Normally by this time of year I would have made at least two visits to Portland so it was nice to finally get there. Leaving home at just gone half-four I was hoping for some Owl action on the way down but it wasn’t to be. First stop was at Martin Down, one of the few places in the area where Turtle Doves are still to be found, but for how much longer. On opening the car door there was one purring away fairly close by. It carried on doing so most of the time I was there but I didn’t manage to see it despite doing a complete three sixty walk around the area it was in. Apart from many Skylarks and a handful of Whitethroats it was relatively quiet here, maybe due to the continuing cold and windy conditions. Also noted here were a couple of Muntjac which were barking away in the woods and a Roe Deer.
From here I made good time to Weymouth despite a diversion due to the A35 being closed, apparently due to a large sinkhole on the carriageway. First stop was at Radipole where, on a walk around the loop, once again Bearded Tits eluded me. Nine Cetti’s Warbler were heard with three being seen. Next was Ferrybridge where several Little Terns were seen along with a lone wader, a Ringed Plover. A stop was made at Chesil Cove for as much as anything something to eat from the food van here. A Ssausage and egg roll was consumed while gazing at an almost birdless sea. At the Bill I looked in at the Obs first and had no luck with Spotted Flycatchers. The Quarry turned up trumps with the Little Owl sitting in full view, my third year-tick of the day. I spent about an hour-and-a-half seawatching with a Manx Shearwater the best bird seen. Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and Sandwich Tern were all year-ticked but not a single diver was seen. A gentle walk around the headland turned up absolutely nothing. It has to be said that if anyone plans to visit the Bill don’t go when I am there as you won’t see much. Next, it was onto Lodmoor, I went to park around the back so I could walk the circuit around the reserve but found that the footpath was closed. So I ate much lunch in the car before driving to the Beach car park. From here I headed along to the west scrape to try for the Iceland Gull that has been around for a few days. With a mass of gulls on the island and most of them sitting down it took a while to find. Eventually it appeared when it got up and started to have a go at some of the other gulls around before settling back down and going to sleep. I managed a couple of not so good pictures as it moved around. I spent another half-hour or so here then went back to the car as I had only paid for an hours stay. The drive home included and hour on Salisbury Plain where I again failed to find either a Stone Curlew or a Quail. A good excuse to go again soon.
New Year Woodcock at Coate Water, Whooper Swans at Castle Eaton, first Brambing Nightingale Wood, big Golden Plover flock along the Ridgeway, Goshawk along Smeathes Ridge, Glossy Ibis from Twitchers, Rosy Starling at Moredon, Wood Warbler and Firecrest Franchises Wood,
2021 UK Highlights
03-01 1st Waders of the year, 1st Parakeets of the year (not), Dusky Warbler Siddington, Northern Mockingbird at Exmouth, Rustic & Little Bunting Thursley Common, Whiskered Tern Longham Lakes, River Warbler Ham Wall, Purple Heron Fishlake Meadows,
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