Tips on birding at Portland, Dorset next week? (1 Viewer)

[Guizotia]

I'm staying just off the Isle of Portland for four nights next week, first week of May. I should have at least three mornings to spend birding.

Can someone tell me the best places to go on (and around) Portland, where to park etc. I've never been to this area before so have no idea what to expect.

Thanks!

 

[John Hague]

I'm staying just off the Isle of Portland for four nights next week, first week of May. I should have at least three mornings to spend birding.

Can someone tell me the best places to go on (and around) Portland, where to park etc. I've never been to this area before so have no idea what to expect.

Thanks!

Make the Obs your first port of call. There have been plenty of itineries in Birdwatch magazine over the years and Where to Watch Birds in Hampshire and Dorset provides all you'll need.

I'm stuck at work, today and really want to be watching Collared Flycatcher in Southwell.

John

 

[paulwfromtheden]

I'm staying just off the Isle of Portland for four nights next week, first week of May. I should have at least three mornings to spend birding.

Can someone tell me the best places to go on (and around) Portland, where to park etc. I've never been to this area before so have no idea what to expect.

Thanks!

All the Terns should be beginning to nest on Chesil beach. There is a car park in Abbotsbury where you can walk along to a suitable vantage point. I could happily spend all day there.

 

[chowchilla]

Portland is great value for birding. Good birds can and do turn up all over the area. The observatory should have any latest info on stuff that's about though of course you might be the first to find something good!

On your way through Weymouth, it's worth stopping off at Radipole and Lodmoor reserves too; both easily accessible within Weymouth itself.

 

[Guizotia]

Thanks.

Should I take my scope to the bird observatory?

 

[JamesA]

If you plan on sea-watching at all - especially from the obs itself - a scope is essential.

 

[Farnboro John]

If you plan on sea-watching at all - especially from the obs itself - a scope is essential.

Seawatching is done from the end of the Bill, by the obelisk. The obs is a few hundred yards back.

The main thing to take is a ton of pound coins for parking, because the local council is a bunch of thieving shysters! (You used to be able to get a ticket at the Bill that would cover all the Weymouth car parks for the day, but now you have to pay separately and through the nose at each one.)

Have a good time - Portland is a great place for birding especially during spring migration.

John

 

[Guizotia]

On your way through Weymouth, it's worth stopping off at Radipole and Lodmoor reserves too; both easily accessible within Weymouth itself.

What a place for a short break! Radipole is 8 mins drive, Lodmoor is 12 mins, and Portland Bill 20 mins.

Both Radipole and Lodmoor apparently have pushchair friendly paths, so I can go there in the afternoon with my wife and son (disadvantage is I won't be able to concentrate as much).

That means I could spend the three mornings on Portland.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[JamesA]

Seawatching is done from the end of the Bill, by the obelisk. The obs is a few hundred yards back.
John

Depends on the weather, I guess, I stopped and watched a bit from the sheltered area at the back of the obs, just to avoid the wind! Even so, seawatching from the obelisk would still be far better with a scope, imo...

 

[Perry Grin]

I'm staying just off the Isle of Portland for four nights next week, first week of May. I should have at least three mornings to spend birding.

Can someone tell me the best places to go on (and around) Portland, where to park etc. I've never been to this area before so have no idea what to expect.

Thanks!

I recently got a mornings pass to spend on Portland whilst visiting the in-laws a couple of weeks back. There is a car park on the Bill by the light house that I used - £3.50 for 4 hours I think.

I did a bit of a sea watch by the obelisk-thingy and about 100 metres to the right of it where there is a little point. From there you can look along the rock face for nesting/roosting auks. I then did a little circuit following the coast path along past the obs, through the fields (on footpaths) to the main road and then took the road back to the car park, taking in the obs, a small quarry and the roadside fields and bushes.

An excellent morning and I bumped into a number of very helpful local birders who were happy to point me in the right direction and give tips and pointers.

Have a great time.

Perry

 

[Mike Cross]

Personally. I wouldn't park at the Obelisk and pay the extortionate charges. I would park in Southwell and walk the footpaths through the Top Fields area and down to the obelisk to sea watch catching up on any migrants on the way in Top Fields. Walk back via the Obs and the Obs Quarry and the head back over Top Felds and back to the car catching up with any migrants missed on the way down.
There is far more to Portland than just the Bill though and lots of other areas like the Verne, Reap and Barleycrates Lane and Suckthumb Quarry/Avalanche Road to catch up with migrants as they make their way up the island.

 

[Guizotia]

Personally. I wouldn't park at the Obelisk and pay the extortionate charges. I would park in Southwell and walk the footpaths through the Top Fields area and down to the obelisk to sea watch catching up on any migrants on the way in Top Fields. Walk back via the Obs and the Obs Quarry and the head back over Top Felds and back to the car catching up with any migrants missed on the way down.
There is far more to Portland than just the Bill though and lots of other areas like the Verne, Reap and Barleycrates Lane and Suckthumb Quarry/Avalanche Road to catch up with migrants as they make their way up the island.

Will check those out. :t:

 

[Perry Grin]

Personally. I wouldn't park at the Obelisk and pay the extortionate charges. I would park in Southwell and walk the footpaths through the Top Fields area and down to the obelisk to sea watch catching up on any migrants on the way in Top Fields. Walk back via the Obs and the Obs Quarry and the head back over Top Felds and back to the car catching up with any migrants missed on the way down.
There is far more to Portland than just the Bill though and lots of other areas like the Verne, Reap and Barleycrates Lane and Suckthumb Quarry/Avalanche Road to catch up with migrants as they make their way up the island.

Cheers, I'll remember for my next visit. Whereabouts can you park in Southwell? Are there any restrictions?

Perry

 

[John P]

Cheers, I'll remember for my next visit. Whereabouts can you park in Southwell? Are there any restrictions?

Perry

Free car park at SY693705. (free last time I was there anyway)

 

[luke]

Hope your catching up with all the MEGAs on portland at the moment!