FERRYBRIDGE - PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY - TOP FIELDS - THE BILL -REAP LANE AND BARLYCRATES LANE - FERRYBRIDGE
WEATHER: all day sunshine, light winds - top temp 23C
Guy picked me up at 7am and we drove straight down to Ferrybridge, we had delightful weather throughout the day although it was a little chilly to start with.
It was high tide at Ferrybridge, just a few gulls were sitting out on the water including some Mediterranean types, juveniles and moulting adults. On the grassy Chesil Bank (bone-dry grassy bank) we picked out two Northern Wheatears, both males in their glorious winter garb, they do look fantastic at this time of the year. A flock of Linnets dashed about, Skylarks too, and we noted dozens of Common Ringed Plovers dotted about on the shale waiting for the tide to go out.
A female Northern Wheatear, seen in the top fields on Portland
Our first stop on Portland was at the Bird Observatory, we parked the car there for the duration of our stay. Nothing was reported in and around the gardens except for a few Chiffchaffs, lots of Willow Warblers and one or two Spotted Flycatchers. We saw all three of those. A 30-minute sea watch sitting with Graham Walbridge (the resident sea-watcher) produced nothing but Gannets and Gulls. Graham has seen up to 40 Balearic Shearwaters earlier, it was a case of you should have been here an hour ago!!
Willow Warbler in the Observatory Garden, we saw one or two Hummingbird Hawk Moths too!
We then walked up to the top fields spending a lot of time scanning the dry grass meadows and the headgerows, it wasn't devoid of birds but we had to work hard to find anything. A few more Wheatears appeared and we found a single Whinchat with plenty of Stonechats, Goidfinches, Starlings and Linnets. A few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks went onto the list and the usual Ravens, Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves and Jackdaws were noted. A Sparrowhawk was chasing the Goldfinches and Linnets, it mobbed a Buzzard that was sitting on an old tin roof minding its own business.
After a brief stop at the Observatory (when I ate my early lunch) we walked down to Portland Bill, we checked the 'Obs Quarry' where a Wryneck was relased a couple of days ago, no sign of it now. Another Wheatear was sited at the quarry near the lighthouse, also Rock Pipit and more Linnets. We walked to east side of the Bill to search the rocky ledges beneath 'Pulpit Rock' for a Purple Sandpiper. This very early winter visitor was a surprising recent find.
Pulpit Rock at Portland Bill Quarry
The Guru spotted the sandpiper exactly where it was supposed to be, it showed very well for 15 minutes and then disappeared whilst we were looking ealsewhere!
the lonesome Purple Sandpiper, an early winter visitor or a passing bird???
After Guy ate his lunch back at the Observatory we drove back inland stopping at two or three places and registering nothing new, it was hot and bird movement was at a minimum. So we decided to spend our last hour back at Ferrybridge, the tide had receded and acres of fresh, wet mud lay out in front of us. It was covered in birds, wading birds, my favourites. I filled my boots with them.
A very obliging juvenile Red Knot was feeding in the feeder channel very close to the Visitor's Centre, it was within 10 meters of us. Also with the Knot was a Dunlin and two or three Ringed Plovers. A Yellow Wagtail dropped in and a couple of Pied Wagtails chased flies on the bank behind the channel.
Juvenile Red Knot at Ferrybridge
Out on the mudflats we could see over 100 Ringed Plovers, 50+ Dunlin and at least 8 Sanderling, an Oystercatcher dropped down and half a dozen Ruddy Turnstones fed around the pebble beaches.
We left at 3pm and I was at home by 4pm, it had been a nice day and had whet my appetite for forthcoming Autumn Migration, both here and in Spain.
A Marsh Sandpiper has been found at Seaton Marshes and we planned to visit there tomorrow.