Saturday 10 May 2014

Wind, Rain & Rainbows (Force 8 at Portland)



A very blustery day, heavy rain overnight and into early morning, showers later. A strong westerly wind gusting to force 8 later in the day, the sea state was 6, temp 14º colder in the wind. It’s a wonder anything got through that.

An on and off seawatch today produced: 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Roseate Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Scoter, 100+ Gannet, 1 Balearic Shearwater and 200+ Manx Shearwater.

c100 Swallow in off the sea along with 2 House Martin and 7 Swift.

On the land we noted , 1 Wheatear, 15 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Common Whitethroat and 2 Redstart.

2 Butterflies seen, both Green-veined Whites struggling in the strong wind and one given no choice but to take shelter in some long grasses.

 Spotted Flycatcher in the garden
 Spotted Flycatcher, top fields
 Green-veined White (courtesy Loren)
                   Double Rainbow on a squall that passed by to the east.

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