

A couple of highlights with a Chiffchaff in Broadcroft Quarry Lane and 3 Redwing in the horse paddock.

Just one Buff-tailed Bumblebee seen. There were no butterflies, hoverflies or even flies for that matter in the freezing cold weather where the temperature managed to get to 7.3°C.

Mammals Recorded:
10+ Bunny

Birds Recorded:
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
3 Redwing
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Goldfinch

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

General Shot:

The rain in the north heading our way

Ted:

Not the seven seas of Rhye but the seven Ted's of Wakeham

He was certainly stretching his legs today. So much energy.

Ships Today:

This is the Bulk Carrier "Golden Brilliant" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from Port Talbot to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

1 Apr 22

Tout Quarry

As it was fairly late in the afternoon when I went for a walk, I decided visit Tout Quarry in the hope of seeing a few migrants at the top end of the island.

What seemed to be a good idea, didn't materialise and the best I could do was one Chiffchaff.

In fact I wasn't that surprised as that bitter north-easterly was absolutely freezing. Where did Spring go!!

Mammals Recorded:
Brown Rat

Birds Recorded:
2 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch