31.12.07

Had a pretty successful days birdwatching over in the Portland area today. First stopped at Ferrybridge, as usual there were good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls amongst the Black-headed Gulls. On the fleet lagoon in the distance there was a large group of Mergansers with a few Goldeneye and Little Grebes. From the top of Chesil Beach looking out to sea I could see the group of Scoter that has been reported, however because of the distance I had no chance of picking out any of the Velvet Scoter that have been in the flock.
Next I walked over the road to have a look in Portland Harbour. There were lots of large groups of Mergansers with some of the males showing their very strange displays. There were also quite a few Mediterranean Gulls, Great Crested Grebes and Razorbills. A couple of Red-throated Divers were chasing each other around on the surface and there were a few Great Northern Divers around the harbour as well. Amongst one of the Merganser flocks I noticed 3 smaller ducks which turned out to be Long-tailed Ducks, only the second time I've seen them and nice to see again.
On the shore of the harbour there were a few Turnstones and Oystercatchers and there were a couple of Kestrels hovering by the road.
Next I stopped at Castle Cove to get a different view over the Harbour. From here there were more Great Crested Grebes, Mergansers, Cormorants and Shags but also a group of 4 Velvet Scoter, again only the second time I've seen them.
It was a very dull day so shots were difficult, but these are the best I managed.
Oystercatcher

Kestrel

This is an awful shot, the Long-tailed Ducks were very distant but they're the 2 top birds above the Mergansers and Gull. I'm still not sure exactly what age/sex they were but I think the 2 in the picture are an adult female (right) and a juvenile (left) and the other bird was another juvenile.

Another terrible shot, again they were very distant but you can just about make them out! This is the 4 Velvet Scoter, They're the 4 dark birds along the top with one Merganser below and a Gull to the left.