The Birding world in the UK got turned up side down on Boxing day with a Brunnichs Guillemot at Portland Harbour,Portland. Now normally with a bird like this,and close, i would of been off like Usain Bolt, but due to Xmas,family & work until the freedom of the New Year,i was kinda Knackered. I was getting more and more pissed off with not being able to go and the bird being reported each day and it showing down to less than 20 meteres. That was it New years day was to be the big BG day ! except something told me not to wait, but just go,NYE i was off with Ryan,i had decided to go on news but, Nah, Go just Go !.
A good drive down,cold on arrival with the wind and the rain. A quick walk and i could see an auk bobbing around by the edge of the old concrete pier,a quick look and there was the pale strip along the side of the bill,a bill that it is a bit of a cross between a juv Razorbill and a Common Guillemot,it was black and white, *#*# me,KERCHING !
Whilst talking to Nigel Jones, we watched the bird paddle itself across the mouth of the marina and then into the marina were it just disappeared amongst the boats. Some 30 minutes went by until i refound it way past the marina and in an area with no entry. After 10 minutes the bird was back in the marina,incredible how fast the little critter could move.When it dived it could appear about 100 meteres away in what seemed like seconds,amazing. At last the bird was close enough to scrutinise properly with views down to 15 meters amazing !! And this time it just hung around showing superbly. It would swim along with its head under water looking for fish and then dive.WOW!
The supporting cast were good with my 3rd South Coast Black Guillemot,Why not in Hampshire i say,but the day is coming i can feel it ! Great Northern Diver,Razorbill,Red breasted Merganser but not good for Ryan as he just couldnt get to grips with all the different species but appeared comfortable iding Merganser.
After leaving the BG we headed to Radipole where a Glossy Ibis has been playing football on the local football pitches. Except that it wasn`t playing football but wadering around on a very flooded football pitch. The Ibis showed at the back of the pitches but was okay to view.
Ryan`s Photo of the Radipole Ibis
We went to look for the 2 x 1st Winter Common Cranes that had been seen near Tolpudddle but we dipped,that`s Birding !!!!!
Hill Head Wildlife & a bit beyond. 