When I looked at the weather forecast this morning and Micheal Fish assured us there would be no wind today, I was convinced. Not so 22 years ago when the Great British Hurricane occurred, some weeks after I visited Knoll Park in Kent to see dozens and dozens of Leviathans looking like an elephant's graveyard.
An early start at Portland today saw a small movement of Redwings, with the odd Fieldfare mixed in. Both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were present at the Hump with 4 each of Stonechat and Song Thrush at Barleycrates. Towards the Bill good numbers of Blackbirds became apparent and a few Swallows passed overhead. At the Barns there was Black Redstart, Goldcrest and more of the above, and before I arrived at the coast there was a report of a juvenile male Eider, said to be close to the shore. All I could find were 3 Turnstones and a Sparrowhawk, but at the Obs the 2 Turtle Doves (probably the most obliging in history) were still showing, but I saw nothing of the reported Firecrest. The Gulls and Wheatear below were seen as I walked home via the East Cliff.
An early start at Portland today saw a small movement of Redwings, with the odd Fieldfare mixed in. Both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were present at the Hump with 4 each of Stonechat and Song Thrush at Barleycrates. Towards the Bill good numbers of Blackbirds became apparent and a few Swallows passed overhead. At the Barns there was Black Redstart, Goldcrest and more of the above, and before I arrived at the coast there was a report of a juvenile male Eider, said to be close to the shore. All I could find were 3 Turnstones and a Sparrowhawk, but at the Obs the 2 Turtle Doves (probably the most obliging in history) were still showing, but I saw nothing of the reported Firecrest. The Gulls and Wheatear below were seen as I walked home via the East Cliff.
Wheatear - East Cliff, Portland
Ditto
Great Black-backed Gull with Herring Gull - both juveniles Portland Bill
Great Black-backed Gull - juvenile, Portland BillThere was another corking quote on the news this morning, as our correspondent reported the actions of the Somali Admiral of the Fleet, who assured the world that piracy in local waters was increasingly coming under control. "Is that because of the number of warships you have deployed Sir" asked the reporter, "No" was the reply, "we don't know where our ships are, but think they have been stollen by pirates". 15 - 2 that Chief!
and finally a single bird photograph from each of the worlds 5 Continents
Yellow-throated Bunting - Asia
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) - America
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Europe
Comb-crested Jacana - Australia
Abyssinian Roller - Africa
