The next day, Saturday we decided to head for Weymouth and Portland, another sunny day if a little breezy. Our first stop was just on the causeway to Portland at Ferrybridge the tide was low and there were a few birds out on the tide line. Plenty of Gulls, Terns and small wading birds so it was a good time to try and name all the different ones with the help of course of Elaine!
A number were a first sighting for me, the Dunlin, Mediterranean Gull, Sanderling and Sandwich Tern. We walked along the tideline for about a hour, one thing spoiled it as a man with a dog decided it would be a good idea to let his dog chase all the birds, good job it wasn’t the height of the breeding season!
Ferrybridge 22/07/22
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14 Species
- Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
- Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
- Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
- Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
- Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
- Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
- Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
- Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
- Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
- Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) (Motacilla alba yarrellii)
- Sanderling (Calidris alba)
- Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
- Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
- Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Then we headed to Portland Bill for some lunch and then a look round, it was bright and quite breezy once again. We were lucky to see quite a few different birds and another couple of new ones for me, A Gannet which was flying well out to sea I was surprised I got a picture at all. A beautiful bird and I hope to see some closer one day. Then a Little Rock Pipit down below on the rocks near Pulpit rock a busy little bird dashing about. We were hoping to see a Little Owl in the quarry but no luck this time just a kestrel hanging so we had some good views of him.
Portland Bill 22/07/22
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17 Species
- Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
- Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
- Gannet (Morus bassanus)
- Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
- Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
- House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
- House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
- Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
- Linnet (Linaria cannabina)
- Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
- Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) (Motacilla alba yarrellii)
- Raven (Corvus corax)
- Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
- Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
- Swift (Apus apus)
Soon it was time to head home, we decided to do the full circle and go back on the other side of Portland Through Weston. Elaine could remember staying in a Holiday flat on the edge of the cliffs and we went looking for it a few wrong turns and we eventually found it. There was a small carpark for walkers and climbers at Martinscroft road. We decided on a short walk along the cliff path for an hour, the path is part of the South West coastal path. We were so pleased we did as we spotted a Peregrine on the edge of the cliffs a fair distance away. We got closer and he decided to take off and then fly round what a lovely sight, we think there may have been two of them about. A few other birds about but another thing that excited me were the Chalkhill Blue Butterflies, there were so many on the top of the parched cliffs, what a fantastic sight and so unexpected. A great finish to a lovely day, some fantastic sightings and some new spots for both of us.
Martinscroft Road, Portland 22/07/22
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11 Species
- Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
- Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
- Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
- House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
- House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
- Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
- Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) (Motacilla alba yarrellii)
- Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
- Swift (Apus apus)