Little Terns @ Ferrybridge!

Date: 9th June - All Day

Location:  Portland Bill - Ferrybridge

Observation:  We parked at Reforne and started walking part of the South West coastal Path at 9am. It started off with a bit of rain and alot of white cloud, a singing Whitethroat started our walk and a few fly-past aswell as some nesting Fulmars passing the cliffs. Just before Blacknor Bridge (which is closed due to a landslip) we seen a Fox down near the bottom of the cliff, with Jackdaws swooping at it, trying to defend there nests. Moving on, we seen a Kestrel hovering over the path, which kept moving down when we got closer. On the whole of the walk there were Skylarks singing and Pipit sp. everywhere! Mostly Meadow Pipit's and a few Rock Pipits (close to the lighthouse). Apart from plenty of gulls we didn't really see much else, down by the M.O.D there were alot of Gulliemot's and Kittiwake's on the cliffs nesting, with alot of the Guillemots and some Razorbills (possibly juvenile) taking off flying around in a circle and landing on the cliffs again, maybe practicing to fly? Now down to Pulpit Rock, there was a fledgling Rock Pipit calling but was staying away from trouble high on a rock. We had some lunch and had a look out to sea, nothing really flew past apart from a few Shag's. The weather from now onwards got very warm and sunny! A few calling Raven's a one very photogenic Raven was the first for the way back, and apart from plenty of Pipit's and gulls nothing really added to the species list for the walk. Almost back to the van and a Kestrel came and hovered above us, no higher than 5 feet above us, but now of course too close for pictures! (Always the way!) Before we packed up and drove home we stopped at Ferrybridge and walked along Chesil Beach to see the Little Tern nesting.  We weren't disappointed, plenty of them fishing close to the shore and flying over with fish , also very protective and fending off ALL gulls that pass anywhere near them or their nest!  Driving home just past Yeovil there was a Red Kite searching the fields, which was a nice surprise! Although no rare birds (apart from the Little Tern's of course!) it was a lovely few days in the sun!

Weather:  Sunny, Warm, Blue Sky, Broken Cloud

Other Species: Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Buzzard, Kestrel, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Guillemot, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Shag, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Linnet, Stonechat, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Red Kite

Butterflies:   Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Large Skipper, Common Blue, Six-Spot Burnet