Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th July 2024 - Weymouth & Portland.

Portland Harbour (Bath Birdwatcher)

Mary and Tony have recently returned from a few days in Weymouth staying with our best friends David and Hazel, in their caravan close to Ferrybridge. Although they have a sea view of sorts you need to walk 50yards up the site for views over the fleet and from here you can see the Little Tern colony, gulls and larger waders but its such a short walk to a point where you get perfect views of the Fleet and also Portland Harbour that it's not worth spotting from this point.

After arriving and unloading the car we had lunch and after we did some spotting from the caravan and Little Terns were flying noisily around along with 2 Ravens and lots of passing Herring Gulls and Starlings. We then drove to Portland for a walk around the harbour spotting  Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge. Walking around the harbour we added Carrion Crow, Oystercatcher, and Little Egret to the weeks list. It was very chilly and silly me didn't take warm enough clothing and I was to suffer in the following days. Time to visit the local Lidl for the provisions we would need for the week. After we had our evening meal we walked to Ferrybridge and were able to add Dunlin and Ringed Plover to the days sightings and amongst the large number of Mediterranean Gulls were a few Black Headed and Great Black Back Gulls plus a Pied Wagtail lots of these about. And overlooking Portland Harbour 4 Turnstones were on the waters edge, a Skylark flew low over and on the way back House Sparrows were by the boat yard. While walking along the beach at Ferrybridge we found this dead Little Tern and I have reported the find and ring number to the Little Tern Project

Little Tern (Z25) Bath Birdwatcher

Day 2 started with the weather looking very iffy so we decided to drive to Lodmoor hoping that the light drizzle would disappear during the morning. We always park at the rear of Lodmoor and walk the complete circuit around the reserve, and this time in a clockwise direction. Down the east side of the reserve it started quietly with just Black Headed and Great Black Back Gulls seen, but as we neared the main road end and Oystercatcher was on the edge of some open water and our one and only Hobby of the week flew past. Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Starling, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Whitethroat and Cormorant were soon added to our list. Our next sighting was our only year tick of the day a Common Sandpiper again our only sighting of the trip. Another flock of mainly Med and BHG's did contain a Herring Gull and our 3rd Tern species of the trip a Sandwich. At the lookout point Common Terns, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Moorhen, Collared Dove and Mallard were all seen. 

Grey Heron - Lodmoor (Bath Birdwatcher)

Now walking along the western side of the reserve a Wren sang from a bush as did a Greenfinch from a tree. A Blue Tit flew across the footpath and at this point we noticed a change in the weather with some blue sky and less wind also a lot warmer which must have been why the Sand and House Martins suddenly appeared. Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and House Sparrow were also seen as we walked on. Great White Egret and Swallow were added before we got back to the car. We then drove to Lookout Café at  Bowleaze for a hot drink. After lunch we did a walk along the Rodwell Trail to Sandsfoot  Gardens and on this walk butterflies we our target and we found the following Wall, Large White, Marbled White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Small White and Large Skipper but none were in any great quantity with the exception of Gatekeepers and Marbled White. We also added Pied Wagtail and Linnet to our bird list.

Day 3 was a day on Portland starting at the bill with Buzzard and Kestrel our 1st sightings of the day followed by Swallow and House Martin flying south. Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown butterflies were everywhere and the only butterflies we saw in any quantity all day. Jackdaw, Starling, Linnet and Raven all seen in flight. A Wall butterfly was sunning itself on the ground and also seen on the ground was a Meadow Pipit. A Peacock was another one off butterfly and as we reached the end of the bill a Rock Pipit was in one of the old quarry's and House Sparrows were also found. A single Fulmar was out at sea but no Razorbills or Guillemots. Sand Martins were next and like the swallows and martins seen earlier were also heading south. As we sat having a coffee at the café a Shag flew by low over the sea. Heading for the Observatory a few Marbled White butterflies were seen but in the Obs quarry a Barn Owl in broad daylight flying around the quarry before flying into a large crack but unbelievably another owl this time a Little Owl was also seen. Both Owl species were year ticks

Little Owl - Portland (Bath Birdwatcher)

Goldfinch and Swift were also seen before we moved on. Church Ope Cove was our next stopping point hoping for more butterflies but after a fair scan of the area just a single Chalkhill Blue was the only new butterfly for the day.

Chalkhill Blue - Church Obs Cove
(Bath Birdwatcher)

 We did add Robin and Dunnock to the bird list, but the most unusual thing seen were at least 2 Common Lizards sunning themselves on the footpath allowing quite close views.

Common Lizard - Church Ops Cove (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Back to the caravan for lunch and after back to Portland to another quarry we have visited on previous trips and again butterflies were the main quarry (forget the pun)  but it seems this year butterflies were in very short supply but we did find Large Skipper and Large White plus 2 moth species Silver Y and Burnett possibly 6 spot. Stonechat and Wren ended our bird list.

The following day was leaving day but on the 3 days I had 5 year ticks so was very happy with that. I left with a sore throat that turned into a bad cold, Mary said she has not seen me this bad for many years. so bad I was forced to miss my brother Bryan and Yvonne's Golden Wedding meal as it would not be good turning up coughing and sneezing. One good thing is that it's not  covid as I have tested. it's now Sunday and I'm not feeling any better.