Dreadful timing on my part, as I had left really late to have a walk. After the morning rain, it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and I decided to have a late afternoon walk. Unfortunately by the time Ted and I had reached the end of Old Quarry Lane, the heaven's opened and didn't stop until we reached St Andrew's Church. At least I had the presence of mind to bring both of our waterproofs.
The main highlight came at the end of our walk, when I came across a large flock of warblers, tits and crests. In total there must have been 12 Long-tailed Tits, several Great Tits & Blue Tits, 4 Goldcrests, 11 Chiffchaffs and at the top of the list a Yellow-browed Warbler.
And weren't they mobile, moving from tree to tree, bush to bush and back & forth between the old railway track and the Mermaid Track Here.
Here are a few more highlights:
Old Quarry Lane - 1 Chiffchaff
Church Ope Car Park - 1 Chiffchaff
Penns Wood - 1 Goldcrest
St Andrew's Church Grounds - 1 Chiffchaff
Church Ope Cove - 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Rock Pipits
Penn's Weare - 1 Chiffchaff
Penn's Copse - 2 Chiffchaff
Here are a few images and videos from today:
The rain clouds they be gathering.
Before the heavens opened I at least managed to find a few Ivy Bees
And they were a bit more active than those I came across yesterday
........this Syrphus Hoverfly. Not sure which species though.
The most unusual sight was a Raven way way out to sea. Not sure who was chasing who.
By the looks of it, the Raven is carrying something the gulls want.
And Ted off on one of his wanderings.
He did return eventually
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 19 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Siskin and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White and Red Admiral
Bees Recorded: Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) and White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Ships Today
This is the Cypriot Cargo Vessel "BG Emerald" on her way from Rotterdam to Cork. More on this vessel here.
This is the British Cargo Ship "Celtic Navigator" on its way from Riga (Latvia) to Cardiff. More on this vessel Here.
Way out to sea was the Maltese Passenger Ship "Marella Explorer", doing "circuits" off Portland.
For most of the time she was shrouded in cloud as wave after wave of showers passed over her.
Eventually out of the gloom...........
............she appeared. More on this vessel Here.