Trip reports

Radipole & Portland - Saturday 3 October 2009

Monday, 5 October 2009

Birds in the fairly sparse list included buzzard, kestrel, teal, gadwall, shelduck, tufted duck, great-crested grebe and many more common species such as magpie, blackbird and several tit species. A large number of herons were lined up in the lee of the reed beds and several little egrets moved among them.
Notable were the excellent views of a singing Cetti's warbler, a bird that is always to be heard at Radipole but raely seen due to its habit of remaining hidden low down in the depths of the bushes.
The best sightings were of three really handsome ruddy shelducks and a small group of bearded tits that also spent all their time low among the reeds taking advantage of the shelter from the strong wind.
The party then moved on to Portland Bill where they discovered that a gale force wind made it almost impossible to keep a telescope still enough to be of much use and, indeed, making it difficult to stand still. But from the scant shelter of the obelisk and from the leeward side of the lighthouse building there were sightings of some seabirds including many shags and guilliemots.
There were exceptionally good views of passing gannets, masters of the strong winds. While walking back across the grassy areas there was an opportunity to see many more of the usual Portland birds including linnets and greenfinches, plus a a rather nice stock dove.
Not a terribly successful day of birdwatching, but yet another opportunity to catch up with a few good birds.