Away Day - Part II

 Reaching the brow of the shallow incline

PORTLAND BILL
with 2 of its 3 lighthouses opened before us but it was decided to scan the sea from the

furthest point at the

TRINITY HOUSE OBALISK
before paying a visit with still a fresh breeze piping.

Small Boat Hoist

driving the Rollers in

and otherwise the clear blue sky contrasting with the
Active Lighthouse with first on parade unsurprisingly

a couple or 3

CORMORANTs

with just a single
KITTIWAKE

To emphasis Sea State the

CRABBER - PORTLAND ISLE

was making heavy weather of rounding the Bill and entering West Bay.
Not wishing to "over-egg the custard", which we are going to do anyway,

out of the corner of the eye

our much hoped for

Target Bird

PURPLE SANDPIPER

recently returned from their
Summer Quarters in Iceland

landed on the shelfing rock ledges directly below us - c9 in all!
Scanning again to seaward a short parade of common seabirds such as this lone

FULMAR
and equally singular

SHAG
were watched over from above by a few

GUILLEMOT
on the high ledges and also gazing down on a

small flotilla of

GANNETs

Through the light mist a distant and large
CONTAINER VESSEL

along with a couple of

RAZORBILLs

COASTGUARD STATION
on our way to the

LOWER LIGHT
which is the
PORTLAND BIRD OBSEVATORY
which by then we had given up on

ROCK PIPIT

but "the game ain't over 'til the fat lady sings"!
Before even entering the Lighthouse we met John Down and immediately within Ricky Lambert firm birding friends of many years standing who had not been seen for 5 years or more. Also there was
now well established Deputy Warden Jodie Mae Henderson firmly taking the helm while Warden Martin Cade was about his annual pilgimage to Kenya assisting with Bird Ringing there. Great to see you all and pleased you liked the

DECEMBER MOTH
which was something of a surprise to find is not caught on the Island.