The Fleet, The Harbour and The Bill

Mrs PB has recently started a new job, with different working patterns, so I found my self home alone Saturday. Forecast was a little breezy, but bright and dry, and I felt the pull of Portland.

Before I'd even left the car I could see a Kestrel hovering t'other side of the road

As I crossed the car park to get a closer view, two birds that I hadn't spotted made good their escape before I had chance to snp, a busy Wagtail, and a handsome Wheatear....fingers crossed for later I thought.

Still ahead of me the Kestrel was being all Kestrel-like!

All the while there was the non-stop chirruping of Skylarks, and the softer, sweeter song of Meadow Pipits, although all seemed to try and confuse me (for a change) From what I observed the pipits tended to climb and "parachute" with legs dangling, so the claws are easily seen, and the Skylarks were tucked in, all neat and tidy

Massive hind claw alert!!

Sometimes the birds managed to be in the right place in relation to the sun so I didn't have to lighten the images!

A quick game of "Spot The Birdie".... isn't camouflage wonderful considering the image is cropped pretty hard!

Best meerkat impression!

I crossed back to the car park, and made my way toward the Fleet. I was on the wooden walkway that leads onto Chesil Bank, and a pair of birds came and landed on the handrail, I had time for a quick snap before a totally oblivious group of older folk stomped by and scared them off... this years' first Linnets

Still on the walkway, and looking toward the Fleet, sudden movement caught my eye.... Handsome fella, but a little distant

I managed to manoeuvre myself a little closer...

The Fleet itself was completely bereft of birds, I've never seen it empty before, it was a stark contrast to all my previous visits when there were geese and gulls as well as many waders. I'm guessing it was a combination of time of year, and time of tide. I headed back over the other side of the road, looing out at Portland Harbour, which was quite empty too, save for a few distant gulls. On the shoreline however, there was the audible clues to more Skylarks and more Pipits... and more Linnets...

There were a few pigeons about, and the sun caught this one luvverly!

I decided to head back to the car, and up to the Bill, and on the way the Fleet had gained some birdlife...a pair of Oystercatchers and a Little Egret, the latter of which was too distant to photograph

One of the Wheatears was back in the car park

And the Kestrel was seeking a high perch, to make sure I actually left the scene!

Onto the Bill, and despite a fair few pics taken, only a few to share, one of them there Pipits

Out at sea, a raft of auks, Guillemots and Razorbills, I think, although one seems to be significantly more black than the others....at a different plumage stage perhaps?

And to end with a Dinosaurmorant, towering over a Shag!

And so ended a fine day out, with a few firsts of the year, and certainly the cobwebs well and truly blown away!

Thanks for reading, any ID corrections welcomed as always

Stay Safe All