Trip reports

MINIBUS TRIP TO PORTLAND AREA 27TH OCTOBER 2007

Saturday, 27 October 2007

21 people attended this trip, using two minibuses. The forecast was for cool, overcast and blustery weather - not ideal birding conditions. However, apart from brief drizzle, it remained dry nearly all day.

Having consulted Birdguides and the OBS website, and found that the south westerly winds had put a halt to migration, it was decided to make an initial stop at Ferrybridge, as the high tide at 8am should have been receding. However, the mudflats were still covered, so having enjoyed the flock of Brent Geese, it was on to Portland Castle to try for the Black Redstart that had been reported. Initially, we viewed the bay, where Rock Pipit and Kingfisher were seen, before trespassing unwittingly in the castle grounds where the Black Redstart perched obligingly on one of the perimeter walls.

Down to the Observatory, where JV consulted Martin Cade before taking us on a walk around the Top Fields and down to the Cliff via Culverwell. In truth, birds were scarce, with Linnet, Kestrel and Stonechat the most obvious, with Gannets passing nearby and a "greenland" Wheatear on the cliff. After a late lunch in the vehicles, it was back to Ferrybridge to 'scope a few waders and gulls, the latter including Mediterranean Gulls of various ages.

We finished at a very quiet Lodmoor, nevertheless adding several new species for the day, eventually departing at 4.15pm as the drizzle intensified, arriving back in Salisbury at 5.35pm.

Great Crested Grebe (1 at Lodmoor), Little Grebe (Portland/Lodmoor), Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Wigeon (a flock in flight at Lodmoor), Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Shelduck (1 at Lodmoor), Shoveler, Tufted Duck ( a male at Lodmoor), Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, BH Gull, Med Gull, Common Gull ( 1 at Ferrybridge), GBB Gull, LBB Gull, Herring Gull, Pheasant, Coot, Moorhen, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, (1 at Ferrybridge),Lapwing (only at Lodmoor), Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew (1 at Ferrybridge) Kittiwake ( 1 in flight past Portland), Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Skylark, Swallow (7 in total), Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (h at Lodmoor), Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LTTit, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Siskin (1 calling in flight at Portland), Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Gannet. (64 species).

Reported by Steve Oakes