Club trip to Portland Bill and Weymouth

Photo: Colin Wilson

Sunday 18th April 2004

This is always a good ROC trip and we provided two meeting times so people who were not too keen to get up early for seawatching could join us later and hear what they had missed!

The day ran true to form and even the early birds were too soon for our early arrival! A passage of skuas occurred just before we got there with Bonxie amongst them. Undeterred we faced South and seawatched with surprising good fortune as the number of Manx Shearwaters on the day was more than I had ever seen. We also enjoyed close views of the Razorbills and Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Gannets before the rain closed in and enjoying Wheatears and a Peregrine over the sea, we headed for shelter at the Café. From the path near the café we enjoyed close views of Purple Sandpiper, Rock Pipit and then a diver species flew past we failed to identify in the squall!

For about an hour we relaxed with coffee before making our way to Chesil beach at Ferrybridge to look for terns and waders. Only limited numbers of birds were seen including Turnstone, Dunlin and Ringed Plover and a possible Little Tern. As the weather was drying we travelled back towards the Bill as a Serin had been sighted. After a long search enjoying many Linnets and Whitethroat all the group finally saw the Serin so we tried our luck with a Hoopoe in a nearby garden. This was a failure but as it was dry and a pleasant walk no-one was complaining.

At Radipole nothing significant was reported but we walked the paths and found plenty of Cetti's Warblers, some Ruddy Duck and in the last hide a fine male Redstart which must have just landed and was in bramble over the reedbed. I think the only other bird to note was a Common Sandpiper found at Lodmoor (see picture) although good close views were had of Ruddy Duck.

We travelled home very satisfied with our haul which, after the weather of mid-morning was very satisfactory. Another good day out with the ROC at one of the best areas on Southern England! Our thanks go to Ted Rogers for his excellent leadership for the day.