Chesil Beach is our home for the week. We are staying at the Portland end, near Portland Castle. In fact there is a certificate hanging on the wall of the house we’re staying in commemorating the fact that the Trinidad and Bermudan Olympic Sailing team occupied the house in the summer of 2012.
Fine Foundation – Chesil Beach Centre
I wandered around the centre, checking out the notices. A prominent, green information sign told me that the area was particularly well known for being a nesting ground for Little Terns and Common Ringed Plovers. As I walked back towards the car park with my camera around my neck, I was approached by a couple. “Oh, can you tell us what we might expect to see here?” They obviously mistook me for a well-informed enthusiast.
“Well, if you’re lucky you might see Little Terns or Common Ringed Plovers.” Then as I looked over there shoulder I could see a Little Egret, so I added. “You also might see a Little Egret”.
“Oh, thank you so much. We’ve lived here for years, but never been sure what we should be looking for.” I’m not sure that I mentioned that this was my first visit, or that I’d just read the sign.
Portland Castle
Portland Castle looks east over Weymouth Bay and is a stone’s throw from where we are staying. The bird life I’ve seen so far has been Gulls, Wagtails and Reed Buntings.
The weather has been windy, but dry with temperatures in single digits.
Stephen's Wildlife 