A change of scenery this afternoon and a trip to the Bill to see if there were any Purple Sandpipers about. It was low water and a lot of people were scrabbling on their favourite rocks, but I eventually found 4 which over a 15 minute period ended up being 9. Also with the Purple Sandpipers were 2 Rock Pipits.
Not a lot out to see, so it was a walk up the west cliff, past QinetiQ and up to the Higher Lighthouse in the hope of seeing a Short-eared Owl. Despite waiting for a good hour or so none appeared so I gave up. However it wasn't all in vain as I had great views of a Peregrine Falcon and a the "Resident" Grey Heron.
Here are a few images from this afternoon
Here are a couple of the Purple Sandpipers at The Bill this afternoon.
And 3 more, in fact 9 were recorded here today.
A very photogenic Kestrel on the QinetiQ fence.
In fact it had no concerns about me walking past it.
Another view.
And an even closer view. I walked past it and away from it and he just sat there and watched me leave.
This is another one in Obs Quarry.
The view along the west cliffs towards Chesil Beach and Weymouth.
There were a couple of very vocal Ravens up by the Higher Lighthouse.
A fly-by Peregrine which later put up a dozen or more Wood Pigeons at Southwell.
And as I left so the sun dropped below the horizon. Red Sky at Night Shepherd's Delight. Should be nice again tomorrow.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 4 Kestrel, Pheasant, 9 Purple Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, Starling, Magpie, 2 Raven, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, 1 Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Ships Today
And both on a collision course.........
...............miles apart!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here