Puffins @ Portland Bill

With no time restrictions on the 'bus pass' at week-ends and Puffin best seen early morning at Portland Bill, it was the first bus for me this morning. Under an overcast sky and again little wind, there was going to be no problems with glare or wind blown watering eyes so all it needed was for the birds to show. Up to c3 have been in the area for the past few days so prospects were good. Bumping into a couple of fellow birders, they decided to continue their walk as we reached Pulpit Rock where my patience paid dividends as c2 Puffins flew in from the south to settle on the sea under the west cliff. Numbers of Puffin on Portland rarely reach half a dozen, though there are some records of successful breeding but looking at the 'distribution map' (which applies to the mid-year period only, as most disperse into the Atlantic Ocean during the winter months) we are very lucky to have them at all.

The remainder of the day was a fairly quiet affair all round, with even the Bird Observatory having only noted a few Red-throated Divers, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails but there was a little redress just before I caught the bus home. Last Sunday's walk from Langton Herring village to the Fleet fore-shore to see the Bufflehead had resulted in the sighting of no Pheasants, something I would have considered virtually impossible. By the same token, it was only a very short time ago you would almost have to send a description to the County Recorder if you saw one on Portland. It would seem the tables are turned as a male bird was in the Eight King's Quarry field as I walked up from the east cliff, and entered the log as the second 'year tick' of the day.

Pheasant (male)

Migrants still remain 'thin on the ground' but a few Meadow Pipits have made the effort.

While Rock Pipits are actively pairing up close to the rocky shores at the Bill.

The ever present Common Kestrel.

Year List now stands at - 102

Indication of the weather today as Weymouth Skipper Dave Gibson takes an early party of charter anglers out in Lady Godiva this morning.

Another view of Portland, looking north along the East Cliff towards Cheyne House. I love this spot!

The 'Ton-Up' Kid

Grey Wagtail

With an almost total lack of wind, full cloud cover and no rain forecast it was definitely a day for a good look at Portland Harbour. Via the Rodwell Trail, as usual full of birdlife, it was pleasing to find Grey Wagtail still in residence and hopefully due to breed in the near future. The harbour opens to view as you arrive at Sandsfoot Castle, which brings me neatly to the last of the Monarchs to leave a mark on our local area. Henry VIII (1491 - 1547) reigned through a turbulent period during which time he commissioned the construction of much fortification, especially around our coast. In the Weymouth / Portland area we are still able to enjoy 2 of his castles, although in the case of one that may not last a lot longer.

Both castles were built during the same era, but Sandsfoot Castle, open to the elements on the northern / Weymouth shore of Portland harbour, has suffered the ravages of wind, sea, weather and cliff erosion so may not be with us for much longer. Now within the confines of a small park, the high ground offers an ideal vantage point for bird watchers searching for waterfowl in the harbour.

On the other hand Portland Castle has stood for the same time period, virtually unscathed. Safe in the sanctuary and lee of the Isle of Portland, the prevailing weather and seas have barely touched this stout building which still houses a very interesting museum.

Red-breasted Merganser (male)

With no Divers or less common Grebes to be seen, only Great Crested & Little Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser and a continuously 'yaffling' Green Woodpecker were noted. With such a low tide it was easy to walk the fore-shore down to Ferry Bridge where c2 Brent Geese, c3 Little Egret, c83 Dunlin and c17 Ringed Plover also entered the log. The latter was something of a milestone, being the 100th species for me in UK this year.

Ringed Plover

Continuing along the track of the disused railway, the only other additions for the day were a number of Meadow Pipit, Skylark and a lone Kestrel. At my destination, after enquiring about the buildings below, I found this Cormorant and while not a rare bird thought it looked rather resplendent and worth a photograph.

