Today was a bit like déjà vu as the car was back in the garage for a third time. Unfortunately this time it's a bit more than a minor repair as the engine has sprung a big leak of oil. So having dropped the car off at the garage, I walked from Ferrybridge to Hamm Beach, before I got a lift back home again by Dawn.
And what a scorcher of a day it was ,with wall to wall blue skies for a change. Thank goodness I brought some sun lotion with me.
Some strange highlights with 3 separate flocks of hirundine heading south. The first were a few Sand Martins, followed 15 minutes later by 5 House Martins and 2 Swallows and the 3rd flock was 6 Swallows. Non-breeders returning, surely not!!
On the sandflats as the tide receded were a Pied Wagtail, a single Ringed Plover and a very brief visit by a Sanderling. Two Herring Gull were sat next to the waters edge, whilst a Cormorant was fishing in the fleet. Further down Chesil Beach the Little Terns could just about be seen and I managed to catch sight of a Common Tern heading north-west.
Along the shoreline of Portland Harbour and the old railway track were 3 Skylarks, a few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and a Kestrel.
Other things of note were a Large White butterfly, 2 Common Carder Bumblebees and a Syrphus sp. hoverfly
Here are a few images and a video from today:
From Ferrybridge looking northwest along The Fleet
A lone Ringed Plover by the waters edge, saving its.......
Just 2 Herring Gulls on the sandflats chilling out.
By the Chesil Beach car park a rather inquisitive Meadow Pipit. I suspect there a young close-by, or......
..........it's keeping a wary eye on this Kestrel.
Danger over, the Kestrel heads off towards the old railway track on the other side of the main road.
And of course Ted, who thoroughly enjoyed his walk today and as I write this up is fast asleep on the settee.
The oddest thing I saw today, a cyclist riding on a cow about a metre off the ground. Hmm
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Kestrel, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 2 Herring Gull, Little Tern, 1 Common Tern, 3 Skylark, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large White
Bees Recorded: 2 Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Syrphus sp.
Ships Today
Aircraft Today
This is the Army's Wildcat Helicopter ZZ403. More on this aircraft Here.
This is the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter model MD 902 and this particular aircraft G-HMDX is currently being used by Mapas (Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service) as an Air Ambulance. More on this aircraft Here.