A later start than usual following four knackering days of decorating, cleaning and generally getting stuff done, that I normally don't have the time or the energy to do when I'm working. I got down to Maer Rocks at about 7am. It again proved worthwhile with an Orcombe patch first in the shape of an avocet. Although well outside the patch boundaries it was scoped from within so it easily counts! It was on one of the offshore sandbars, providing an incongruous sight as it swept its bill from side to side in the shallows. Also this morning - 1 dunlin, 1 redshank, 5 common tern, 1 little egret and 4 mediterranean gulls - a first summer and 3 adults in various stages of head moult.
Adult and Juvenile Sandwich Terns. There are reasonable numbers feeding off Orcombe Point at the moment. They commute between there and the estuary, often flying over Maer Rocks calling raucously to one another.
First-summer Med.
"Although well outside the patch boundaries it was scoped from within so it easily counts!"
ReplyDeleteFair rule. Max it out by getting yourself a Hubble telescope. ;-)
Hi Andrew - good to hear from you. Wouldn't that be great! I could count stuff going past Berry Head.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Matt