Chesil Cove
On her way into Weymouth, Dawn rang me to say that there were a lot of birders with cameras and scopes looking over Chesil Cove from this position Here. Not sure what they were looking at, but 30 minutes later I passed the same spot on my way down to Chiswell and whatever they were looking for must have gone, as there was no sign of anyone.
Just in case it was something in the cove, I parked up in car park and made my way to the high ground here. This is an excellent spot to keep out of the wind and rain, especially if its coming from the south. As I walked along the promenade it was quite obvious I was the only birder here, so whatever was being watched further up the cliffs was well gone.
The waves were still crashing onto the beach, but nothing like the past 2 days. Out to sea were a few gulls and I recorded several Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls. Along the shoreline a Cormorant was working his way back and forth, just metres from where the waves were breaking onto the beach.
On the beach were 3 Rock Pipits, a Pied Wagtail and a Kestrel hunting above them. A couple of times it dropped down at speed, but missed whatever it was after. As I was walking back to the car a Black Redstart popped out onto the wall in front of me and then disappeared behind the houses here.
Here are a few images from today:
The storms might have moved on, but the rollers are still coming in on Chesil Beach
This is the view looking south. In fact on the 15 Nov this spot is where I saw my first UK Pallid Swift.
An adult Great Black-backed Gull.
This is a 1CY Great Black-backed Gull
Another adult Great Black-backed Gull.
Slightly smaller than the Great Black-backed Gull, this is an adult winter Herring Gull.
In comparison an adult Winter Black-headed Gull.......
..........showing plenty of black in those wings.
A Kestrel above the beach.
It was struggling to hover in the fresh south-westerly.
As it dropped towards the beach..........
.......this Herring Gull dive bombed it.
This Cormorant spent a good deal of time.........
..........swimming back and forth along the shoreline.
Well this angler is definitely in the right place, as the Cormorant passed by him a couple of times.
Bit like a needle in a haystack. But who knows he might get lucky!
By the car park this Black Redstart gave me.......
......a couple of poses before heading off behind the houses.
On the wall, one of the 3 Rock Pipits.
Birds Recorded: 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail and 1 Black Redstart.
Wakeham
After midnight, while the skies were still clear, a few Redwings were heard calling overhead for a good 5 minutes or so. This morning the Grey Squirrel was in the back garden again and completely demolished one of the plastic feeders. As I was leaving the cottage around lunchtime, 23 Redwing flew into neighbouring gardens.
I think I need a Squirrel-proof feeder.
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On this day..........
2017
Today's Sightings Here