A trip to Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset

Walking along Portland's breathtaking coastline

photo by Nilo Merino Recalde

Every year we visit Portland Bird Observatory for a few days to spot some species we don't usually get to see around Oxford. This year, we were lucky enough to spot two somewhat shy Ring Ouzels, as well as nice numbers of birds passing over the English Channel, including Common Scoters, Red-throated Divers, Avocets, Sandwich Terns, lots of northbound Meadow Pipits, as well as big flocks of Razorbills and Guillemots off the coastline.

Though our ringing efforts didn't yield a lot, we enjoyed a close-up view of a lonely Firecrest, a couple of Chiffchaffs and some Goldfinches, which had been trilling on the trees all morning. Besides the Goldfinches singing in the sunshine, the two Little Owls incessantly hooting at each other between the Observatory and the nearby quarry also contributed to the characteristic soundscape of our stay. 

Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)

photo by Ben Sheldon

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

photo by Andrea Estandía

Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)

photo by Andrea Estandía

 

 

Beyond all the good birding and lovely walks in the sunshine along a breathtaking coastline, it was as wonderful as ever to spend these days together playing charades, reading in the sun and eating goat cheese and caramelised onion burgers - which has become somewhat of a tradition over the past few years. 

Spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner

photo by Andrea Estandía