Hardly a Feast from the East

Despite the pessimistic title, it has been a thoroughly enjoyable few days.

28th

An early morning seawatch at Chesil Cove in south-easterlies had plenty of promise, but the best birds seen were Canada Goose and Black-headed Gull!  However, the former happens to be a Portland scarcity, and a Portland tick for me, and the latter was migrating in impressive numbers.

Three Canada Goose appeared to come straight in, before heading north over Weymouth (where had they come from?!), and there were small numbers of the likes of Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, and a single Curlew on the move.

The highlight though was a total of 240 Black-headed Gull past in an hour and a half.  A shame that I had to go to work, as who knows what the total could have been.  Its strange to think that I would hardly look twice at 130 BHGs in a field, yet seeing this flock migrating low over the sea...

...before towering up into the sky to take the short-cut across Portland Harbour, was quite spectacular!

A quick whizz round the mid-island triangle (Reap/Barleycrates/Suckthumb) saw little unusual, bar a single Grey Wagtail over.

29th

I started the day with my usual routine, also taking in the garden of Pete and Debby Saunders, who had asked me to keep their feeders topped up while they were away.

Other than a male Blackcap, the garden itself was fairly empty.  However, a quick scan of the large hedge opposite produced something being chased by the local Robin and Dunnock.  I was surprised to eventually see that it was a male Redstart, my earliest ever!

I later got this unusual view of Verne Common (unusual, since it was taken from the prison complex, somewhere I'm allowed to go whilst on delivery!)

I thought an afternoon seawatch at Chesil Cove might be worth trying.  As it turned out, it wasn't really, but I did see a few Little Gull lingering about, plus four Bar-tailed Godwit heading up over Portland Harbour.

31st

Being the end of the month, I put a great deal of effort into today, birding virtually from dawn till dusk.  It really is perplexing how these easterlies aren't producing more migrants.  On my extensive wanderings, I saw only a few Wheatear and Chiffchaff, plus these White Wagtail at Barleycrates Lane.

 

A seawatch however, did raise standards a little, with my first Arctic Skua of the year, harassing the Terns.  Also a small number of the usual stuff, including four Little Gull.

 

A quick scan of Portland Harbour revealed a Black-throated Diver and a transitional-plumaged Red-necked Grebe still hanging on, as well as two Mallard (don't knock 'em!).

Yesterday

I started the day off in Chesil Cove once more, but after an hour, and seeing one Common Scoter, I had enough!  Luckily though, a pair of Long-tailed Duck (including, I think, my first ever adult male) resting fairly close in, saved the session. 

I wonder if this sea-mist, seen just a bit earlier from the West Cliffs, had caused the ducks to ditch?

 

I wander round the usual sites finally got me my first Willow Warbler of the year, at Barleycrates Lane.

 



I thought an hour-long vismig session at the West Cliffs was in order next, and it was pretty good.  Nothing outstanding, but a Siskin was fairly unusual, along with 127 Linnet, small numbers of Sand Martin, and a single Swallow.

I next heard about a Hoopoe, that was seen in Suckthumb Quarry (where I had been earlier!!!), but flown towards Watery Lane.

I undertook a grand-tour of the area, failing on the Upupa mission.  I did however see one or two other things of interest, including this Holly Blue.

 

And, I took in the spectacle of a floor covered with Tuberous Comfrey in Penn Castle Woods.

 



But, most interesting of all, I witnessed more strange Carrion Crow behaviour.  A bird had it's wing-tip caught in the barbed wire, and all the birds around it (including a Magpie, and the local Herring Gull) were going mad!  One Crow was seen to attack the unfortunate bird, and I also saw another pecking at it's wing.  Whether it was attacking too, or trying to free the feathers, I'm not sure.

 

Eventually, it did escape, though that didn't stop the attack!

 

 In the evening, I attempted another seawatch, at a sunny Chesil Cove.

