Spoon-fed Birding

Not as many days spent in the field as I'd like, down to working in Bridport, but the ones that I've managed have been enjoyable.

6th

After yesterdays glut of seabird passage, I thought it might be worth a quick look out to sea from Chesil Beach in a south-westerly.  Although a single distant Pomarine Skua was seen, nothing else was moving.  

Later, I was relaxing in my room, when I happen to glance out the window and see a menacing shape bombing along overhead, a Great Skua!  The flat list is coming along nicely, with the likes of Redstart and Black-tailed Godwit also on it.

7th

I had a quick look round first thing, and I was delighted to see my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year at The Hump.  I later set up to count the hirundine passage.

The movement wasn't quite as heavy as I was hoping, so I quickly gave up.  Nonetheless, I did finally see a Hobby, as one flew north along the cliffs, virtually sideways as the strong westerly blew in.

10th

I only had a small window of opportunity for birding today, but I used it productively.

I did a short walk around the Windmills and through Suckthumb.  Well, by the Windmill stables I bumped into two Turtle Dove.  As always, a real treat to see, and of course we need to enjoy them as much as we can these days.

I was sitting around in the trees behind the former Weston Craft Centre, when a Cuckoo suddenly started up.  A real surprise as they haven't bred on the island for a long time.

Both patch ticks!

11th

This morning, I led my former local RSPB group round my former patch of Tice's Meadow, Surrey.

There was a strong wind blowing, and that really made things difficult.  In fact, by the time we got to the final path back to the car park, the highlights had been a very brief Hobby, and a few common waders.



But on the walk back, we heard the now resident Nightingale, or be it distantly, after dipping it earlier.  A Lime Hawk-moth was a good find.

 And, most astonishingly of all, we had a Spoonbill fly over our heads!  A Surrey mega, and only the second Tice's record.  It was later seen at Fleet Pond, Hants.

13th

I started the day with the usual search of the land.  Spotted Flycatcher had dropped in numbers, and they were found all over the place, including flying around high up, some heading straight north.  Another Turtle Dove was about, this time looking a bit exhausted, sitting in a bush in Suckthumb Quarry.  Also there, I appreciated these Glaucous Sedge in flower.

I next visited Ferrybridge, but there was not a great deal there, bar a Whimbrel, and several grounded Barrel Jellyfish, looking like something from another planet!

The Thrift was now putting on a great show.

A quick look out to sea, and two summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver flew past, part of the decent passage past the Bill no doubt.

Finally, I had a very uneventful look at Verne Common, but this Garden Tiger caterpillar was cool, and is likely to be the first of many.

Yesterday

A good spread of migrants again through the centre of the island, despite the late date.  My usual circuit produced plenty of stuff, including a late Redstart, and a fantastic male Pied Flycatcher, only my second of the year.  Amazingly, it thought this tiny Sycamore was a good place to set up territory and sing.

Later, I set up at the West Cliffs to count the hirundine passage.  I finished the hour on a amazing 777 Swallow and 148 House Martin.  But, the passage in the 20 minutes before I started counting was much stronger than in the last 20 minutes of my actual hour, when it really started to tail off.  Therefore, at it's peak, I reckon Swallow were touching 1000 an hour!  Incredible!  You'd have thought all Swallow territories in the UK would be occupied by now!  Maybe these birds are heading for The Faroes/Scandanavia?

Today

Iv'e just had a quick walk round, and seen just small numbers of expected fare.  But, right at the end, a Reed Warbler was singing at Barleycrates.  Believe it or not, my first on the island this year!  I was starting to think I was going to have to wait till autumn!

Plenty of Wall butterflies now on the wing in beautiful sunshine.

As are plenty of micro-moths.  Both Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella and Esperia sulpurella, like this one, are numerous at the moment.

I also found this disguarded chrysalis, but I have absolutely no idea what emerged from it!

I'm about to head off back to Surrey, from which I will leave for France on Saturday for a week of solid birding in the Alps and the Camargue.  Can't wait!

Looking for migrants? Have a lie-in!

I realise this post is a bit 'word-heavy', but it's worth reading believe me, as it's been an incredible and breathless week!

13th

Yet another sunny day, which didn't look ideal for migrants.  Indeed, other than small numbers of expected migrants, my first walk round the 'mid-island triangle' produced little of note.  Luckily, two reeling Grasshopper Warbler were nice at Suckthumb Quarry, even though neither could be seen.

