We started at Portland Castle, where a Grasshopper Warbler had been reported earlier in the morning. We wandered around the Castle's gardens, which at first glance seemed rather uninspiring bird-wise, yet soon about a dozen Willow Warblers and several Chiffchaffs appeared. After some time, the resplendent reeling of the Grasshopper Warbler started to emanate out of a patch of stinging nettles. It really was unlike any bird I had ever heard before, like an incredibly loud Cricket or Grasshopper. The problem was trying to find the bird, after missing two the previous weekend at Portland and several more before that, I felt that this had to finally be the time. Thankfully it was, as the skulkin
g beast appeared at the back of a metal fence resting in the stinging nettles against the garden wall. It was brilliant to watch it for ten minutes or so, even though it only emerged into the open for a couple of seconds.
There is a Gropper somewhere in this picture....
The incredibly-skulking Grasshopper Warbler, Portland Castle
We then continued on to the Bill, where we found out at the Obs that an Osprey had flown over Portland Castle while we were watching the Gropper. Never mind! We parked next to the lighthouse, and as we wandered down to the Bill itself I caught sight of a Diver flying past. It looked very much like a Red-throated to me, but I couldn't be certain. Then, just as I began to feel frustrated that I had missed a potential new species for me, another flew past, very close, and it was confirmed as being a Red-throated Diver. This bird has been one that I have somehow missed on my numerous previous visits to Portland, so it was fantastic to finally see one. Large numbers of Fulmars, Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots were passing the Bill as well. We then walked around the Top Fields, where there were large numbers of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, as well as an abundance of Linnets and Goldfinches. A resplendent male Common Redstart, along with a Whitethroat, three Wheatears and two Whinchats (in stunning breeding plumage) were seen just behind the Bird Observatory, and a further six Redstarts (three females and three males), along with more Wheatears were found further up in the fields. There was an astonishing number of hirundines migrating over the field, the majority of which were Swallows, while several House Martins and a single Sand Martin were also seen.
Redstart, Top Fields, Portland, 21/1/14
We then visited Reap Lane, where there were very few birds of any notes, though approximately 20 Wheatears, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and numerous Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were seen. At Barleycrates Lane, a Peregrine Falcon flew over and three female Redstarts, along with two more Wheatears were present. Hirundines were still very much in evidence, with an enormous number of Swallows and House Martins passing through at both sites.
Wheatear, Reap Lane, Portland, 21/4/14
This female Linnet at Barleycrate's Lane had collected some sheep wool for nesting material.
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