Weymouth

I ventured South to Chéz Spotlight Kid on Sunday, and was transported from there to the Dorset coast for a memorable afternoon. Our first stop was at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Osprey Quay, on Portland Harbour. This is a former Naval base which is being rejuvenated for the Olympics in 2012, and it may have been members of the French and English teams that we witnessed practising there.

After a brief inspection of the lagoon at Ferrybridge, where thespotlightkid counted 78 mediterranean gulls on its far side, we went on to Radipole Lake, an RSPB reserve in Weymouth, parking near a wooden bridge which was a popular site for feeding the ducks. Amongst them is a hooded merganser that has lived there for some years now. A small island on the lake housed a gathering of cormorants, and there were more perched on a series of posts beside the road bridge.

The other side of the bridge marks the start of Weymouth Waterfront, and we walked along the harbour towards Custom House Quay, as the sun hung low in the sky. It was a busy and colourful scene with boats, swans, gulls, sightseers and sailors. Beyond us was a giant ferry, dwarfing everything around it including the chalk cliffs behind it. This fisherman was catching the light and seemed not to have moved when we passed him on the way back half-an-hour later.

My choice of alternatives has been influenced by feedback from their viewings on Flickr, including a gull picture that has been honoured by a Favouriting from the BBC Autumnwatch team.

L.
11.11.11

Blip #555
Consecutive Blip #000
Day #593

Alternatives:
Hooded Merganser
Birds By The Bridge At Radipole Lake
Weymouth Waterfront
Harbour Reflections
Juvenile Gull
Harbour Boats

A Day In Portland and Weymouth, 6 November 2011 (Flickr set)
A Day In Portland and Weymouth, 6 November 2011 (Flickr slideshow)

Lens: Pentax 16-45mm, Sigma 70-300mm

1 year ago: Spirthill