Port and Wey

24 Feb 25

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

With some decent weather at the moment I decided to visit The Bill again, just in case there were any early Spring migrants, especially with that strong southerly we are experiencing at the moment.

There weren't any but I did have a Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart. Both birds overwintering here.

Birds missing from my observations today were Shags and Guillemots. Yesterday they were quite abundant, but with the waves as high as they were today, if there were any about they were well hidden in the troughs.

Birds Recorded:
10 Gannet
Cormorant
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit
8 Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Black Redstart
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch

Just 8 Rock Pipits seen today. A lot less than the 30+ seen yesterday on the Common. This ringed bird AAN is still about.

A new "ringed" individual was ACI..........

...............or is that ACT.

Below are a sequence of images of a Cormorant swallowing a Dover Sole.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A Black Redstart just east of the hut fields has just found this large green caterpillar

General Shots and Videos:

The sea was a lot rougher than yesterday and the Red Crane was getting a good bashing.

With so much spray, there were quite a few rainbows.

Ted:

This should have been a series of photos of Ted running from left to right. After taking about a dozen photos, I suddenly realised he was stood behind me!!!

I did eventually get one shot of Ted having a buzz.

Ships Today:

This is the Japanese Vehicles Carrier "Cattleya Ace" on its way from Sheerness to Walvis Bay (Namibia). More on this vessel here.

23 Feb 25

Portland Bill

With rain forecast for around 1:00pm, I decided to have a seawatch at The Bill. However as I arrived at 11:45am, so the rain began to fall. Fortunately it was fairly light, and using the Obelisk as a windbreak I managed to get a good hours worth in, watching a fair number of sea birds passing by.

The Obelisk where I was well sheltered from the wind and rain.

Birds Recorded:
1 Fulmar
10+ Gannet
8+ Cormorant
5 Shag
Herring Gull
6 Great Black-backed Gull
20+ Razorbill / Guillemot
5 Rock Pipit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
100+ Starling

Below are a few shots of the Fulmar which headed east past the Bill

Below are a few shots of the Gannets that were close in today. I didn't see a single one here yesterday.

Below are a few Cormorant shots with the second one an adult in full breeding plumage. The bottom photo is a Shag.

The photos below are Great Black-backed Gulls. The top is an adult with a 1st Winter below

Below are Guillemots

Below are Rock Pipits with one individual sporting a metal ring on its leg.

General Shots and videos

The Pulpit

A panned video from the Obelisk to the Red Crane.

The Red Crane under siege by the waves.

Ted:

I don't think Ted is keen on the wind and rain.

22 Feb 25

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

At long last some decent weather and the opportunity to stretch my legs after being cooped up in the house for three days, because of the rain we've had. So it was a case of making the most of the sunshine and blue skies, especially as tomorrows forecast is not looking good.

Main highlights were two Purple Sandpipers at the Bill, where there was also an unusual sighting of a Dunnock feeding in amongst the rocks and seaweed next to them. Plus six Stonechats a male on the slopes and five in the Obs Meadow.

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
3 Buzzard

1 Lapwing
2 Purple Sandpiper
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Guillemot
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
3 Skylark
4 Meadow Pipit
30+ Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Dunnock
Robin
6 Stonechat
Blackbird
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
2 Raven
50+ Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch