WEYMOUTH - EAST FLEET - FERRYBRIDGE - PORTLAND HARBOUR , VIEWED FROM PORTLAND CASTLE AND SANDSFOOT CASTLE
WEATHER: overcast, with broken sunshine, a very chilly northerly wind.
If a Wheatear turns up in the UK during November/December its usually a 'goodie' and that is exactly what was found in Dorset yesterday. At a well known birding spot along the shoreline of the 'Fleet' there is an Army Camp where unique bridges are stored, it is called the Bridging Camp. The Southwest coast path runs along the bounday fence of the Camp and within the compound a rare Wheatear sat. It was found by a local birder yesterday afternoon and it was a DESERT WHEATEAR. The nearest breeding area is found in Morocco, North Africa but it also found right across North East Africa into Egypt, Israel and further eastward.
My local birding friend called Guy had not seen this bird in the UK and was determined to see it today, I tagged along just in case he needed help in finding it! We arrived on site around 10am the bird had already been reproted and a small gathering of birders were hugging the tall fence along the Coastal Path.
looking eastward from the Bridging Camp along the Fleet towards Abbotsbury with Chesil Bank on the left
As we approached the group we noticed that they were all looking in our direction, lo and behold the Wheatear was sat in the grass not 20 meters from us, just beyond the fence. At the same time a Black Redstart appeared on a pile of bridging iron-work , even closer to us.
Both birds were very active, they wouldn't keep still for a digi-picture which was quite frustrating and eventually they were lost to sight. We walked a further 200 meters along the fenceline and relocated the main bird, it was now sheltering from the cold wind and light rain.
my first picture of the Desert Wheatear taken through the fence as it sat sheltering from the wind and rain
taken a little later as it brightened up
a profile showing the black plumage along the wing
Over the next hour we were given the run-around by this female Desert Wheatear, but she did slow down and posed a few times for the camera. The fence was made up of a closely made grid of army-green metal and was very hard to take pictures through it.
a record shot of the Desert Wheatear showing off its all-black tail.
Other species seen in and around the compound were: Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Linnets, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Starling, Rook, Jacdaw and Crows. A few birds we seen on the water of the 'Fleet', they included Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Little Egret, Wigeon, Common Shelduck and lots of gulls especially Mediterranean Gulls.
Oystercatchers feeding in the Army Compound
my last two pictures of the Wheatear
We scanned the hedgerows round the lane looking for a Cirl Bunting, we know that they breed in this area, but we drew a blank, finding only Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits and more Goldfinches.
After stopping in Wyke Regis to buy lunch supplies we drove to Portland Castle where we sat in the car to eat. A short walk after lunch to the viewing area near the Castle produced a few birds in the Harbour. Cormorants, Shags, Red-breasted Mergansers, gulls and more gulls. We failed to find any grebes or divers out in the harbour, we didn't stay for long in the cold wind.
Our next stop was at Ferrybridge where we had a nice hour, finding a good variety of species. We were looking for a bunch of Goosanders that had been reported over the last few days, they failed to appear today.
With a receding tide the shoreline was very busy with waders, gulls and geese, all busy feeding on the newly exposed mud. Over 160 Dunlin were counted and quite a few Ringed Plovers dashed about in the wind. We also found two Grey Plover and a single Knot. All the gulls appeared to be Mediterranean with one or two Great Black-backed Gulls. A small flock of Brent Geese were composed of twenty one Dark-bellied and two Pale-bellied varieties.
two Pale-bellied Brent Geese with a couple of Med Gulls and Dunlin
the two Pale-bellied Brent Geese with a Dark-bellied Brent Goose. A Ringed plover has also crept into view
We also saw Turnstone, Red-breatsed Mergansers and some distant Little Egrets. We dove into the Visitor's Centre to shelter from the wind and to grab a hot drink. My hot chocolate went down very well.
Lastly we drove through Wyke Regis and parked near Sandsfoot Castle. On the grassy embankments around the castle grounds we joined a few other birders who were scanning the Harbour. It was quite pleasant there, we were sheltered from the wind and light wasn't too bad.
Very quickly we found a distant Great Northern Diver, lots of Great Crested Grebes, Shags and Cormorants and then we found a Black-throated Diver. This latter bird was a good find and one that had not been reported prevously. Having said that, the BT Diver was very elusive and spent 90% of its time under water! A second Great Northern Diver appeared then one of the other birders found a Slavonian Grebe, also not previously reported, nice one!!
two record shots of the Slavonian Grebe
It was approaching 3pm and the sky began to darken so we made our way back to the car and drove home.