As Storm Dennis moved on it left a day of sunshine and the occasional shower. It was still pretty windy, but for the most part it was dry.
Not much had changed since my last visit and there are still single Firecrest at Penns Wood and at the back of the cove, where there were also a flock of 9 Long-tailed Tits.
In the wood the male Chaffinches are still in good voice and more Comfrey are beginning to flower.
On the beach were 5 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, whilst just out to sea were 5 Herring Gulls and an adult Common Gull.
No Wall Lizards seen today, but a bit of a surprise was finding a Tree Bumblebee just below St Andrew's Church on the path leading down to the main steps. This bee normally appears in April!!
And finally another new fly for my list a Calliopum tuberculosum, which was on an Alexanders at the back of the cove.
Here are a few images and a video from today:
Church Ope Cove from Rufus Castle
On the beach the waves were certainly rolling in as you can.........
..........see in this video.
A Herring Gull above and a Common Gull below.
That's twice this year I have seen a Common Gull.........
...........just off the beach at Church Ope Cove.
One of the 5 Herrings picks up a "snack" off the surface.
On the beach were 5 Rock Pipits.
They didn't stay too long as the spray continually swamped the beach.
A Tree Bumblebee was a real surprise. This species normally appears in April, not February!!
This is a Calliopum tuberculosum a member of the Lauxaniidae family of flies............
................... and is found in woodlands and shady moist places.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Bees Recorded: 1 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a Calliopum tuberculosum
Ships Today
This is the Maltese Tanker "Eser K" doing some sort of circuit east of Portland!! More on this vessel Here.