We left the sea front and headed out towards Portland. The trees indicated as well that the winds had eased, but as we drove down the road towards the lighthouse the rain began. There must have been a lot of rain overnight as there were huge puddles everywhere, yesterday it was as dry as a bone, today there was water everywhere. Getting out of the car it was clear the wind had eased considerably. However the rain was starting and if the forecast was anything to go by it could be nasty.
Looking to the east there were gaps in the cloud that showed some pinkish sky where the sun was just rising.
To the west a dull dark grey curtain, signalling some unpleasant weather to come
We settled in, this time using the monolith as cover, the wind and rain now coming from the south west. Pretty soon it was raining quite hard, and to make matters worse very little was moving off shore. A few Shags passed close to the rocks, but there was none of the movement of Gannets we had seen yesterday.
The lighthouse light was on, and as the gulls passed by overhead you could see the light catch their wings. As the light rotated it was possible as well to see a beam of light emitted. There was ten an announcement coming from the lighthouse, it referred to the public and we strained to listen, Ian walked closer and as he did the horn blared out taking us completely by surprise, but now w e knew what the announcement was about. The visibility was not good, but we wondered if the horn was necessary.
On the rock ledge below us there were at least four Rock Pipits, and they could be either seen pecking at the small pools on the rocks, or chasing each other around and over the rocks, seemingly oblivious of the weather.
A lull in the rain produced another Common Scoter heading east, and a little later a drake and two females on the water just offshore. We could see the breaks in the cloud, but they seemed to past on either side of us and it continued to rain. I one brief respite I picked up a Great Skua heading west, the dark shape and bulk clear, and at one point I could see the white primary flashes, the flight was with stiff wings soaring interspersed with wing beats, a completely different flight jizz to that of a Herring Gull. It flew away into the mirk, but further scanning picked up a smaller skua, with definite pointed wings heading easy just in front of the gloom. This was moving fast with flight like a Peregrine, but at the same time shearing above the waves, whilst not getting definitive views I would have to consider this an Arctic Skua.
We were getting wet, and we were hungry, debate turned to where to go for breakfast, we found out that the Lobster Pot would open at 9:00 am so we decided to stick it out. A single auk passed by, it was distant and impossible for a conclusive identification, then as it approached opening time a large flock of Starlings gathered at the lighthouse, and took advantage of the puddles for a group bathe,
At last the cafe was open so we dropped off the scopes in the car, and made our way in. A Full English cup of tea and toast was most welcome, and by the time we had finished the weather was improving, skies were clearing away to the west, and on the sea Gannets were moving in large numbers.
As I reached the monument a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull flew past.
But after that it was all about the Gannets, and the chance to age them. An adult bird shearing away to the east
Most of the passage was from west to east, with the birds appearing over the Pulpit rock having come through Chesil Cove and along the west cliffs. Here a group of adults, second and third year birds and what looks like a juvenile
Here a third year bird and an adult.
Adults
A different view as they head out to sea away from us. An adult, a third year and two second year birds
Four adults, two third years and a first year
A second year, the amount of white can vary late in the year
Second year birds in the emerging sunshine.
And finally adults
We could have continued photographing the Gannets as they passed, but felt that we had enough. Back at the car a check of the phone alerted to us of a reported Wryneck at Portland - here we go again!
The bird had been seen in Helen's field, the problem was where exactly was that? We walked across the grass towards the Observatory, as we did so we came across three Wheatears, scouring the damp ground for any sign of food.
We paused at the quarry, there was no sign of the Little Owls, but we did find a Blackcap and heard Chiffchaffs calling. As we reached the gate for the Crown Fields we came across Martin Cade who was able to give us some information on the Wryneck and where it was.
We took the path through Culverwell, and on reaching the top of the hill we met a couple who told us that the Wryneck had been seen on the track, but then flew off towards the business park. We had a quick look around Helen's Field but there was nothing moving so we set off towards the park, this would take us to the field where yesterday there had been the Wheatear and Stonechats.
The fields on either side of the path were busy with Meadow Pipits, but there was no movement of hirundines this morning. In fact we only saw one swallow. A scan along one of the fence produced what we thought were Stonechat and Meadow Pipit, but on a closer look turned out to be Whinchat.
There were in fact six present all perched at one point on the fence.
As we approached the horse paddock a Raven flew up and settled down onto a post.
Chasing the Raven lead us around the paddock and we walked back down the same path we had walked yesterday. Today though it was muddy and difficult to walk along. The hope was that maybe the Wryneck could be in the north east corner where there was a lot of bramble and the birds had gathered yesterday.
While there were a few Wheatears about, the Stonechats dominated and the damper ground was making the catching of grubs a lot easier, this looks like a leather jacket.
While the juvenile birds would gather on the park perimeter fence.
We continued along the footpath with no sign at all of any Wryneck. The path led through a narrow corridor with bramble and ivy on one side and the fence on the other. Blackcaps and Chiffchaff were in the bushes, but nothing else. The footpath came out on to the road, and we headed down to the path we had taken the previous day in Southwell. This led us past the equestrian centre. The only thing of note here was the fact that the path was flooded, considering it was bone dry the day before we must have had a lot of rain overnight.
We were now heading back down towards the Observatory, looking across to the south the Lighthouse stood out, but without the light and fog horn we had endured earlier in the morning.
Time was moving on, and we headed once again for the car park, stopping again at the observatory quarry. This time a Woodpigeon sat on the rocks, and there was still the Blackcap in the bramble.
Crossing the grass towards the car park it was clear that there had been an influx of Wheatear. We counted 18 birds scattered across the open lawn, and, just like yesterday if they came to close their would be squabbles.
With patience it was possible to get close, and I wanted also to get low down. This one was distracted by the Leather Jacket it had caught. It was trying to find a way to eat it.
It clearly gave up dropping the larvae, and moving away.
We left the Wheatears and returned to the car. We decided on dropping in at Ferrybridge, but the tide was high and there was very little there. No waders, just a small gathering of gulls in which there were 9 Mediterranean Gulls and 4 Sandwich Terns, one of which was a begging juvenile once again.
So with that we drew the Weymouth trip to an end. I love Portland, I have never really had a mega day here, but it always threatens promise, you know it is possible, but you have to work for it. Wryneck has eluded us once again and will probably continue to do so, they are one of those birds that you just have to be lucky with. In total there were 83 species over the two days, I think we had hoped for a few more. But it was a good couple of days and once again after leaving Portland I will be back.
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