There seemed do be a decent overhead passage occurring, with a couple of calling Tree Pipit going over among others, so after lunch I set up for a vismig session.  Counting the incoming hirundines accurately was very tricky, with a total of almost 800 in an hour!  Final numbers were 727 Swallow, 36 House Martin, and 23 Sand Martin.  I was delighted to beat my Swallow total of a few days ago (531).  Among the small numbers of other passerines was a single Yellowhammer, a scarce patch bird, and I witnessed for the first time, Wheatear heading over in the sky, in small, loose groups.

Come the evening, I was having a casual scan with the bins from my bedroom window, as I often do, when I suddenly came across a large flock of medium-sized waders flying high over the sea, towards me.  I was rather hoping they were going to be Whimbrel, so I rushed out to try and intercept them.  Some of the buildings were in the way, so I had to wait for them to appear, but they never did!  My instinct tells me that they were Curlew, which probably ended up taking the short-cut across the island, out of my view.

Anyway, while I was out, I thought I may as well take a quick scan of the panorama to the south.  I immediately came across a set of distinctive bowed wings heading toward me high along the cliffs.  I knew immediately what it was, but I just had to make sure I wasn't seeing things, with the scope.  An Osprey!  It drifted lazily south, with the surprisingly relaxed Gulls, shadowing it as it went.  I always carry my phone camera or camcorder with me when I'm out, but surprise, surprise, I didn't have them on me on this occasion!  I then rushed upstairs to see it from my bedroom window to try and get rather an epic flat tick, but sadly I could not find it again!

14th


My first venture out this morning produced next to nothing at Barleycrates, but at Suckthumb at least had my first Whitethroat of the year, plus I actually saw a Grasshopper Warbler, as I flushed it from grass by the path.  It was when I spotted a Redstart literally fall out of the sky at Avalanche Road, that I suspected something was occurring.  Although there were only a few Willow Warbler and Wheatear at Reap Lane, on arrival back at Barleycrates, it all started to happen, as I found 3 Redstart in quick succession, as well as 2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler.  The ploughed field at the end was carpeted with at least 50 Wheatear.

With all this happening, I thought it worth doing a full census, visiting many other mid-island sites.  It was more of the same, but I'm not complaining about seeing these!

The final full total was 13 Redstart and 5 Grasshopper Warbler.

I was working the afternoon, but with a few minutes spare, I thought I'd react to the report of '3 Pied Flycatcher at several north Portland sites', by visiting Verne Common.  I didn't even know that this was one of those sites, but I was delighted to almost immediately come across a stunning male Pied Flycatcher at the Naval Cemetary!  Spot the Pied Fly!

Also a couple of Redstart even here, including one sharing the Flycatcher's tree. By now they are probably sharing a tree in a lovely Welsh valley somewhere.

Also here, plenty of the diminutive Ivy-leaved Speedwell in flower (here with Lesser Celandine).

My first experience of a proper Portland spring fall, and what an experience it was!

15th

With South-easterlies in the offing, seawatching at Chesil Cove was the order of the day. 

As it turned out, passage was actually pretty poor.  This was more than made up for though by an incredible run of sightings.  First, my earliest ever Pomarine Skua passed by close.  It seemed to be totally lacking a tail, but was undoubtedly a hulk of a Pom.  Then, a bit of frenzied calling on the calm shoreline revealed the presence of two Common Sandpiper. 

A scan of the far horizon, suddenly produced a large raptor powering in-off the sea.  It was always extremely distant right up to when it made landfall somewhere between Chickerell and Langton Herring.  But, I saw just enough to prove it was a Harrier, and I'm 90% sure it was a Hen Harrier.  On top of those, a Merlin (probably the bird seen in-off at the Bill) whizzed past and up the beach, and my first three Whimbrel of the year went by.  On top of all that, an Iceland Gull made a brief appearance, before drifting south.  Only an 'also-ran' on a day like this!

Later, a quick look at the usual areas produced little till Barleycrates Lane, which had a Redstart and a male Ring Ouzel, which gave me great views, but was sadly flushed by a dog walker before I could sort out the camera!

17th

Both yesterday, and today, I was working in Bridport, which meant virtually no birding.  Good thing I'd had a brilliant few days before!

I did however get out this evening, to Radipole in the hope of a Savi's Warbler, a species I'd dipped twice before.  Well, it wasn't to be third time lucky, as there was no further sign.  A shame, but not all that unpredictable!  I had a nice time though, seeing the likes of Cetti's Warbler, Gadwall, and Common Sandpiper.

Yesterday

A day which started very similarly to the 14th, with virtually nothing around first thing, only for birds to start appearing a bit into the morning.  I had got all round the usual sites seeing little, before returning to Barleycrates, only to find 2 stunning male Whinchat and a Ring Ouzel along one small section of path, which were all then unfortunately flushed by a dog walker.  

