I had tried on two previous days to locate the Ring Ouzels that were seen daily in Barleycrates Lane, Portland. This was my last attempt and I arrived about 7:45am before any other birders. I soon flushed an Ouzel that was close to the path and it went straight into a thick bush. I hoped it would reappear and waited for some time but eventually gave up and went to view the track and cliffs further on. I came back and again about an hour later and the bird again flew from close to the footpath. I waited again and eventually decided to advise the Observatory of it's presence by means of Twitter. No sooner than I had sent it then the bird appeared for a few seconds in the top of a bush and I quickly rattled off a couple of photos before is disappeared again.
Also seen in the lane were a Tree Pipit (which dropped in briefly before flying N), a Whitethroat (also seemingly heading north), a few Wheatears, Willow Warblers (probably new arrivals) and three male Stonechats.
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| Ring Ouzel - Barlycrates Lane. |
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| Linnets were common in Barleycrates Lane and this one sat for just long enough for a photo. |
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| Skylarks were singing and feeding in the adjacent field and this one came reasonably close. A change from them being in the middle of a huge field! |
After moving down the road to the bill I noticed that the tide race was moving the Guillemots and Razorbills well out from the west cliffs to the bill itself. Several hundred birds involved but no sign of any Puffins. Also off the Bill were several parties of Gannets and two Manx Shearwters heading west. Seawatching was pretty quiet so I soon moved on.
A number of Wheatears were feeding on the grass, so presumably new birds in.
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| Razorbills |
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| Guillemots |
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| Wheatear |
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| Goldfinch - I could not resist taking a photo of this bird a very close range. Note the ring, presumably from the Observatory which about 100 metres away. |
An enjoyable mornings birding.
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