Well the walk started off really nice with the sun out and good views of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the wood. I even came across a female Blackcap and a lone Firecrest. Yep definitely a good start. Also in the woods were several Chaffinches, 3 Goldfinches and 4 Goldcrests including a juvenile minus its crests, most bizarre.
A walk down through St Andrews Church and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits passed through with 2 more Goldcrests attached.
Onto the beach and good to hear the Grey Wagtail calling, though I didn't get to see it as it headed up over Penns wood. It was very quiet on the beach with just a Wren and a single Rock Pipit which landed and then immediately took off.
And then the weather changed. Oh my word did it rain and as it got heavier so it turned to hail. It absolutely chucked it down. I found my shelter under the ivy in amongst the beach huts, but even here it was coming through.
Eventually it eased off, and as it did so a flock of Long-tailed Tits descended onto the Hebe and brambles behind the huts. In amongst these were 3 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests, Great Tits and Blue Tits. It was like a mass feeding frenzy and they seemed oblivious to me and Ted as we stood right in their path. Its not often I have to zoom back on my camera, but the Firecrest was so close at one stage I could almost touch it.
And as quick as they arrived they disappeared up the south slope towards Ope Caravan Park. With the rain now just a slight drizzle I headed up the steps to Rufus Castle and came across another Firecrest in the brambles by the Sycamores half-way up. At the top another crest called out this time a Goldcrest.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
A Gannet way out to sea.
A Goldcrest with its gold crest.
A side profile of a Goldcrest.
And a rather bedraggled looking Firecrest, caught out in the heavy rain.
Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 9 Goldcrest, 5 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Ships Today
A navy vessel way off The Bill. Sadly not showing up on the marine traffic website.
And the one that got away. I'm not sure why I can't find this on the marine traffic website, it must under the radar.