Today was spent on the Isle of Portland and the weather was very pleasant indeed having previously endured roughly 36hrs of rain! High tide was at around 7am therefore I stopped off at Portland Castle / Osprey Quay to check the area for a male Black Redstart and the mill pond of a harbour for Great Northern Diver.
Both species did not disappoint with the Black Redstart entering the area of rocks which bordered the boat yard.
The Great Northern Diver was easier to find on a very calm harbour. The bird stayed out beyond the buoys but was still finding plenty of food as it took short dives to take unsuspecting crabs from the bottom.
I called in at the observatory and the morning had been very quiet so I took a walk down to the bill to catch up with the Purple Sandpiper.
The Rock Pipit was very lively with wing and diving displays suggesting spring was just around the corner! In fact there were a lot of singing birds on the Island let’s hope a cold snap does not put everything on hold! A bird ringed on the 30th September 2023 as a 3j at the observatory silver ring number 2699305 with white on black AAJ was photographed near the beach huts.
A walk at The Hump had me hit the deck on a slippery path. Fortunately the camera seems ok after the tumble! The fields at Reap Lane and Barlycrates Lane were also checked before another mudslide up to the top fields at Culverwell. Plenty of passerines but not much else beyond two Peregrine working together to snare a Wood Pigeon who may have escaped the ordeal!
A catch up at the Observatory with Richard Sergeant (Tices Meadows) and then a late exit which spooked a Barn Owl which was eying up the moth lights in the gardens!
A visit to Portland is not complete without a trip to a chippy. There are a few good ones en-route home!
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