Windy Wednesday

The Beach needs a bit of a clean up I think?

Usually by here the waves have run out of puff, but not today

Yesterday was my first Wednesday off after requesting to work part time for a while (last week felt more like a holiday). However I must be getting old as kept thinking it was Saturday and back at work today I'm thinking it's Monday. If I begin to crave boiled sweets and comfy tartan slippers, shoot me.

So what did I do on my day off? Given a gale was blowing off the Bristol Channel, and armed with some local information (thanks Paul if you're reading this), I popped down to Sand Bay for the high tide at 10am. Gloriously sunny weather, but no idea what the wind speed was, though force 8 gusting force 9 at Weston Super Mare just down the coast was reported, so twice a gust nearly blew me over, which is remarkable for a slim chap like myself.

Any Atlantic storm is funnelled past Devon and Exmoor to the south and Pembrokeshire, South Wales and the Black Mountains to the north and into the Bristol Channel, picking up speed dramatically. First stop is then Sand Bay, which is nice. Add that the Severn Estuary has second highest tidal range in the World (7.1 meters yesterday), a storm with a spring tide can bring remarkable results. Mainly all the detritus of the Atlantic on the beach.

As predicted waders etc were absent as the tide came in, though did have a Curlew, 50 Dunlin and 8 Grey Plover after high tide. Weirdly no Snipe taking off, even though there's good numbers in the marsh. Also 50ish Shelduck. However the Skylarks were fantastic as with the wind they couldn't fly too high, so very close quarters view of their antics with about 7 or 8 on the wing at any one time were a real treat. The small reedbed was swamped, flushing out 5 Reed Bunting. And remarkable my first ever view of a Water Rail flying. Usually these creep about in thick vegetation and rarely break cover. This one was returning to the marsh after presumably being flushed out, not one of the bird world's most elegant fliers, I'd give it null points.

Finally a handful of Rock Pipits about 40 feet away produced a pale bellied pink tinged Pipit with a very conspicuous supercillium, so an almost certain Water Pipit, but in the gale even trying to keep bins steady was a trial.

Speaking of lists, I've done a re-check and missed off from last week a Short Eared Owl at Aust, so with the Knot and Eider, the Water Pipit is definitely numero 118 species this year.

Wiltshire's Wildlife

After last night's torrential rain and wind, this morning dawned bright and clear, so having a day off we went to Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire for a walk. Never been before but what a lovely place. Will have to go again when it's open!!

 

Everywhere was birdsong, including some very noisy Nuthatch and Gt Tit. We did an ambling walk along some of the woodland tracks and after yesterdays post about Year List, I racked up 4 more, Treecreeper, obligingly only 20 feet away and at head hight so lovely views in the sun, male Bullfinch, Siskin, and a very showy Water Rail which scootled about next to the fishing lake (well spotted Thelma with a "what's that?"). Also spotted a Pippit spp by the lake. However it was partially obscured, so can not make a positive ID, but it's colouring, dark legs and general behaviour has me pointing a finger at a potential Water Pipit. I'll not count it though.

 

Other hightlights were a Robin showing well next to the car, a fair number of very active Great and Blue Tit, and a Buzzard being mobbed by Carrion Crow. I like it here, not least as there are snowdrops everywhere. Fair cheers the heart.

 

 

 

Top Old Wardour Castle, Middle; Snowdrops in the woods; Bottom; Feeding time

As it was only 11.30 by the time we'd done the walk, decided to go over to Langford Lakes, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, where I began my art career in 2006 with 5 paintings in the exhibition. Quite a nice spot, but quiet birdwise, with the hightlights being a female Bullfinch, 6 Long Tail Tit, a few Gadwall, Gt Crested Grebe, Pochard and Tufted. Oh and a Rat... however...

 

The hightlignt of the day had to be the Ringtail Hen Harrier which flew over the car on the windwept Wiltshire Downs, flashing it's white rump. I stopped as soon as I could but it was too far away for further ID information. What a fabulous sight, sorry I can't give any specific information as to where it was, but you'll understand. Glad I stopped there too, as the fields each side of the road were crammed with mixed finches (no Brambling), Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Skylark, the fields near the woods, must have had 200+ Corvids and 100+ Pigeon spp. No wonder the Hen Harrier was hunting there. Sadly though no further sighting of the Harrier. But a great way to end the day even if as we set off a dead Brown Hare was in the road. Coincidence?

 

So with all this activity, my Year List is now at 90 (not including the possible W-ippet).