A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling again there, and the only Redstart of the day was at Blacknor.  At the latter, I found a Cream-spot Tiger caterpillar wandering on the path.

Later, I thought it may be worth seawatching from Chesil Beach.  It very much wasn't, with the highlights being the wonderful panorama.

 

And a fairly close Red-throated Diver, though sadly still in winter-plumage.

In the evening, I took a stroll down to Chesil Cove, to be greeted by a distant Black Tern lingering, but nothing else at all!

Today

I only had a quick look at Barleycrates and Reap Lanes this morning before work, and was rewarded with just a calling Ring Ouzel at BC, deep in a bush.

Luckily, I was able to do a more extensive walk during my break, which took me all the way to Penn Castle Woods, which lacked any Wood Warbler, but I did find a single English Bluebell, doing it's best to poke up out of the sea of Tuberous Comfrey!

There was little about compared to recent days, but that didn't stop me enjoying my best views yet of a Whinchat, at Suckthumb Quarry, and I got my earliest ever Garden Warbler in the trees behind the former Weston Craft Centre (now a building site!).

On arrival back at Barleycrates, this Kestrel was enjoying it's lunch.  This species really is used to walkers getting close to them along the West Cliffs.  This was phone-binned.

I had a quick seawatch from Chesil Beach later, but after immediately having 3 Whimbrel go past, I saw absolutely nothing for the rest of the session!  I find that pattern repeats itself so often on seawatches!

I'm not sure things can get much better.  Then I remember, I'm off to Provence in 29 days!  The countdown has begun!

The Barley Bassanus

Before I get into today, here is the Balearic video from yesterday, hopefully reproduced a lot better (watch it in full-screen):

I headed out first thing this morning, not in any particular hope of anything.  I went on down the Bill, seeing little but a few Wheatear.

Seawatching could have been an option after yesterday, but the wind had weakened, and swung round to the west.  Nevertheless, I thought the best use of my time was to join the others watching from the Obs.  Not like me I know, but it did actually pay off.  Not on the sea mind, where only a trickle of Manx and Balearic Shearwater could be found, but in the bushes.  A very confiding female Pied Flycatcher allowed everyone to photograph it, as it kept coming back to a particularly exposed and well-lit perch.

 

A short video of it.

 

 

 

I had seen the scarce Fly Tachina grossa a few weeks back at the High Angle Battery, though only ID'd it some days later.  Today, I had the chance to photograph this monster, as two were trapped in the Obs lounge.  This is the largest of the Tachinid flies, and like all members of it's genus, lays it's eggs on caterpillars (I think you can guess the rest).  This species targets Oak Eggar and Fox Moth larvae.

 

 

In the late morning, early afternoon time, I went out on a walk with my Mum and Step-dad, to show them the sights.  The wildlife highlight was yet more Clouded Yellow, and finally I was able to photo one (including a rare view of it's upperwing!).

On the East Cliffs near Cheyne Weares, we found this rather beautiful mineral encrustation on a cliff face, something I'd not noticed previously.

 



 

And a walk around Church Ope Cove produced this Portland plant tick of Common Calamint.

 

We were just getting back to the flat along Barleycrates Lane, when I noticed a white flapping thing in the corner of my eye.  All I initially saw was a large white bird with black wing-tips, floundering about in the barley field.  My first reaction was a Snow Goose or some kind of Feral Goose (they're kept up the road).  But, it soon became apparent that it was actually an adult Gannet!

 

I called the Obs.  No answer.  What to do?  I had to go and tackle the thing myself. 

 

So, I went traipsing through this field (probably trespassing) with a blanket.  It was amazingly difficult to locate at first, but once found, it was fairly easy to capture.  It growled at me as they do, but I just threw the blanket over it's head, and quickly grabbed it's beak!  Although unsuccessfully at first, as it grabbed my finger through the blanket!  I did manage to subdue it in the end, and carried it under one arm back to the car park. 

 

My Mum and Step-dad kindly drove me to the Obs.  If they hadn't been there I'm not sure what I would've done.  Quite possibly chucked the thing into the back of my camper and driven (carefully) down there!

 

Once at the Obs, it became apparent that Martin the warden was out for the afternoon!  Myself and the visiting ringer put it into a small metal cage, and it seemed quite happy.  It had no obvious injuries.  The ringer consulted the books, and reckons the bird is a 5 year-old female.  I waited patiently in the hope that Martin would get back soon and be able to release it that afternoon.  Sadly not, but hopefully, all being well, it will be released tomorrow morning.  How it came to be in the barley field remains a mystery.

Now excuse me while I have a bath, to rid myself of all the Lice which decamped from the bird, when they decided I would make an excellent new home!