A very windy morning which saw the blue skies disappear as a front moved in. For once I managed to stay dry and complete my walk in the sunshine before the cloud cover came in.
Highlight today was my first Blackcap of the year at Church Ope Cove. Only a fleeting view of it and a few warning calls to let me know it was agitated and then it flew off up to Penns Weare. Funnily enough it was a year ago today I saw my first one of the year here as well. On that day I managed a photo of it. No such luck today.
Also a Chiffchaff "Chiff chaffing" until the sun disappeared. This was also at the back of the cove where it was fairly sheltered from the brisk wind coming off the sea.
On the beach there were 23 Rock Pipits and the pair of Pied Wagtails. Yet again no sign of the Grey Wagtail.
Elsewhere 2 Goldcrests in the grounds of St Andrew's Church where there was a charm of 12 Goldfinches. No Wall Lizards this morning. Even though the sun was out, it wasn't enough to warm up the walls within the grounds of the Church, and as the clouds moved in, I doubt they they will be seen today.
Still a few bees about, with Honey Bees and Buff-tailed Bumblebees frequenting the Hebes. A few Common Drone Flies about as well.
Here are a few images from this morning:
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 23 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Also recorded: 5 Honey Bees, 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees and 3 Common Drone Flies.
Highlight today was my first Blackcap of the year at Church Ope Cove. Only a fleeting view of it and a few warning calls to let me know it was agitated and then it flew off up to Penns Weare. Funnily enough it was a year ago today I saw my first one of the year here as well. On that day I managed a photo of it. No such luck today.
Also a Chiffchaff "Chiff chaffing" until the sun disappeared. This was also at the back of the cove where it was fairly sheltered from the brisk wind coming off the sea.
On the beach there were 23 Rock Pipits and the pair of Pied Wagtails. Yet again no sign of the Grey Wagtail.
Elsewhere 2 Goldcrests in the grounds of St Andrew's Church where there was a charm of 12 Goldfinches. No Wall Lizards this morning. Even though the sun was out, it wasn't enough to warm up the walls within the grounds of the Church, and as the clouds moved in, I doubt they they will be seen today.
Still a few bees about, with Honey Bees and Buff-tailed Bumblebees frequenting the Hebes. A few Common Drone Flies about as well.
Here are a few images from this morning:
In Penns Wood the Russian Comfrey is really..........
.........taking over the ground.
Looking south from St Andrew's Church, the Alexandra's are really taking over in the corner of the church grounds.
One of a few Common Drone Flies out in the sun, this one on the flowers of an Alexander (Smyrnium olusatrum)
This morning a Blackcap was in this corner of the cove and then moved up the slope.
On the beach looking up towards Rufus Castle. Feeding in amongst the rocks were this.......
.......male Pied Wagtail..........
........female Pied Wagtail................
........and 23 Rock Pipits.
This Rock Pipit has just caught a Kelp Fly.
And another fly is just about to be picked off.
So windy on the beach, its no wonder there were a few ruffled feathers.
Stormy seas again driving up..........
.........the beach.
As I left so the sun disappeared as a weather front moved in.
Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 23 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Also recorded: 5 Honey Bees, 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees and 3 Common Drone Flies.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.