Portland Weekend April 2009

Saturday 25th April
We got up at dawn to a bright and sunny day. There had been rain overnight and we were hopeful that there may be some migrants. We walked up through Culverwell to the top fields above the Obs. A few Wheatear were on the walls at the top and a fine male Whinchat on a fence. However we saw no migrants at all at Culverwell. Back at the Obs for breakfast and we did see a Lesser Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler in the hand. From the Obs we could see some Gannets and Manx Shearwater on the sea so we went down to do a seawatch from Pulpit Rock. There was a fair amount passing by. Gannets and Manx Shearwater seemed to be in view constantly as well as the resident Guillemots, Kittiwake, Fulmars and a few Razorbill. Over the next hour 2 Great Skua, 2 Common Scoter and a couple of Whimbrel also passed. Several Swallows came in and there were a few Wheatear, Whimbrel and Rock Pipit on the shoreline and rocks.
After making a packed lunch at the Obs we drove to Barleycrates Lane and walked back along the cliff tops. It was very quiet as far as migrants were concerned and we only saw about 10 Wheatear. However we did see a Sparrowhawk, Kestrels and a Common Lizard! After seeing a Chiffchaff in the hand at the Obs we went to the north part of the island to the Verne and had a walk around. There was a little more variety here with Whitethroats singing, a Yellowhammer and a female Redstart in the scrub.
Maybe the highlight of the day should go to the evening meal we all cooked together and ate at the Obs!

Sunday 26th April.
We all slept much better and got up for dawn feeling more refreshed. A quick walk around the east cliffs near the Obs just produced a few Swallows and Wheatears. It was nice to see a Peregrine fly past though and we got a better view from the Obs when we got back. After breakfast we went down to Pulpit Rock for another seawatch stopping to look at the Little Owl in the Obs Quarry on the way.
The Whimbrel were still at the Bill as were a few Wheatear. The sea was not as active as yesterday, but we saw lots of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters again plus about 20 Common Scoter passing and a wonderful dark phase Arctic Skua.
We packed up and left Portland Bird Observatory for Tout Quarry. A walk here only produced Wheatear, but there were quite a lot, about 15 or so. We also saw a Carrion Crow on its nest further down the cliff and 2 Foxes on a lawn outside one of the beach huts! We stopped in Easton at the Sugar Loaf, a great café, for lunch and then went on to Radipole.
Radipole was also fairly quiet. In the short time we were there we saw a few Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, House Martins and a Marsh Harrier at the North Hide.
Simon Curson