Black and White

Sat 22nd March 2014. A trip to Portland with Paul and Ephraim.

 

A quick stop en route at Radipole, we were hoping there may have been some early Sand Martins around but no luck. As we got out of the car all the gulls got up and left too. We didn't hang around here but did manage; Shelduck, Teal, Gadwall, Great-crested Grebe, Buzzard and a calling Cetti's Warbler.

 

Ferrybridge, the tide was well in so not much doing here just a hadfull of Red-breasted Merganser for our day list.

 

Portland Harbour, The long staying Black Guillemot was still present and now coming into summer plumage. Also here good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser.

 

Portland Bill, Fulmar, Guillemot, Wheatear, Black Redstart, Shag, Peregrine, Raven, Stonechat and Little Owl the highlights here. At Portland Bill we bumped into Ian B and his girlfriend Carey. Ian mentioned the Iceland Gull at Chesil Cove. We decided to have a look for it and soon after a bit of a search we found it on the water close some floating rubbish and weed. It gave us a bit of a runaround by flying up and down the cove. I texted Ian to let him know the Gull was still here. Next up was a short trip across the road to Portland Harbour for another look at the Black Guillemot. While we were looking at the Guillemot Ian rang to say he was looking at the Iceland Gull up the road at Ferrybridge. We had planned to call in at Ferrybridge again anyway so we headed off. We met Ian behind the café and sure enough the Iceland Gull was stood a fair way out on the mud. A few waders were added to our day list here in the form of; Ringed Plover, Little-ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Dunlin.

From Ferrybridge we headed for home. Our day list kindly compiled by Ephraim below. Then a few pics further down.

 

Woodpigeon

Carrion crow

Magpie

Black headed gull

Starling

Mute swan

Pheasant

Moorhen

Canada goose

Robin

Dunnock

Wren

Chaffinch

Stock dove

Grey heron

Great crested grebe

Cormerant

Tufted duck

Herring gull

Mallard

Teal

Shelduck

Cetti's warbler (heard)

Blackbird

Pochard

Skylark

Red breasted merganser

Great black backed gull

Pied wagtail

Rook

Black guillemot

Kestrel

Meadow pipit

Buzzard

Goldfinch

Fulmar

Guillemot

Wheatear

Black Redstart

Shag

Lesser black backed gull

Jackdaw

Peregrine

Raven

Stonechat

Greenfinch

Great tit

House sparrow

Blue tit

Little owl

Iceland gull

Little egret

Oystercatcher

Ringed plover

Dunlin

Turnstone

Little ringed plover