WEYMOUTH - PORTLAND - HAM WALL - WAYFORD WOODS
WEATHER: the cold spell continues but with a high pressure over the UK we have plenty of sunshine
Three recent walks and one birding outing produced a few sightings, spring migration is now well under way with new migrants appearing along the south coast every day.
Sunday 9th March - Lodmoor - Weymouth Seafront - Newton's Cove and The Nothe Fort.
A bright sunny day tempted us out yet again, Dawn and I drove to Weymouth and parked in Weymouth Bay Avenue. We walked into the north end of RSPB Lodmoor and took to the West Track to the beach. Not a lot was seen on the marshes, we heard Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail and Chffchaff singing as well as Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin and Wren. Just one Black-tailed Godwit (in summer plumage) fed out on the marsh and the usual ducks, geese, swans and herons were also on view.
Dawn, sheltering from the cold wind at Nothe Fort.
Our walk along the the sea-front produced sightings of dozens of dogs on the beach with their owners and birds around Newtons Cove and the Nothe Castle consisted of two Rock Pipits and a few Cormorants. There was a very chilly easterly wind which drove us from the area. After we had eaten our picnic lunch and took a hot drink in the Old Harbour we returne to Lodmoor along the sea-front, the wind had dropped and it was very pleasant.
Friday 14th March - Portland, Portland Harbour and Ferrybridge
I drove down to Weymouth with my birding Guru pal from Yeovil, Guy Campbell. We were after our first Wheatears of the year and if there were any around my Guru pal would find them.
We stopped first at Ferrybridge and searched the large grassy area on the side of the shingle bank. We saw Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch but not a single Wheatear. I guess the dog walkers may have frightened any migrant birds off. The tide was super-high we saw a few Brent Geese, a dozen Black-headed Gulls and not much else.
We scanned the harbour from Portland Castle just in case a late diver was still around, I don't think we saw a Merganser never mind a diver!
Once on Portland we searched the grassy fields of Fancy Farm near Verne Common. The large enclosures containing Wallaby's and rare breeds of ponies, goats and sheep sometimes attracts migrating Wheatears, but not today. We also searched the quarry area around Nicodemus Knob ( a 10 meter pillar of stone - left as a landmark and quarry relic) but found nothing there except a very obliging Kestrel.
Nicodemus Knob along the east cliffs on Portland
Verne Common was inhabited by dog walkers so we drove straight past there.
At Reap Lane there are several large horse paddocks and that is where we went next. It wasn't the Guru that found our first Wheatear, he missed it. Our first Wheatear was a lovely male, a bit distant but showing well. A second appeared not long afterwards. We also saw Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches and good numbers of House Sparrows and Starlings.
our first Wheatear of 2025
A nice cuppa at the Bird Observatory was next on the agenda, you can't go to Portland without visiting the Obs at the Lower lighthouse. From there we walked up to the top fields and the Guru claimed his status back by find 3 more male Wheatears and a possible fourth bird which conveniently disappeared when I looked for it.
looking down to Portland Bill Lighthouse and on the left the Old Lower Lighthouse (Bird Observatory), taken form the top fields.
Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, a few Stonechats, a pair of Common Buzzards and another Kestrel was also present.
At the Lobster Pot restaurant at Portland Bill I ate a large Bacon Bap and Guy had a huge Sausage bagget, (greedy Guru) we sat in lovely sunshine out of the cold wind. A quick search of the rocks around the Bill produced nothing! We did see plenty of Guillemots and Razorbills, in fact hundreds of Guillemots sat out on the water.
That concluded our trip we drove back to Yeovil and got home around 3pm.
Saturday 15th March - Ham Wall, Somerset Levels.
When I heard that one of the over-wintering Ringed-necked Ducks on the Levels had appeared at Viewing Point No.1 Ham Wall, I convinced Dawn that we should go there for a walk. As we walked along the main track we heard Bitterns Booming, Cetti's a-Warbling and lots of common species singing.
From the viewing point we scanned for the Duck, it soon became apparent that it wasn't present! Doh! That bloody duck is a real bogey bird for me. Nevermind! We did find Spotted Redshank and a couple of Glossy Ibis and the Great Egrets are looking superb in their summer plumage.
Spotted Redshank
Common Snipe - can you see it?
two Glossy Ibis, adult on the right and juvenile left.
summer plumage: Great White Egret, with black bill, green lores and red legs, smashing!
Black-tailed Godwit, also in summer plumage.
That ended our birding for the day. We walked some more, but not a lot! We had a nice bacon butty at the Avalaon Visitor's Centre before we went back home.
SUNDAY 16TH MARCH - WAYFORD WOODS, CREWKERNE
It was such a lovely morning (despite the cold), Dawn and I decided to go for walk in Wayford Woods. I was hoping to see a butterfly or two in the 'butterfly meadow'. The walk was lovely and I did see a Comma Butterfly briefly. However the best sighting was that of a Firecrest, what a little gem and totally unexpected, it made my day!