Well if yesterday was cold then today was Baltic. The outdoor thermometer was reading 2.0°C, but with that strong easterly gusting at around 35mph, it felt more like -10°C.
Well at least it wasn't raining or snowing for that matter, so Ted and I made our way down to the cove via Penns Wood, which was incredibly noisy, with a good 20 Goldfinches all chattering away in the trees.
At the cove we were greeted with thunderous waves piling up the beach and a good number of gulls feeding in amongst them. How they didn't get swamped by feeding close to the breaking waves was incredible.
So out there feeding were a fair few Herring Gulls, 6 Common Gulls (again) and just 1 Black-headed Gull seen. Further out to sea 2 Cormorants were noted heading south.
On the beach there were 12 Rock Pipits, though they were finding it pretty hard looking for Kelp Flies, which were keeping hidden in amongst the pebbles.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Church Ope Cove and that sea........
............is looking pretty rough
And for the second day running there were.........
.............six Common Gulls at the cove.
This is a 1st-Winter Herring Gull with the empty Whelk eggs casing.
Common Gulls and Herring Gulls
Common Gulls, Herring Gulls and very briefly a Black-headed Gull
Herring Gulls and Common Gulls braving the waves.
A Great Black-backed Gull makes its way up the coast.
On the beach this adult Winter Black-headed Gull was having a break from feeding with the other gulls.
Well it was until he realised Ted was heading his way. I never knew that had such long necks.
Also on the beach, but tucked up under the south facing cliffs were a dozen or so Rock Pipits.
Ted and a half-hearted attempt at a Bichon Buzz.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
This is the British Auxiliary Ship "RFA Lyme Bay" just off Portland's east coast. More on this vessel Here.