Cormorant

Of local interest.
If like me you have been curious to know what the new building on the old heli-port is, look no further. The new Royal Yachting Association HQ is made up of an office complex on the ground floor, a series of about 30 cabins on levels 2, 3 & 4 plus galley and restaurant on the top level. This is for the exclusive use of RYA members, so unlike the National Sailing Academy (Olympic Complex) you, me and Joe Public will not be welcome, so doubt we'll be seeing any Somali Asylum Seekers or unmarried mums in the area.

and while I was 'poking my nose in', also found out that the old heli-port office complex plus the Control Tower come under the cover of a 'Listed Building'. I was further informed that there are plans in existence to convert it into some kind of accommodation.

and A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Some of the c21 Carrion Crows described.

Being bisected by Longcroft Road, I have always considered the cemetery to be of the same, but discovered today that it is in fact the Melcome Regis Cemetery. Arriving there at first light, I was first met by the sweet sound of a singing Goldcrest followed by the cacophony of a number of rowdy Corvides. On closer inspection I found a 'murder' of an unprecedented c21 Carrion Crows, all in the same fir tree, the highest count by far for me at this site. Known to gather on Weymouth Beach, a favoured scavenging area, in large numbers this species is not considered gregarious, with some using the rule of thumb, if it's alone or just a pair it will be a Crow, any more and they'll be Rooks. Continuing the morning trend of locating birds on call or song, the next was a Blackcap in full voice which on my approach soon disappeared into an ivy bank.

Blackcap (male)

Continuing to Radipole NR, again song not sight was the order of the day with Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail being the most vocal. A loan Dunnock close to the Visitor's Center was also making a contribution, but at least it was viewable. The only other record of note was another look at the fine Hooded Merganser, which has been with us for many months now, catching small green crabs close to the Gurkha Restaurant.

Dunnock, also called Hedge Accentor or Hedge Sparrow.

Taking the bus, more out of expedience than laziness, to Overcoombe Corner in the hope of finding at least one of the c3 Water Pipits reported a couple of days ago, I happened upon c2 straight away. They, like the Blackcap, were additions to the 'year list' but in similar fashion they also beat a hasty retreat making for yet another wait to capture this species with the camera. A walk to the top of Horselynch Copse, mainly for a photo shoot of the wood and Moor, produced Common Buzzard and Green Woodpecker, but with the 09-30 threshold for the 'bus pass' long past it was time to head for Dorchester and guaranteed Partridge.

Horselynch Copse

Alighting at Queen's Avenue, Dorchester it's just a mile and a half to Maiden Castle and a similar distance to Monkey's Jump, with the prospect of a few decent birds. Within sight of the car park there were at least c30 Golden Plover in the harrowed field to the left, (one or two showing 'black bellies' of summer plumage) plus another dozen the opposite side of the track. Close to the Martinstown road a small flock of Fieldfare preceded me down the hedgerow, while c2 high flying Peregrines selected the same target, both missing what had to be the luckiest Stock Dove in Dorset today.

Maiden Castle (photo blagged from Internet)

The largest and most complex Iron Age hill fort in Britain, Maiden Castle was first laid out in 600BC over the remains of a Neolithic settlement. During the following centuries the hill fort was extended and additional defences thrown up around it, including vast multiple ramparts enclosing an area the size of 50 football pitches. The site was home to several hundred people during the period 800 BC - 43 AD but in that latter yearn the might of the Roman Army became too much for the fortification, with the inhabitants moving to the new town of Durnovaria, modern day Dorchester.

Golden Plover

Fieldfare

Walking the diagonal path across the field from Monkey's Jump to Poundbury I could hear the calls of a covey of Partridges, so I diverted from the path to investigate. That's when I noticed the farmer 'clocking' me from the road so beat a casual retreat and didn't see the birds. However, I did see c10 about an hour later when I picked them up from the butcher in town. I'll be quick to say that these are Hampshire 'farm reared' birds so nothing had to be 'blasted' to slake my hunger for these delicious game birds. Bon Appetite!

Peregrine Falcon

During conversation at last nights dinner, there were a couple of local facts came to light which I found interesting. The first from John Down concerning the 'isolated' house Swallow's Rest on the main A354 Weymouth to Dorchester Road. It had often intrigued me as to why it was there in the first place, but also how anyone could have obtained planning permission in the first place. Recently refurbished, someone has thrown a huge lump of money at this property, but it certainly wasn't always like that. For many years occupied but looking derelict it was originally build as home and workplace for the man who would light the indicator lamps on the train tunnel close by. Probably during that time there was no such thing as planning permission, or the importance of the job superseded it?