I was rewarded with a flock of ducks, which landed on the sea miles out.  After a great deal of head scratching, they eventually floated closer on the tide, and revealed themselves to be Teal.  A good record.

Today

At work all day, so only got out into the field mid-afternoon, at Ferrybridge.  The star of the last few weeks was still very much showing off.  They do look smart in worn plumage (Iceland Gull).

I also witnessed a Kestrel catch a large rodent, possibly a young Rat, before tucking in.

Afterwards, I just took one short circuit of Barleycrates.  I had only just set foot on the path, when I heard a familiar 'chack!' from a nearby bush.  The next thing I know, a male Ring Ouzel is up in the air, eventually coming down again at Suckthumb Quarry.  I've been looking for one of these for several days, and of course, it's when you're not expecting it, when it happens!

Also at Barleycrates, this Horse wasn't the least bit worried about a Carrion Crow nicking it's hair!

I also came across a freshly-dead Woodpigeon, probably a victim of window-strike.

The neck detail.

 

And, I believe this little lump on the rump is the gland from which the bird exudes water-proof oil for anointing it's feathers.

Finally, this Magpie has a nest not very far away, and it wasn't very impressed by the interruption of a female Sparrowhawk!  The Magpie was making a strange croaking, and Starling-like whistles at the predator.

An action-packed few days!

I'm working solidly for the next three mornings, so I hope the real fall of migrants hold off for a bit!

Who Wants to be a Kumlien-airre

Oh dear, I've just realised how awful that title is.  I can only apologise.

I've rather lost track of the events of the last five days, suffice to say, they were really enjoyable.

One 1st-winter Iceland Gull has made itself a fixture of Chesil Cove, with a second briefly joining it on the 2nd March.

In fact I've spent quite a bit of time seawatching at that site, with little reward in terms of passage. Just a bit of obvious small Gull movement, including a number of Black-headed Gull flocks circling into the sky to take a short-cut across Portland Harbour.   Also the odd Common Scoter and Diver.

It's great to see the community getting together to clean up the legacy of the storms.

A few visits to Ferrybridge have yielded great action from the now smart-looking Mediterranean Gull.

On the 1st, I met up with an enthusiastic young naturalist called Megan who is currently doing a community engagement and wildlife course with the Dorset Wildlife Trust. See her excellent blog here http://mshersby.wordpress.com/  She is eager to learn as much as possible about the wildlife of Portland, and I was delighted to be able to show her the local Barn Owl pair that evening.  They put on an excellent show for us, as they called to each other, and prospected nest sites.

Today

On what was a beautifully still day, I took the opportunity to go on one of my long rambles, first round Barelycrates/Reap/Suckthumb, then to Chesil Cove and back.  I can really sense that a summer migrant is just round the corner, though not today sadly!

I again bumped into a/the Firecrest at Suckthumb Quarry, but there was little else of note around.

As soon as I set up at Chesil, an Iceland Gull honed into view.  I saw nothing particularly unusual about it, till it was almost out of view as it carried on south towards the Bill.  Was that darker primaries I saw?  I wasn't sure. 

Almost immediately afterwards, the now regular (and perfectly regular) Iceland Gull appeared, showing on and off for the rest of the morning.  But, is this the same as the bird above?  I don't think so.

Sea passage consisted of a Manx Shearwater, a Red-throated Diver, and three Common Scoter.  Only a tiny improvement on recent sessions!

My first butterfly of the year, a Small Tortoiseshell, was seen.

As I walked back along the West Weares, I made a point of checking the seas, just in case.  This paid off, as a very quick scan of the water south of Blacknor Point produced an Iceland Gull-type.  I took out my scope once again and had a quick look, not expecting much.  Initially, it appeared pretty normal, but then it turned round, revealing it's primary projection, clearly with dark-tips.  It was unfortunately always distant.

But, with the support of Martin, I was delighted to call it a 2nd-winter Kumlien's Gull.  My first!

