This was a very quick walk to introduce Theodore to Ted, plus an opportunity to see what was out in Portland Harbour.
The wind was so strong that the only birds seen, other than 3 Red-breasted Merganser in the harbour, were lots of gulls, Cormorants and Shags all sat on the boulders surrounding Portland Marina.
Yet again another very windy day on the island, which shows no sign of abating. Bird wise it was pretty abysmal, and it was disappointing to find that the pair of Stonechats on the butterfly reserve had vanished.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Wood Pigeon Dunnock Blackbird Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
This was one very vocal Herring Gull over the butterfly reserve.
Another Herring Gull comes into land next to a Great Black-backed Gull
General Shots:
Church Ope Cove viewed from the top of the 151 steps at Rufus Castle
Ted:
Sorry Ted, I seem to have cut your nose off.
Ships Today:
This is the British General Cargo Ship "Celtic Raider" on its way from Riga (Latvia) to Warrenpoint. More on this vessel here.
Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Bumpers Lane
Just a quick walk this afternoon, to stretch my legs and give Ted a good run.
Highlights on the bird front were a pair of Stonechat and two Meadow Pipits on the butterfly reserve, and eight Long-tailed Tits in Broadcroft Quarry Lane
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Collared Dove
2 Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
2 Stonechat
Blackbird
8 Long-tailed Tit
1 Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
A male Stonechaton the Butterfly Reserve. The female was close by.
Ted:
Faster than a Greyhound. Ted was really going for it!!!!
Ships Today:
This is the Singaporean Container Ship "Maersk Bahamas" on its way from Ringaskiddy (Ireland) to Southampton. More on this vessel here.
No walk today, so as usual here are a few highlights from this day over the past 6 years.
2022
My first ever UK Cirl Bunting at Reap Lane, Portland
2021
Church Ope Cove. The large sea snail at the top is a Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea). The one slightly hidden bottom left is a Thick Topshell (Phorcus lineatus)also known as Toothed Topshell. More on Thick TopshellHere.
2020
This was Portland today at 1:09 pm. Wall to wall cloud covering the island. The image was taken from the Portland Heights Webcam, which sadly is no longer streaming.
2019
A Rock Pipit at Church Ope Cove.
2018
A female/juvenile Black Redstart at Church Ope Cove.
Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum
What a windy day with gusts reaching 40mph. I took a chance with the weather as there was rain forecast. Fortunately the few showers that did fall, moved on pretty quickly in that strong westerly.
All the highlights today were on and around the beach at Church Ope Cove: Cormorant - one fishing 100 metres off the beach Kestrel - one over the south facing cliff Oystercatcher - one landed on the rocks in the northeast corner of the cove. Rock Pipit - twelve feeding on kelp Flies on the beach including leg tagged "AAL" Pied Wagtail - a pair on the beach Grey Wagtail - one on the beach Robin - five around the edge of the cove Stonechat - a pair on the beach Black Redstart - two fem/juv on and around the beach Chiffchaff - two in the bushes to the north of the cove Wren - several on and around the beach
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant 1 Kestrel 1 Oystercatcher Herring Gull Wood Pigeon 12 Rock Pipit 2 Pied Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail Dunnock 10+ Robin 2 Stonechat 2 Black Redstart Blackbird 2 Chiffchaff Long-tailed Tit Great Tit Blue Tit 10+ Wren Magpie Carrion Crow House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
This Kestrel was hunting over the top of the south facing cliff at the cove.
As I was leaving the beach this Oystercatcher flew in to the northeast corner of the cove.
After disappearing for a week or so, it was good to see............
............"AAL" is back with eleven other Rock Pipits.
Note: "AAL" was first trapped as a juvenile and ringed on the 30th August 2023 (Ring number 2699306 by Portland Bird Observatory) in a small cove just north of the Lobster Pot Cafe and has since moved to Church Ope Cove.
A Grey Wagtail at the cove.
Good to see that this male Stonechat is still about on the beach, after I failed to find it a few days ago....
..........and here is his mate.
This fem/juv Black Redstart was behind the beach huts. well.....
.........it was until it spotted me.
And so many Wrens on and around the beach searching for Kelp Flies.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
General Shots:
Looking south along the beach at Church Ope Cove
Ted:
Effortless as Ted runs up the steps to the castle.
Ships Today:
This is the British General Cargo Ship "Clarity" on its way from Amsterdam to Waterford (Ireland). More on this vessel here.
This is the Maltese Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Sude-S" on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel here.
What a miserable day. It rained all day, and when it finally cleared up it was too dark for decent walk. So as per usual when its chucking it down I have added a few highlights from this day from the past 6 years. In fact the 19 Dec wasn't a particularly good day either over the years, other than the Yellow-browed Warbler on 19 Dec 17
2020
These Gannets fly at a fair pace, so I have slowed this one down a bit. Its only when you play it back, you realise its not alone, with a lot of smaller birds out there as well.
2018
The rain this morning was relentless.
2017
I first came across this Yellow-browed Warbler in Pennsylvania Castle Woods on 5 Dec 17
