Portland Birding Expedition - April 2017

The spring migration was underway so it was time to revisit the coastal treats of Portland. Following a lunchtime pickup from John we decided to start things off with an avian injection at Longham Lakes. Principally a pair of fishing lakes, with concession given to model yacht racers, and an ideal circuit for dog-walkers or joggers, Longham Lakes has historically harboured a few disorientated migrants so we were optimistic. The location did not provide any surprises but did yield a very firm base for the birding ahead.

Longham Lakes

Mute Swan	Mallard	Little Egret	Grey Heron	Great-crested Grebe
Gadwall	Blackbird	Tufted Duck	Blackheaded Gull	Canada Goose
Greylag Goose	House Sparrow	Coot	Starling	Swallow
Reed Warbler	Reed Bunting	Blackcap	Whitethroat	Egyptian Goose
Dunnock	Jay	Carrion Crow	Herring Gull	Magpie
Wood Pigeon	Long-tailed Tit	Collared Dove	Swift	Buzzard
Sandwich Tern

Count: 31

From there we headed towards Portland and then proceeded to get the newly purchased tent erected at Martleaves Farm Campsite with a very nice view of Chesil Beach with Portland in the background. Last year we’d been onsite a little later and had ended up playing a role in the impromptu birth of a lamb in the field campers and sheep share, but this time around we were completely alone. There were a few more campers staying in the top field this year but none wished to venture any closer to us, perhaps it was the angle of the slope? Tent up, celebratory beer consumed and over 30 species under our belt for the day, it was time to visit The WykeSmugglers.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact item at fault but I think that it is safe to say that the availability of Newcastle Brown Ale behind the bar was a contributory factor. There was some stumbling and mumbling, there were some slightly hairy moments too close to the fire and there was a particularly amusing moment when, so drunk, someone fell off their camp chair.

And then there was silence.

Albeit punctuated by some heavy breathing, not quite transforming into snoring.

Rising around 7am for a wash and brush, there was little movement from the tent.

Leftovers and cereal bars consumed for breakfast and around 8am, John awoke, sagged into his camp chair, consumed some dirty rice from the night before, then proceeded to shuffle back to bed.

Spent the morning observing birding and other activities along the backside of Chesil Beach, and reading ‘H is for Hawk.’ Around midday, energy restored, dignity stowed away, John arose like a phoenix and the birding could begin in earnest.

A brief stop at the sandwich bar yielded disappointment with the absence of crab due to the fishermen not bringing any in, but then it was on to Suckthumb Quarry. Previously this had provided some nice, albeit rain-sodden, sightings of a Hoopoe, but this time nothing more than a Wren was on show. From there we headed to the Observatory, where we stalked the cliff tops, fields and observatory garden. The Little Owl was a treat, and it chose to show for those that were patient; the Redstart brought a moment of revelation to the garden and the sight of a Raven, having torn chunks out of gull corpse, fly off with the gull’s head in its beak, was just grotesque.

Skylark	Willow Warbler	Goldfinch	Linnet	Blackbacked Gull
Kestrel	Pied Wagtail	Common Redstart	Little Owl	Raven
Northern Wheater	Pheasant	Meadow Pipit	Razorbill	Fulmar
Stonechat	Wren

Count: 48

Not wishing to waste a minute we headed for Radipole and Lodmoor. Familiar locations, which rarely surprise but can bolster the duck and wader count if that’s be absent elsewhere. Both locations were quiet on the visitor and avian front, and whilst it was nice to see the Marsh Harrier, the time of year meant that there was an absence of nesting Terns or Gulls. A few gambles on the way back to the campsite did not pay off and we were done with our count for the day.

Radipole 

Shelduck	Pochard	Hooded Merganser	Cettis Warbler	Teal
Blue Tit	Chiffchaff	House Martin

Count: 56

Lodmoor 

Oystercatcher	Common Sandpiper	Moorhen	Chaffinch	Marsh Harrier
Snipe	Greenfinch	Robin

Count: 64

Beer, pub, takeaway, tent, fire jenga and our Portland adventure was over for another year.