We had stayed at Weymouth all week and had amazing holiday weather with it sunny and warm all week and not great for birding. Unfortunately no new migrant birds arrived, that I could find. Visits to Lodmoor and Radipole Lake produced the expected breeding birds such as Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Common Terns, etc but little else.
Finally on the morning we were due to leave for home, the winds changed to the SE and was fairly brisk, so a 6am visit to Portland Bill was called for. No real scarce birds but nice to see some of the commoner seabirds on the move. These included Hundreds of Gannets, 100+ Manx Shearwaters, 30+ Common Scoter, 30+ Kittiwakes, 15 Razorbills and lots of locally breeding Guillimots and a single Puffin. On the bill was a couple of Wheatears, the usual Raven and Rock Pipits.
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Gannets - A steady flow during the 1.5 hours seawatch. |
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Fulmar - The only one seen and presumably breeding nearby. |
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Manx Shearwaters - Small birds and rather distant. |
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Kittiwake - A reasonable number all flying east. |