PORTLAND - PORTLAND HARBOUR - FERRYBRIDGE
WEATHER: dull, overcast and misty. With a cold, moderate, north-easterly wind.
A misty morning greeted us as we embarked on a day trip to Portland. It was dull and quite cold, with a moderate north-easterly wind. How nice!
Guy collected me at 7:30, and 45 minutes later we were walking up the hill to the Verne Prison on Portland. An extra layer of clothing was needed today for sure. A Fieldfare flew across the road in front of the car as we crossed the causeway to Portland from Weymouth.
On Portland, visible migration (Vis-Mig), was quite evident, with large flocks of Wood Pigeons and smaller numbers of finches, skylarks, thrushes and pipits going over us. Verne Prison sits on the northern tip of Portland and is an excellent place to watch autumn migration as it happens.
Our first target bird was a Ring Ouzel. One had been seen in the 'dry-moat' area around the Verne Citadel. Large areas above the moat are covered in cotoneaster shrubs, which were laden with berries. We walked along the top edge of the moat for about an hour. We saw plenty of activity, but there was no sign of the Ring Ouzel. We saw Raven, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Jackdaws. Lots of Song Thrushes, probably Redwings too, flew over with small flocks of Chaffinches and Goldfinches. Several Blackbirds fed on the berries but we could not find the Ring Ouzel.
the dry moat around the Verne Prison with catoneaster plants growing on the slopes above it.
We popped into the Bird Observatory down at Portland Bill for a quick warm drink, before walking to the Lighthouse area. We stopped to look at the Resident Little Owl in Obs' Quarry.
The disused Quarry at Portland Bill Lighthouse had been hosting a Snow Bunting for the last few days, it took us all of five minutes to find it. A little skittish at first, but it settled down and gave us prolonged, close-up views.
you can get very close to wintering Snow Buntings in the UK, they have no fear of 'man'.
playing hide and seek, you can see a BTO ring on its right leg.
We took lunch at the Lobster Pot restaurant at the Bill, we sat outside in the warm sunshine, out of the wind. Guy got pooped on, right on the top of his head. It was deposited by a Starling, shame it wasn't a Gannet flying over.
As we walked back to the Observatory we got a WhattsApp message telling us of a fantastic sighting not far from where we were, a PALLAS'S WARBLER had just been found about a mile up the road. Well, we were back in car within minutes and shot round to the site. Luckily for us, about 20 birders were on-site and watching the bird. How fantastic was that?? We had great views of this tiny, colourful warbler, but it moved constantly as it fed in a sycamore tree alongside a Goldcrest. I have no pictures I'm afraid, but an archive picture is shown from Birdguides.
Pallas's Warbler, a little gem, not much bigger than a Goldcrest
Next we drove to Reap lane to search more fields for Ring Ouzel, but soon realised that we were not going to find one. On the way off the 'island' of Portland we stopped in Fortuneswell to look for a Black Redstart. We struck lucky again with fabulous views of this entertaining little bird.
a fortunate picture with the background colours matching the 'red'-tail of the Redstart.
We then took a short drive to Portland Castle and Ham Beach, both of which give commanding views over the Harbour. We found lots of Med Gulls, also Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Cormorants and Shags. From Ham beach we found a single Great Northern Diver, one of three that have arrived for the winter so far, and our fourth target species of the day.
Portland Harbour, viewed from Ham Beach
From Ferrybridge cafe, we 'scoped the mudflats on a receding tide. Out on the shoreline we saw Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a single Knot, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits and countless Ringed Plovers, Dunlins and Mediterranean Gulls. Guy picked out a small group of Red-breasted Mergansers out on the water and in the distance there were two or three Curlews.
Black-bellied Brent Geese with a single Knot
there are four female-type Red-breasted Mergansers in the foreground, with Med and Herring Gulls
We both agreed that it had been an enjoyable day out, the Pallas's Warbler had been a huge boost to our enjoyment.
Guy got me back home before 4pm, thanks matey, for a good day out.