Out on the breakwaters, time was spent sifting through the Sea Beet in search of the Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull chicks that have hatched there. Each gull was fitted with a darvic (colour) ring so keep an eye out for red on white (sequence starting p:) for the GBBG's and white on black for the Herrings class of 2019. It was also an excellent opportunity to explore the structures that make Portland Harbour so calm and clear as well as inspect the camera traps investigating the rat population that is potentially preventing the recolonization of the tern colonies.
Built in the mid 1800's the breakwaters are a spectacular feat of engineering that not only harbour a pretty extensive gull colony but also some brilliant historical artefacts left from the various times it has been occupied ©Erin Taylor:
The Portland Buzzards are doing a rat eradication project of their own...©Pete Saunders:
