Passing into Dorset we passed through some mist around the River Stour, but this cleared and as we came south towards Weymouth the visibility was good looking out at the distant Portland, if not though with a hint of sea fog offshore. This was Ian's first visit here, and I was hopeful we could at least find something of interest today. There are always good sightings reported here, but it is a case of being in the right place at the right time. We pulled into the Bill car park at 6.30, where Wheatear flew across us and out over the grass to our left. After we sorted ourselves out we walked down to the obelisk, the Bill lighthouse looking splendid in the morning sunshine, the plan was a sea watch first.
Gannets passed close in, the morning sun catching them as they passed the Bill heading west.
In fact this was the main movement to start with, small groups of Gannets passing,
There was also a steady movement of Fulmar, along with with Guillemots and Razorbills flying up to the West Cliffs. A Rock Pipit displayed from the nearby rocks and from the Obelisk itself, while a Wheatear watched us from a boulder close by.
Shags would also fly past below us the sun catching the bottle green plumage.
It was not the most stunning sea watch I can recall, but sightings of Kittiwake, plenty of Gannets and the auks and Fulmars were all year ticks, and a group of a group of 22 "commic" terns, was also nice to see. The best though was the presence of quite a few Manx Shearwaters. They did not appear to be going anywhere in particular, and would circle around, sometimes quite close in.
There was no indication that anything big was going to happen so we decided to go and explore, heading for the west cliffs. Crossing the field we found a large Wheatear, from the size and length of wing it was probably safe to assume this was of the Greenland race, Leucorrhoa.
We stopped to view the auks on the rocks, and as we did so Fulmars soared around the cliff face below us.
There were a few Guillemots on the water, and Razorbills and Guillemots were flying up to their nesting ledges. One rock had a few Guillemots sitting on it.
Walking along the footpath we were passed by Swallows and Sand Martins heading north. A little further on we came across the egg lying on the path. It had clearly been predated, the top broken off, and albumen still in the grass.
Shaped like a very straight pear, and sky blue in colour with black lines and speckles, I assumed it must be from a Guillemot, but I was concerned by the size, which seemed very big for a Guillemot. Looking it up it was definitely from a Guillemot, and had probably been taken by this bird.
A Raven, which we came across perched on the fence around the the grounds of the Maritime Hotel. It sat with Crows and Jackdaws, and this gave a good opportunity to see the difference in size of these corvids.
We had been told that there was a Redstart in the area around the ploughed fields, so we walked along the footpath towards the scrubby bushes. On the far side of us I picked up a small bird on the fence. It dropped down and then appeared on the fence post. Another first for the year, a male Whinchat.
We could see as many as five of these little chats, while I have seen plenty I have never had the opportunity to get close enough to get some decent photographs.
It suddenly became quite busy in the scrub. A couple of Whitethroats (amazingly another year tick!) and singing Sedge Warbler and this Chiffchaff.
At the far end of the fence a Kestrel sat scanning the grass below.
Back to the Whinchats and they moved along the line of the fence, stopping to perch on the posts and wire to scan the ground below, and then dropping to pick up any possible food.
Leaving the fields we walked down through the Crown Estates with Green-veined and Large White butterflies on the small patch of rape. Off in the distance a view of the lighthouse once again and the Coastguards cottages.
We stopped at the Obs quarry to see if the Little Owls were showing, but they were not up yet. A young rabbit sat in the grass below the rocks where the Little Owl should have been.
We walked back around the Observatory, and then along the road to Culverwell, where again we walked around without seeing very much aside from a warbler in the bushes and a few Goldfinches. From here we walked down to the cliffs and quarries on the east side, once again the clear blue sky lit up the sea and the coast line.
At the top of the cliffs above the quarry were a pair of Ravens, that turned out to be a family group of three juveniles and the male and female. What I assume to have been the male, due to the fact that he did keep some distance from the others, sat on a post watching the activity around him.
As we watched the Ravens, I noticed a bird drop into the quarry. I called Ian to watch as I walked over suspecting that what had dropped might fly out. This is what it did, and fortunately Ian picked it up as it flew away, it was a Little Owl. Apparently it flew around the corner, and when I heard this I knew where it had gone.
We made our way around the point and then into another quarry where I immediately flushed it again but it flew up into the rocks where it was mobbed by a Great Tit. This was exactly where Helen and I had seen it previously two years ago. I climbed the rocks on the other side of the quarry to get a better view, and was quickly joined by Ian who had been debating whether to photograph an Orange Tip!
It stared at us without moving at all.
A little higher and you could see that it was flattening out its body on the rock.
The stare so intense, it never moved or blinked at all.
After watching for some time we finally moved away, the Little Owl though never took it eyes off us as we dropped down from the viewing point.
