I spent the morning at Portland Bill on a sea-watch. The Red-footed Booby has been seen again in the west and with a morning to spare before the football I took the journey to The Bill. I stopped off at Portland Castle where the Great Northern Diver was basking in amongst the boats!
The wind at The Bill was very strong from the west so I pitched
down on the rocks in front of the obelisk sheltering me from the elements. Once
I had settled in it was quite bit bright in the sun but all things considered
quite pleasant!
Movement at sea was slow with a general movement west of birds. Gannets
were noted high and far out to sea. A bit closer in a couple of Manx Shearwater
passed through. The sunlight gave the bird a brownish appearance across the
upper-wing. The under-wing was smart with dark outer tips to the primaries and
secondaries and white through the vent confirming the identity of the bird.
Terns although not numerous were well represented with half a
dozen Little (which is new for me at The Bill), Sandwich and Common passing by
at close to mid water.
The regular fare of Auks, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Shag were in
attendance along with Common Scoter offshore!
Early morning there was a good gathering of gulls in the field
opposite Culverwell this morning. A couple of graellsii Lesser Black-backed
Gulls were in the flock. Note the mid grey mantle and white panel in p10 which
is a feature on third winter birds.
The morning passed by too quickly unlike the football which is now
in extra-time!!
