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Portland Bill, Isle of Portland & Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset.
Today, I took a drive down to Portland Bill for a good seawatch and hopefully break the 100 species for the month barrier. I was hovering on 98 species and so I was confident that my target would be broken today. Good numbers of both Balearic and Manx Shearwater had been seen all week from the Bill and so I was looking forward to a nice seawatch.
It was around 11am when I arrived at the Bill car park. The weather was bright and sunny though a brisk westerly wind was blowing to keep the temperatures down. Over the sea, the majority of birds passing through were Gannets and Kittiwakes with most flying west. Up to three Shags passed close by, which helped me reach the magic 100 mark for the month. A single Guillemot and Razorbill flew past the Bill but no others. A fellow birder soon joined me and told me that earlier today, several Balearics and Manx Shearwaters had gone past the Bill as well as Common Scoters, 2 Puffins and a few commoner seabirds. After the chap had left around 30 minutes later, I was fortunate to pick out a Balearic Shearwater flying low over the sea and settle on the water along with another bird! Fantastic, as I wasn’t expecting this. During another hours birding, nothing else of note was seen, so I took a stroll over the Observatory Quarry for a look.
A good movement of Sand Martins was taking place with at least 20 birds seen heading south with a few Swallows amongst them. I kept an eye on the butterflies a there was supposed to be Lulworth Skippers in the area. I didn’t locate any but a couple of Marbled Whites flew through.
At Radipole RSPB reserve, a look from the Visitor Centre revealed a pair of Common Sandpipers perched on a wooden post by the small island. But apart from around 10+ Lesser Black backed Gulls around the vicinity and a Reed Warbler near the car park.
Becky and I spent the weekend in a Hotel near Ston Easton, Somerset where we had sightings of Kingfisher (Becky’s first) and a few Common Buzzards.
Left, the Bill Observatory & right, the 2 Common Sandpipers at Radipole Lake this afternoon.
