Wednesday 23rd to Monday 28th July 2025 - Weymouth and Portland.

 

Chisel Beach from Portland  (Bath Birdwatcher)

Mary and Tony were kindly invited by Hazel and David to join them in their caravan at Wyke Regis from Wednesday 23^rd July until Monday 28^th July. On the First day a steam special was due to visit Weymouth and as we are both lovers of steam engines we decided after lunch to go and see it but before that we had seen a Greenfinch that sits and sings on a nearby arial, Herring Gull, Swift and Woodpigeon. We went to a bridge just north of Weymouth station to watch the train but as with all these specials it was running about 30 minutes late, we were watching close to Radipole Lake and had a view through the trees to a part of the reserve where a Marsh Harrier was quartering and a Moorhen was by the reed bed. The special train arrived being pulled by a class 47 diesel with a Black 5 at the rear 45212, it had turned earlier so the steam engine was on the front for the return trip. 

Black 5 No 45212 - Weymouth
(Bath Birdwatcher)

We were feeling thirsty, so we went to a nearby café in the park for afternoon tea adding Mute Swan and Buzzard to our bird list. Walking back into Weymouth I found a Mint Moth and Red Admiral. We stopped to watch the Black 5 being coaled and watered. Back at the caravan we had something to eat then decided to walk to Chesil and the Fleet but when we got there it was high tide so it was going to be hard work to see any birds but a Carrion Crow was our 1^st new sighting followed soon after by a flock of Mediterranean Gulls which contained a few Black Headed Gulls, we passed the café when David spotted a small group of  a Dunlin the only waders we saw. Walking back, we added Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch.

On Thursday we started the day at Portland with departing Swifts our 1^st sighting, we parked in the Obs as David is a member, here we added Blackbird, Starling, Herring Gull and House Sparrow. When we reached the patio Martin had a bird in his hand that he was photographing Grasshopper Warbler. Also seen were Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackbird and Goldfinch. We also saw Gatekeeper and Painted Lady Butterflies. As we were leaving another bird was brought in a young Willow Warbler as we left I noticed a moth on my jumper a Lime-Speck Pug.   

Lime-Speck Pug - Portland Obs
Bath Birdwatcher

We then set off heading for the obelisk stopping at the Obs Quarry but no sign of the resident Little Owl. We did find Magpie, Great Black Back Gull, Blue Tit, Jackdaw and Linnet. A Kestrel was hovering in the distance and a Raven flew by landing on a chimney roof. A Rock Pipit was on the east shore cliffs and a Cormorant flew past. Hazel spotted a bull Grey Seal close to the shore. At The obelisk a Shag flew by, and 3 Gannets passed in the distance and several Swallows flew out to sea. Walking back to the car David spotted a Wheatear on top of a rock. 

Wheatear - Portland (Bath Birdwatcher)

We also found a Pied Wagtail and a Meadow Brown Butterfly. Back at the van the Greenfinch was on the ariel and after lunch we headed for Lodmoor, parking at the back of the reserve. Here our first sightings were Mute Swan and Grey Heron, a Common Tern flew by, and a Canada Goose was in a pool then a Fox appeared from out of the reeds causing havoc. As we continued Sand Martins, Little Egrets and Oystercatchers were logged along with Lapwing, Black Headed Gull and Great White Egret. 2 Little Ringed Plovers and many Common Sandpipers were seen and as we were returning to the car a Dunnock was on the footpath and Shelduck and Mallard were also found. Back in the pool where we saw the fox we found one of the day’s highlights a Wood Sandpiper.

Sand Martin - Lodmoor (Bath Birdwatcher)

Friday started bright and sunny, so we decided to go looking for butterflies as well as any birds that cropped up. The day began at the caravan with Starling, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull. We parked on Portland behind the Heights Hotel and walked to Tout Quarry adding Magpie, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon on the way and once in the quarry our 1^st butterfly was a Common Blue quickly followed by a Holly Blue and Small Copper.

Small Copper - Tout Quarry (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Gatekeepers were everywhere, and Red Admirals seemed to love the Buddleia also Small Whites were very prominent. Walking through the quarry a Wren flew across our path which made as stop as other birds were in the undergrowth and here we also found both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler plus a single Whitethroat. Chalkhill Blue Butterfly’s must have recently emerged as we saw literally hundreds as we walked through the quarry we also found a Large Skipper and a  Small Blue. 

Large Skipper - Tout Quarry (Bath Birdwatcher)

A Dunnock was our next bird sighting then David spotted a butterfly that landed on the ground and as we approached we were able to identify it as a Grayling the 1^st of several we saw during the walk. A Kestrel and Meadow Pipit were our next bird sightings and a Brown Argus the only one of that species we found. As we continued a House Sparrow, Swift and Goldfinch were all spotted. We then drove to Weston where we bought fish and chips at Codfathers, highly recommended if your in the area and ate them overlooking Portland Harbour, for dessert there was an ice cream van by the Heights Hotel as we walked there we added 2 more butterflies Painted Lady and Wall we also saw 2 other species of butterfly both skippers that we were unable to identify or photograph as they flew away as we tried to creep closer. During the remainder of the day, we saw 2 other birds Sparrowhawk and Cormorant. It must have been ideal conditions for butterflies as so many were on the wing, it’s been many years since I have seen so many.

On Saturday we walked from the caravan towards Ferrybridge where the number of Mediterranean Gulls is now building up with flocks of 50+ birds also Starlings are gathering with similar sized flocks. Woodpigeon, Herring and Great Black Back Gull were also ticked. Looking towards Chisel at a flock of gulls I picked out a Little Tern flying with them the only one we were to see all week. The tide was high covering the Fleet so we had a coffee while we waited for the water to recede and an hour later it had fallen enough for the Dunlins and 2 Oystercatchers to return also seen was a Pied Wagtail and a flock of Linnets and Goldfinches on seedheads. The water by now was very low and we had to mover along the path to get better views of the waders and we soon found Ringed Plover plus a small wader in with the Dunlin a Little Stint (the bird of the day). Scanning the whole flock of waders now in the 100’s we found several Sanderling and the odd Black Headed Gull. After tea David and I had a short walk to the Fleet where we added Little Egret, Common Tern and a single Kittiwake sat on the shore.

Kittiwake - Ferrybridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

On Sunday morning we walked the Rodwell Trail to Sandsfoot Castle for coffee seeing Starling, Herring Gull. House Sparrow, Linnet, Willow Warbler, Carrion Crow, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, Buzzard, Swift, Robin, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch and Blackbird. We then caught the bus to Portland where we had a Sunday Roast at the Eight Kings and again like the fish and chips highly recommended. After lunch we caught the bus back to Chisel Cove where we had a cup of tea and added Swallow to our bird list.

A great few days not just for the company but 10 year ticks was good and the quantity of butterflies was amazing.