Swallows Rest on the A354

and secondly from Paul Harris, whose observation discovered that looking through the newly constructed footbridge on the crest of Ridgeway Hill, all you can see to the south is Lodmoor, the arch perfectly 'eye-browing' it. Unfortunately today the view was obscured by a heap of chalk and items of plant.

Slack Hammock & Slack Migrants

Lifeboat passing Portland Bill.

It was an acute case of 'slack hammock' (the Navy expression for being late out of bed) this morning, as I made the mistake of answering the phone at 20-30 last night. An emergency call from Bowie and Sheila asking me to go to The Boot with them. A rare occurrence these days, I thought I would but despite limiting myself to 2 pints, in Weymouth's oldest pub, it still went to my head very quickly. Nevertheless, I was glad I did as apart from them, recently returned from South Africa, there was Bowie's brother Russell, just back from Zambia and Jim Brooks from 3 months in Thailand. There seemed to be a little one-upmanship going on, but some good yarns to say the least.

So, at the crack of 10-30 I wandered through a relatively bird-less cemetery and Radipole NR, then caught the bus to Portland. Walking the east cliff with the fresh easterly behind me and the sun beating down (again) from a cloudless sky, there was no need to be anywhere else. On the birding front things were much the same there, but I did record my first Owl of the year and later, close to Pulpit Rock, another addition to the 'year list' a Kittiwake. That makes the total 94. Calling into the Portland Bird Observatory for a coffee, Martin (Cade) the Warden had similar news and no (true) migrants since the Wheatear on Monday. I use the word 'true' to indicate a migratory species that does not spend the winter in the UK, there have of course been incoming Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail etc. A walk through Top Fields produced just a single Common Buzzard, so I continued on to Southwell village and caught the bus home.

Little Owl in the East Cliff Quarry

and here's one we made earlier.

All the 'wildfowl' are looking good at the moment, but this pair of Tufted Duck were just offering themselves up at Radipole. Male above.

and Female

Pulpit Rock, just a little more than a stone's throw north of the active lighthouse.

Have any of these local photographs made you think you should pay us a visit? Come on down!

An Open Mind For A Different View

Prompted by the visit to Langton Herring on Sunday to see the Bufflehead, today I decided to set my sights in a different direction and pay a long overdue visit to the eastern end of The Fleet. Close to 07-00 I started my walk at Tidmoor, Charlestown intending to walk to Ferry Bridge. With the sun hidden by cloud, clear atmosphere and sheltered from the wind, conditions were ideal for 'birding', all that was missing were the birds. I'd hoped to see what in the past have been regular Grey & Ringed Plover, Goldeneye and maybe even a Knot but all were absent. No need even to remove boots and socks to keep a tally of how many species were encountered, the most interesting being Curlew, Little Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, a few Med Gulls and a single Grey Heron, none of which increased the 'year list'. At Ferry Bridge the situation was even worse with, excluding a few Gulls, no birds at all, so plenty of time to compose the Blog today!

For those of you not familiar with our locale, this link to Google Maps may be of some use. Today's venture took me from Charlestown to the northern end of Portland, while for future reference Lodmoor is situated between Overcoombe and Weymouth and Radipole Nature Reserve is to the east of the main road, south of Radipole village.

Find our location in Weymouth using Google Maps

Two views of Lynch Cove on The Fleet.

Chesil Beach can be seen in the background.

Little Egret

again in flight.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Mediterranean Gull

In addition to writing today's instalment, there was also plenty of time to appraise the latest addition to the CD collection, Joe Bonamassa 'Live! From Nowhere In Particular'. With due consideration for the lack of visuals, as featured on his 'Live! From The Royal Albert Hall' DVD, I have to mark it down as only sensational. A double album featuring 18 tracks (10 of them new) the high points are still reached with 'standards' such as Django, High Water Everywhere and Sloe Gin but all played with an increased raw edge. The line up remains much the same as for the Albert Hall except for the exclusion of drummer Anton Figg, leaving Bogie Bowles to handle a less full sound on just a single kit, my only critisism if you could call it that. If nothing else, please listen to the final track Wurm - A New Day Yesterday it'll blow you away!

