A much better day weather-wise and for a change, I walked my local patch in reverse. Still very little in the way of birds on my walk, apart from at the cove and a few 100 metres out to sea.
On the beach were 21 Rock Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Wrens all feeding on the millions of Kelp Flies. Whilst just off the beach there were 32 Herring Gulls, 4 Common Gulls and now 3 Black-headed Gulls.
Elsewhere there was a Marmalade Hoverfly on the Hebes behind the beach huts and at the top of Penns Wood a Common Green Shieldbug was on the Alexanders.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Here are a few images and videos from today:
There are still some pretty hefty waves crashing onto the beach.
And today 2 more Black-headed Gulls joined the "resident" bird
One of the Black-headed Gulls looking for meal
Well the Common Gulls certainly like it here. There were 4 here today.
And its been awhile, but we have a Grey Wagtail back on the beach.
Some really close up views of it feeding on the flies.
The Grey Wagtail, followed by one of the 21 Rock Pipits feeding on the beach
One of the two Pied Wagtails still searching out those Kelp Flies.
And I seem to have made a new friend, though why this Robin was continuously looking upwards I know not why.
However as I walked through the beach huts it followed me until I walked up onto the beach. I'm going to have bring some bird seed down in the future.
Not a Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly, which have been around this Winter, but my first Marmalade Hoverfly of the year.
And another first for the year, a Common Green Shieldbug, which appears to be changing from its brown Winter colour to its green Summer colour.
And Rufus Castle perched on top of this rocky outcrop
Mammals Recorded: 1 Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: 3 Black-headed Gull, 32 Herring Gull, 4 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, 21 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
Ships Today
This is the LNG Tanker "Yeisei River" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from somewhere in the North Sea to Port Said (Egypt) via Weymouth Bay. Not quite sure why, having sailed through the English Channel, that its past track says its from Bilbao (Spain)!!. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Portuguese Container Ship "Elbstrom" on its way from Rotterdam to Belfast. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Japanese Container Ship "One Cygnus" on its way from Southampton to Port Said (Egypt). More on this vessel Here.
This is the Dutch LPG Tanker "Bayamo" on its way from Vlissingen (Holland) to Drogheda (Ireland). More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Frigate "HMS Richmond" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.