I cant believe today's storm doesn't have a name. Compared to Storm Brendan, that hit us yesterday, this one today was pretty full on with gusts of up to 61 mph on my walk. In fact the prediction is for gusts to reach 59 knots (68 mph) by early evening.
The fact that I saw anything on my travels was pretty incredible, as there seemed to be nowhere sheltered from the intense south westerly screaming up the island. But I did find a few birds of interest with 2 Firecrests in the Japanese Spindle down through Penns Wood, a Grey Wagtail along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings, 2 Rock Pipits on the north facing slopes at Church Ope Cove and a Raven on Rufus Castle.
Unsurprisingly there was nothing on the beach, but out to sea there were 12 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Black-headed Gull just off the shoreline. Further out a Gannet passed by.
The biggest surprise of the day came at the back of the beach huts at the cove, when a "plume" moth flew past me. I managed to locate it on the doorstep of one of the huts and as I crouched down to ID it, it flew off and got caught in the wind, never to be seen again!!!
Here are a few images and a video from today:
One of the local residents was telling me that earlier this morning, at around High Tide, she was making her way up the steps to Rufus Castle, when she noticed a massive wave way off the cove. The size of it she said, was comparable to that of a double-decker bus. She watched it come in and hit the beach so hard that the wash and spray completely covered the beach huts and the steps at the back of the cove. Quite a frightening sight and one she said reminded her of a tsunami, it was that big!!!
Stormy Seas, but strangely a storm without a name.
Those waves are certainly changing the shape of the beach.
A very dull and wet Church Ope Cove.
Out to sea a............
..............Gannet makes its way down the coast.
Just off the shoreline were plenty of gulls like this Great Black-backed Gull picking of tit-bits floating on the water.
Here is an adult Herring Gull and.........
..........a lone Black-headed Gull in winter plumage.
Birds Recorded: 1 Gannet, 1 Black-headed Gull, 12 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Firecrest, Great Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven and Chaffinch
Moths Recorded: plume moth (Pterophorinae sp)
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.