Just before ending the boredom, it's only fair to say that the invite to the up and coming Bonamassa gig at the BIC in May is now closed. Only 2 takers in the shape of Bowie and Sheila Edwards, the tickets have been purchased so if you do go look out for us in the front, right of center.

Me and My Girl

As usual this morning I was plodding the familiar beat, and with a thicker 'crust' on the pond today considered it a little colder, even before reaching the sea-front. Radipole produced very little this morning, and I'm wondering what has happened to deter even the Pochard from the lake this winter. OK, I haven't been here for much of the time, but others tell me counts have been extraordinarily low, my own maximum being just 6.

Pochard (adult male) one of just c3 seen today. A note for the non-birders across the 'pond', this duck is the equivalent of your Redhead or Canvasback.

Reaching the promenade, the full force of the icy, easterly wind was felt and although only about 20 knots it was cutting. The sea was also looking angry and as expected produced nothing in the way of birdlife, so I hurried on to Lodmoor taking a few photos of town features on the way. On the moor the Spoonbill of Friday had been joined by a second, the Black-tailed Godwit remained, while everything else seemed to have disappeared. Never dull, but this morning a little less interesting than usual, there was little of note so unusually I walked back via the Country Park. This area of amusements and attractions has been built leaving much of the original woodland in tact and turned out to be the best decision of the day. A dozen or so Song Thrushes were feeding along with a similar number of their more northerly close relative the Redwing, and there were also probably 3 Green Woodpeckers. These last 2 were both additions to the 'year list' which now stands at 92.

Some of the common British Birds encountered today.

Wood Pigeon

Song Thrush, seemingly more numerous so far this year? Let's hope that is the case!

Redwing, a close relative of the Song Thrush but breeds much further to the north.

To continue the introduction, mainly to overseas readers, of my locale and the second of the 3 Monarchs who have left a mark on our Borough. Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901) didn't so much leave a particular mark on our area, but as the longest living and serving Sovereign ever had a massive effect on the whole country. Arguably the most popular of the line, at her death just about every village in the land erected a monument of one kind or another in her memory, Weymouth & Portland being no exception.

Familiarly know as the Jubilee Clock (standing central on Weymouth promenade) this, as the plaque below states, was erected in 1887 to celebrate the 50th year of her ascension. On the south side it also notes that monies were provided by 'public subscription' and the clock given by Sir Henry Edwards.

Victoria succeed William IV in 1837 and was followed after her death in 1901 by Edward VII.

This broze statue, errected after her death is sited in front of

Saint John's church at the east end of Weymouth Seafront.

and leaping back to George III and his popularisation of sea bathing, this contraption is a 'Bathing Machine'. It would be rolled onto the beach, His Majesty would step inside, disrobe and don a swimming costume before it was rolled into the sea. Once at a discrete distance from onlookers, he would step out straight into the ocean.

Now the final plans have been laid, I can announce that my 'lady friend' Ille will shortly be paying us another visit. She has recently completed an exhibition of her artwork in the Estonian capital Tallinn, where she lives for much of the year, so is taking leave from her employment with UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) for a much needed holiday in the south of England. There is a large itinerary but the pace must be slow and relaxing, so much may go unfulfilled but hope to report through these pages as usual.

I crave a small indulgence to present 3 of Ille's works as recently featured in the exhibition.

and Today the First 'Proper' Twitch of the Year

A photograph from yesterday of a (white-winged) Carrion Crow which has frequented my local area in the past couple of years. This is only an anomaly and not a true species.

