11 Feb 24

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Bumpers Lane

It was a bit of a late walk today, but a good one as I added a female Blackcap (at the cove) to my year list.

Other highlights also from the cove were 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 1 Black Redstart and 4 Chiffchaff.


Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
4 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
1 Black Redstart
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

The south facing embankment here at Church Ope Cove was the place to be this afternoon, with a pair of Stonechats, a female Black Redstart, a female Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaff all seen here feeding in amongst the Hebes and Brambles.

The only bird not on the embankment was this Grey Wagtail, which was on the cliff face a little further to the right.

On the brambles was the overwintering male Stonechat and his..........

.........camera shy mate on one of the beach huts.

A little further up the embankment was the female Black Redstart.

And my first Blackcap of the year was this female feeding in amongst the Hebes.

The Hebes were also favoured by the "overwintering" Chiffchaffs.....

And if they couldn't be found there, they were also present on the saplings on the beach, waiting for a passing Kelp Fly.


Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Devil's Coach Horse (Ocypus olens) seen just down from the cottage as I was leaving for my walk.


General shots:

Blue skies and a calm sea at the cove.

Ted and Theo:

I just love this video, as Ted makes his way up the track and Theo bombs back and forth past him.

Ships Today:

This is the British General Cargo ship "Rix Crystal" on its way from Birkenhead to Newhaven. More on this vessel here.