I set off on the train to Weymouth on sunday with my bike, a very heavy bag, and great expectations.
8/10:
On the way I stopped off at Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes. American Golden Plover, Great Northern Diver and Osprey all reported. I only saw the Osprey hovering over the water in the distance. Other than that it was fairly mediocre. Just 4 Eider, 1 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, and 3 Buzzard of note.
On arrival at Weymouth I took a short look around the two RSPB reserves, Radipole and Lodmoor. Again not brilliant, but 15 Ruddy Duck, 3 Cetti's Warbler, my first Pochard of the winter, and 1 Grey Wagtail were seen.
As I arrived on Portland in darkness, I would be forgiven for thinking that was the end of birding for the day, but I was proved wrong by a Barn Owl that appeared and even flew alongside me for a short way.
9/10:
My first full day started brilliantly with the long-staying juvenile Rose-coloured Starling showing well in a flock of Starling.
A spot of seawatching produced birds that are pretty regular for the avid seawatcher, but as someone who doesn't do it that often the birds were excellent, Gannet, Kittiwake, Auk sp. (probably Razorbill), loads of Shag, 'commic' Tern, unidentified Shearwater, and best of all a Black-throated Diver, being those in question.
on the land late Swallow, Whinchat and Wheatear were seen along with 15 Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk.
At the RSPB reserves a Kingfisher, some vocal Bearded Tit, Gadwall, Shoveler, and Teal at Radipole, with Wigeon, and a dashing Peregrine at Lodmoor.
10/10:
The Rose-coloured Starling was again seen briefly this morning, but the plaudits went to the variety on the land. Firstly a Merlin hunted small birds unsuccessfully, and then I was delighted to see a Firecrest being ringed at the Bird Observatory, and I later found my own in the garden there (or possibly the same one).
A Yellow-browed Warbler had been reported, needless to say, I didn't see it, but a walk down the East cliffs on the way produced some great consolation, 2 Raven, with the 2 resident Peregrine mobbing them spectacularly.
And then the best moment of the trip. I was delighted to watch a Short-eared Owl stalking the grass for ages, sometimes coming quite close. What a bird.
In the Obs garden were 8 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap. But also an acrocephalus warbler that I spotted. The concensus amongst the experts was that it was a late Reed Warbler, and not something rarer (e.g. Blyth's).
11/10:
I was hoping to dedicate this day for seawatching, but the wind was not as strong as forecast. Despite this, I still got a lifer from it. I spotted a large flock of Scoter flying far out. A look from the other birders with scopes (a resource I don't have) revealed the flock was mostly Velvet Scoter. Also seen during the seawatch was an unidentified Diver, plenty of Common Scoter, along the with the usual.
On the land the Merlin this time was successful with a hunt carrying off a Rock Pipit, and Swallow and Wheatear were seen.
Overhead there was lots of migration in action with Linnets, Wagtails, and Pipits, all making the journey out to sea, as well as what looked like a large Pipit making quite a 'buzzing' call, any ideas (not a Tree Pipit)? Also flying the other way very high was a flock of thrushes, which I thought must have been my first Redwings of the winter.
On the non-avian side of things, I saw my first Weasel running about in the long grass.
A great trip and I had a great time with the final bird list being 97 species long.
Bird list:
Black-throated Diver
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Eider
Common Scoter
Velvet Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine
Pheasant
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Dunlin
Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Greenshank
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Common Tern
Razorbill
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collered Dove
Barn Owl
Short-eared Owl
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Skylark
House Martin
Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Blackbird
Redwing
Cetti's Warbler
Reed Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Reed Bunting
P.S. I had intended to stay for another couple of days, but the sleep deprivation I was suffering from camping was starting to get to me. I will come back though, once I can afford proper accommodation!
Sean, sounds like you had a good taster of what the Bill can offer! Accommodation in the Obs is quite reasonable and far more comfortable than a tent. Shame the Coastguards gardens are no more - free accommodation on a first come first served basis in the hides, and after a few pints at the Pulpit or 8 Kings even the spiders were bearable and the floor not too lumpy. Couldn't quite escape the aroma of stale pee though! The bogs at the Bill car park were another "poor man's hostel" once upon a time, but I could never quite bring myself to sleep there.
Sean accomadation at the obs is £7 a night for members and £10 for non members, membership is £16 peryear.got to be better than camping.