It was now very warm, and close to lunchtime so we decided to head back to the cars, passing the quarry once again to look for the owls, but once again without any joy. We took lunch up to the West Cliffs where we sat and watched the activity on the rock ledges, and the Fulmars soaring around the cliff face. Inevitably the challenge was to get the perfect shot as they wheeled past us. This was the best of quite a few attempts.
A Shag was now visible on the rock ledge closest to us.
While below there were small groups of auks, the Razorbills standing out with their jet black plumage against the chocolate brown of the Guillemots.
Everything was lovely, the sun and blue sky above, the deep blue of the sea and the pink of the flowering thrift on the cliff edge. It was very hard to think this was the may Day Bank Holiday weekend, it normally rains!
As I sat there drinking my tea, and taking in the view around me I heard a rush of wind and then the sight of a grey shape flash past me. I don't know why but my first instinct was hawk, but then as it climbed in the sky realised it was a Peregrine. It climbed , and then stooped on the rock face, dropping a very rapid speed, and then pulling up and rising once again. Here it banked and we could get a good view.
It then turned and banked once again for another attack on the birds below.
The attack was unsuccessful, and it pulled out again, gained height and headed out over the sea, being joined by another, presumably its mate. They were the lost to sight. Though all this the Shag had stayed in place, even moving into a sunny spot on the ledge.
Time was moving on, and we headed back to the cars, the intention being to make our way home, but to stop along the way. However we had only gone a few metres when we came across a pair of Wheatear in the field.
Once again these were long winged and quite large birds, they were though approachable, and would use the anthills as vantage points to hunt from. Getting down low I could crawl up to them and get some good views.
As its name suggests the Greenland Wheatear breeds in Greenland, and many pass through the UK late in April and early May on a route that takes them through Iceland to the Arctic tundra of Greenland and Northern Canada. There is debate on identification in the field because characteristics overlap, and the best way to describe them is as "showing characteristics" such as height and wing length.
First stop after leaving Portland was at Ferrybridge, the point where the the Fleet that runs alongside Chesil beach runs into Portland Harbour. We walked in the shadow of the great shingle mound that is Chesil beach, and down close to the water. The tide was falling and a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were together on the mud.
Across the shingle there was patches of grass and thrift, and the pink flowers looked spectacular.
Thrift is only with us for short time, and like the bluebells in the woods just has to be enjoyed.
Close in on the mud were five Ringed Plover.
And seven Dunlin, one or two showing the black belly of breeding plumage.
We could continually hear the calls of Little Terns, but seeing them was much harder as they were on the other side of the water. A group of six though did come down onto the mud to bathe in the shallow water.
The shapes and shadows of the shingle going down to the water caught my eye.
A group then turned up, and pointed out a couple of Whimbrel on the far side. To get a little closer to them and the terns we walked onto the road leading to the bridge where we were able to watch the Whimbrel closer.
Another year tick on the day.
The Little \Terns though were still a way off, and the best I could do was this pair sitting on one of the mooring buoys.
Our next stop on the journey home was to Longham Lakes. The lakes in their current form have only been in existence since February 2010, when the southern lake was first flooded after gravel extraction. The smaller lake on the northern side was filled in 2002. Walking around though it shows how quickly nature can adapt and provide habitats.
First though we had to walk along a lane, a Whitethroat was very confiding as it sang in the tree above us.
As we walked around the main path Reed Warblers sang from the small strips of reeds, and in the bushes were Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. We were here to see if we could see the Bonaparte's Gull that has been present recently. A quick scan of the north lake only produced a few Black-headed Gulls, but we could see more on the southern lake.
Before we got there though there was a treat in the form of two displaying Great-crested Grebes, something I have been wanting to capture this year and thought that the opportunity had gone.
The pair swam alongside each other.
Then turned to face each other, shaking the head and fanning out the ear feathers and raising the crest.
They would chatter to each other shaking the head before turning away and heading off away from each other.
One came close to the shore.
On the southern lake there were small gulls catching flies, but we had to look into the sun at birds that would not stay still. On one or two occasions I thought I had found it but couldn't be sure. In the field it was difficult, but I took photos of what I thought could be it. Everything fits here, the all dark bill, the darker hood and the black leading edge on the primaries and the whiter wedge on the outer, upper primaries, and on the underwing the black leading edge and the white lighter patch, I am happy that this is now the Bonaparte's Gull
Time was running out at Longham, so after trying to get better views of Reed Warbler it was time to head back. I always feel that Portland leaves you wanting more, as there is always the chance of something special. Weather wise it had been a spectacular day, a fact bourne out by the traffic, fortunately heading in the opposite direction, however maybe the good weather wasn't so conducive to good birding, but never the less it didn't ruin a great day.
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