Having discovered that Snappy was down my neck of the woods, I immediately made a plan to go out on my next day off, banking on his good weather fortune would outweigh my not so good weather fortune! I was right to make a plan, as it was beautifully sunny (at least until lunchtime) but tempered by a bit of a hooley which made keeping the big lens pointed in the right direction a tad awkward!
I decided on Portland and Weymouth hoping for a tern-fest, with breeding Little, Sandwich and Common all a possibility.
Arriving at Chesil, I was greeted by the car park by a Pied Wagtail
And a Meadow Pipit
I hiked around the edge of the lagoon.... been a long time since I've been there with the tide this far in, not a single wader in sight... to the edge of the fenced off breeding area, and scouring the skies spied my first Little Tern
And some more... disguising themselves as the cresting waves
The opposite side of the lagoon opens out into Portland Harbour
Where it appeared most of the Terns were fishing
After an hour (I even scaled Chesil Bank to see if there was anything closer.... all that did was remind me how unfit I've become... "blowing out me ***" I believe is the common vernacular) I decided to head round to the harbour side, and see if the proximity was better.
The tide had steadily been dropping and as I got about halfway along the lagoon, I spotted a Ringed Plover on the newly exposed shore
And then, out of nowhere, 2 Little Terns were cavorting a short distance away
Watching them battle the wind was fascinating, with it pushing them away from me, but them trying to stay still to judge their strikes
Amazing how big their wings look!
I thought this was it, as it circled away to the shingle
But then...
He came a bit closer
Then allowed the wind to carry him back across the lagoon... uncropped
Nearly missed totally, as he plunged!
He emerged, and then decided enough was enough, and headed off towards the fenced off area.
Mission accomplished (basically 550 pictures of varying quality of Little Terns) I decided to head round to Lodmore for the Common/Arctic/ Sandwich Terns. Right outside the cafe, I think a Herring Gull, but it all looks a bit soft/genteel?
And an Oystercatcher strutting its stuff
And right by the car park, a squabble of boisterous juvenile Starlings
I'll do a separate post for the Lodmore leg, as I took even more pictures, and I think my last post was a bit unwieldy!!
Stay Safe All
Nice to get the close ups of the turns PB, they stayed a log way away for me. I recon I saw the same wagtail though
Wonderful photo captures PB, what striking looking birds those Little Tens are along with the other species. thanks for posting up.
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Regards, Hazel
Well done PB. Some good stuff there. Looks like you had a good few hours of dry weather. Thanks for sharing your trip out ...
Lovely set of pics BD.
Superb photos PB, and those terns, looking superb.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
It terned out no too bad at all...when you up this way SM so I can get some bluesky
Lovely variety PB..hoping to get out myself this weekend to a place I have dreamed of visiting..England here I come!!! Batten doon the hatches
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Thanks Snappy, I think I made a lucky choice at a lucky time to see them. There are always a few waggies there
Thanks Hazel
Cheers BD, wind was stiff, but worth it in the end... beat the rain home by about 10 minutes, kettle hadn't even boiled before it started!
BD's would have been sharper than mine, William, but thanks