The only word on the mind of the majority of Dorset 'birders', and many, many from further afield, over the past 24 hours has been Bufflehead, as a result of a most bizarre report received around noon yesterday. I was at the Portland Bird Observatory enjoying a coffee when the news of a 'probable' Bufflehead was received, from what I considered to be a most reliable source. Alan Barrett a long time birding mate was watching his local patch at West Bexington, a few miles from Weymouth, when he saw what he suspected to be an adult male Bufflehead. I know the feeling when you find a bird of this magnitude, and start thinking was it really that, have I got the identity right etc, etc. Unfortunately, no more was heard until dusk when it was re-located at Abbotsbury, a short distance to the east, and confirmed as such. A few locals were able to get there before darkness fell, but the main thrust was always going to be this morning when a further search would be made.

Please note, the following photographs do not relate to today's bird.

Adult male Bufflehead

Having chosen many years ago not to be a car owner, I would be reliant on others if the bird should be re-found this morning, but among an army of like minded friends there was no shortage of a volunteer. A little after 09-00, I was having yet another cup of coffee with Joy, my next door neighbour, when the news came through that it had been seen even further east on The Fleet near the tiny hamlet of Langton Herring. My informant, Paul Harris, was by chance close at hand and quickly popped round to pick me up, then came the decision of where to park. The unmade road leading to the bird is 'private' and the village small, so out of respect for the locals most parked at the top of the track leaving just a mile or so to walk. Even half way down the incline several people had already picked it up by telescope, associating with a small group of Red-breasted Merganser, so entered the log before closer views from the foreshore.

Bufflehead female left, male right.

What is a beautiful small sea Duck the Bufflehead Bucephala albeola originates, mainly, from the USA and Canada and is part of the Goldeneye group. It ranges from 32-40 cm long (12.5-16 inches) at between 270-550 g (.6-1.2 lbs), with the drake larger than the female, it rivals the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) as the smallest American duck. Adult males are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads with a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside.

They are migratory and most of them winter in protected coastal waters, or open inland waters, on the east and west coasts of North America and the southern United States, and is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe. Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes and ponds in Alaska and Canada, almost entirely included in the boreal forest or taiga habitat. They have evolved their small size in order to fit the nesting cavity of their 'metabiotic' host, a woodpecker, the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Due to their small size, they are highly active undertaking dives almost continuously to sustain their high metabolism. They do not tend to collect in large flocks; groups are usually limited to small numbers, where one duck will serve as a sentry, watching for predators, as the others in the group dive in search of food. They are amongst the last waterfowl to leave their breeding grounds and one of the world's most punctual migrants, arriving at their wintering areas within a narrow margin of time.

Monogamous, the females return to the same breeding site, year after year and nest in tree cavities, primarily aspens or poplars, using mostly old Flicker nests, close (usually <25 style="font-style: italic;">Sialia currucoides), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) There was one recorded instance of a female Barrow's Goldeneye killing a Bufflehead adult female and her brood, so smaller cavities are preferred because of less competition with these larger ducks. Females may be killed on the nest by mammals, such as weasels (Mustela spp.) or mink (Mustela vison), and by Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) over nest competition.

Male Bufflehead in flight.

Average clutch size is 9 (range 6-11), and eggs average 50.5 by 36.3 mm. Incubation averages 30 days, and nest success is high (79 % in one study) compared to ground-nesting species like the Teal. A day after the last duckling hatches the brood leaps from the nest cavity. The young fledge at 50 - 55 days of age. Predators of adults include Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).

These diving birds forage underwater, preferring water depths of 1.2-4.5 m (4 to 15 ft). In freshwater habitats they eat primarily insects, and in saltwater they feed predominantly on crustaceans and molluscs. Aquatic plants and fish eggs can often become locally important food items as well. It's name derives from the North American Buffalo who bulbous head is similar, especially when the drake puffs up its head feathers giving the impression of greater size.

This is not an addition to the Great Britain Life List for me as, along with many of my peers, saw the Colwick bird in Nottinghamshire in 1994. Since then I have been fortunate to encounter many during wanderings through the USA and Canada, especially during a long stay in 2008 when all of the photographs above were taken. Much of the information shown was taken from Wikipedia - with thanks.