Port and Wey: 23 Dec 19

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood and Mermaid Track.

No sign of the "Eastern" Lesser Whitethroat today, but not helped by a Kestrel sat just above where I saw it yesterday. Just the one Firecrest today in Penns Wood where there was also a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests and a fairly large flock of Long-tailed Tits totaling 23 birds.. Also here my first Greenfinch at this location.

Elsewhere there were 2 Chiffchaffs at the back of the cove, whilst on the beach there were 17 Rock Pipits, a 1st winter Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail. Out to sea there were a few Gannets, a lone Razorbill heading up the coast and a Black-headed Gull just off the beach.

The sun was bright enough and warm enough for 2 juvenile Wall Lizards to venture out in the church ground, and also for a Red Admiral, a Honey Bee and a Marmalade Hoverfly to be out at the back of the cove.

Here are a few images from today:

Once again most of the action was on the beach with the Rock Pipits........

..........bust hunting down Kelp Flies.

They even had time to pose for the camera.

The overwintering Grey Wagtail was also enjoying the abundance of Kelp flies as was.........

.........this 1st Winter Pied Wagtail.

At the back of the cove were 2 Chiffchaffs, this very olive individual Chiffchaff #1

And again

And another shot of Chiffchaff #1

This is the slightly paler Chiffchaff #2

Looking at this photo you would almost think it was stationary and standing on its feet, but...........

..........far from it. It was busy "climbing" up the tree picking off insects at every opportunity

I think this is the reason why I didn't see the "Easter" Lesser Whitethroat today. This Kestrel was sat almost exactly where the whitethroat was yesterday.

Another Grey Squirrel

And two juvenile Wall Lizards sunbathing in the church grounds.

It was even warm enough not only for this Red Admiral but also........

...........for this Honey Bee.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 3 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 1 Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Razorbill, Wood Pigeon, 17 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 23 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 1 Greenfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: Red Admiral

Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

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