I was able to get a little closer to get this footage, but the sun was causing a bit of saturation.  The flaps it does was the only time I saw it open it's wings (pause it, and you may just be able to see the key features!).

I'm pretty happy with that find I have to say!

Later on whilst on my break at work, I was able to pop into Ferrybridge, and just catch a Buzzard flying from the island onto the mainland, over Portland Harbour.  Proper migration!

I predict the first Wheatear tomorrow (though I won't find it, as I'm working all day!).

I do realise my posts have been a little Gull-heavy lately, but what can I say, they're big and easy to photograph!

Marila Ice

Things are finally perking up, with even the suggestion of spring producing the goods!

25th

A quick look at Ferrybridge initially produced little, till the now seemingly semi-resident Great Skua came in for a quick drink, before lumbering back up over the beach.

An interesting observation was a tight flock of four Raven flying from the mainland over to the island.  Going the wrong way, but migrants?

Chesil Cove I thought might be worth a look in medium-strength south-westerly wind.  When I got there, I was immediately confronted with a sea covered in packs of cigarettes!  They had apparently been lost off a container ship off Devon the previous day.  The glint of the plastic in the sun could literally be seen to the horizon!

 

And, the beach was now covered in a never-ending white strandline (you may need to enlarge the second shot).

 

 

 



The coastguard plane made several low flypasts, presumably to assess the situation.  Various people, some of which were the authorities, soon turned up and began to pick up the booty.  It's not going to be a small job though!

The only birds of any note whilst all this was going on was one close Great Northern Diver, plus another Diver which landed further out, probably also this species.

Yesterday

A lovely day with light winds meant a walk round some of the field and bush areas of my patch first of all.

No early summer migrant sadly, but I definitely noticed a larger number of Meadow Pipit, Linnet, and Stonechat than recently.

I found these Lesser Celandine in flower near Verne Common.  I was rather delighted to find these initially, but on inspecting the photos afterwards, I notice that they have marked leaves, and so are probably a cultivated variety.

A probable Firecrest was heard on the Common, and I had an amusing encounter with one of the local Peregrine.  It stalled in the wind above my head and had a good scratch of it's head.  This distraction caused it to fail to notice the Gull that was sneaking up on it, and the poor raptor got a right wallop!

Ferrybridge was the next destination, where I wasn't expecting a great deal.  Indeed the mudflats were empty.

But, on scanning The Fleet, I suddenly came across a distant Duck with a bright white blaze on it's forehead.  I was fairly sure it was a female Scaup (Portland rarity), but I had to get better views from the pub car park, just to make sure it wasn't one of those weird female Tufted Duck (which would also be a Portland tick!).  

Sure enough, it was showing really well from here.

It was associating with some Red-breasted Merganser, and more than once, the flock was frightened by Gulls attempting to steal their catch, and the Scaup (Aythya marila if you were wondering about the blog title!) took flight.

It almost looked as if it was about to fly up The Fleet at one point (which is presumably where it had come from - there has been a Scaup reported from Abbotsbury recently) but thankfully looped round and landed even closer.

Great bird!

Today

Initial looks at Ferrybridge and Portland Harbour produced little, so I popped into Chesil Cove, as once again the wind felt promising.

As ever, passage was nil (except a Red-throated Diver, which ditched into the sea some way out).  But, watching the distant Gull flock down Chesil Beach, I suddenly got the flash of a white-winged Gull through my scope.

My immediate reaction was Glaucous, cause it just looked so large and chunky!  I had to check the bill colouration, but at that distance it was very tricky.  It didn't though appear obviously pale with a dark tip.  That's when I started to wonder.

I had to get closer, so I walked all the way along the beach, in the hope it would still be in the area beyond the diggers. 

It was, and it was now unequivocally an Iceland Gull!  Thank goodness for that!  I deserve that I think after dipping so many this year.  A Portland tick.

It went on to show brilliantly in perfect light.

Loving my birding at the moment!