30 Dec 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds and Church Ope Cove

I hadn't realised it, but the last time I walked through Penns Wood was eleven days ago on the 19 Dec. And guess what, absolutely nothing has changed, other than the berries on the Japanese Spindles, which are obviously a lot riper now.

However as I walking down the footpath next to the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle, I noticed a Blackbird-sized bird stood on the lawn under one of the Sycamores. Through the binoculars I could see it was a "puffed up" Redwing and it was pretty static. In fact when I returned an hour later it was still stood in the same spot.

To me this bird had all the signs of being sick, so I walked up to the main road and headed off to the other side of the Castle main gate, to get a closer look. As I peered over the wall, it saw me and flew up into the tree. Well if its a sick bird, at least it can fly. However looking at the video, it could well be something else.

As I mentioned before the woods were quiet, but at least the grounds of St Andrew's Church was a bit busier, as a small flock of Long-tailed Tits passed through.

Down at the beach and nothing here either, not even a Wren. So it was a case of sitting down to have a seawatch. And I wasn't disappointed, as 1000's of sea birds were feeding over the Shambles Sandbank.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

This Redwing was very static in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle. In fact an hour later and it was still stood in the same spot.

Looking at the video though, I'm wondering whether the "loose" feathers blowing around on its chest, are the result of it being attacked either by a bird of prey or a cat, or possibly it flew into a window.

At least when I walked along the main road an hour later, to get a closer look, it saw me looking over the wall and flew up into the tree. So if it had a trauma, maybe it had recovered Well here's hoping.

At the back of the cove the "resident" Robin is still about. Some kind soul has been topping up the coconut shell with bird seed.

Way out to sea and beyond the capabilities of my camera to get a decent photo, is this automatic marker buoy on the Shambles sandbank. Along this stretch of water were thousands of Gannets, gulls and auks.

I did attempt to video the feeding frenzy. Unfortunately the Shambles are a bit too far out for decent footage from Church Ope Cove, but you get the idea. The birds you can see clearly are Gannets with the remaining birds flying across the screen most likely Razorbills and Guillemots. Whilst flying about with the Gannets were many gulls.

No real change in Penns Wood, other than these berries on the Japanese Spindle bushes a lot riper than they were 11 days ago.

It's only been quite recent, that the weather has turned a bit cooler, so it will be interesting to see whether these flowering Alexanders will survive for any length of time.

Ted checking out the beach at Church Ope Cove

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Guillemot, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

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On this day
2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.