Lyme Regis Birding - or an even quieter Backwater (2 Viewers)

[Roger Boswell]

Returning from London today I was surprised to see the wintery landscape west of Winterborne Abbas - the trees on the downs were still covered in frost. Two Buzzards in one of the trees looked more luke Vultures - and another 2 were riding the up currents along the roadside.

Bitterly cold when I visited East Cliff and the ledges in the afternoon.

5 Curlews on the far ledges and 5 Purple Sandpipers doing circuits before eventually landing quite near to them. 8+ Oystercatchers spread out over the ledges and 3 Ringed Plovers on the sandy sections between the rocks.

There was another largish wader - possibly a GREY PLOVER ???? If this is not correct please let me know what it is.

 

[scary-canary]

Looks like a grey one to me too.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Looks like a grey one to me too.

Thanks for agreeing with my identification - it now seems to have moved to Portland!

 

[Roger Boswell]

What a change from yesterday - it was actually pleasant to lean over the railings and watch the birds on the ledges.

Directly in front of Church Cliffs a Grey Heron was fishing on the shore line.

Over on the ledges a Kingfisher was fishing in the rock pools.

Still plenty of Curlews, Oystercatchers and Purple Sandpipers. The Mediterranean Gull was swimming close inshore and a single Ringed Plover and Redshank were far out on the ledges.

Herring Gulls were bathing in the fresh water at the mouth of the Lim.

Returning up the Lim - a Moorhen (not a usual sighting) and the Dipper flying up towards Horn Bridge.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Dull and overcast but relatively warm today.

The ledges are proving to be a superb place to observe wading birds; there are certainly no hides that I know of where you can get closer to the birds.

The Grey Plover hasn't gone to Portland - it was again on the ledges this morning. Also 2 Ringed Plovers, 8+ Oystercatchers, 7+ Purple Sandpipers, a Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull - all feeding on the tide line close to me.

A Great Crested Grebe feeding out to sea.

Moorhen, Grey Wagtail, Wren and Dipper on the Lim.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Lovely sunny start but by PM when the ledges were uncovered it had turned very dismal.

Grey Plover, Redshank and Mediterranean Gull joined by a Curlew - with 9+ Purple Sandpipers, 12 Oystercatchers stretching along the shore.

Rock Pipits and a Pied Wagtail in the museum area.

Moorhen and Grey Wagtail on the Lim.

 

[Roger Boswell]

What a difference the sun makes. All the birds were dazzling this afternoon on the ledges.

Plenty of Purple Sandpipers and Oystercatchers and singles of Grey Plover, Redshank and Mediterranean Gull.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Reasonably sunny AM but very cold wind.

High tide hence 9 Purple Sandpipers asleep on the Cobb wall. Redshank on Monmouth beach.

Plenty of Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails along Marine Parade.

Black Redstart and pair of Stonechats on Church cliffs.

5 Oystercatchers on the landslip beach.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Deep snow this morning - very little traffic in Lyme, all walking!

On the Lim, Moorhen and several Grey Wagtails. Two days ago the Kingfisher was flying upstream by the leat.

Church Cliffs several Meadow Pipits - one having a snow bath!

On the ledges, Mediterranean Gull, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Dunlin, 6+ Purple Sandpipers and 5+ Oystercatchers

 

[Roger Boswell]

20+ Curlews on the ledges today. The Grey Plover and Mediterranean Gull are still there with about 8 Oystercatchers and they have been joined by 3 Ringed Plovers and a Lapwing.

Another Lapwing on the grassy bank below the church, which had a good selection of Meadow and Rock Pipits plus 2 Song Thrushes. A Green Woodpecker made a brief and distant appearance.

Several Grey Wagtails on the Lim.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Bitterly cold on Church Cliffs this morning.

Oystercatchers, a few Curlews, 5+ Purple Sandpipers and hundreds of Gulls on the ledges.

A single Stonechat, plenty of Meadow Pipits, and 2 Song Thrushes on the grass bank below the Churchyard. In a tree in the Churchyard a single Redwing - and a Kestrel surveying the pipits below!

3 more Redwings feasting in the tree opposite The Mariners.



Wishing all birders a very

HAPPY CHRISTMAS​

 

[Roger Boswell]

Colder than yesterday and quite dull later.

7 Purple Sandpipers on the Cobb wall and another 7 on the rock armour.

A few Rock Pipits along Marine Parade.

Lone Song Thrush in the Churchyard.

Grey Wagtail on the Lim.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Quite surprised to see fresh snow on the Quantocks and around Bristol Airport this morning!

Very dull and damp back at Lyme - and a very strong and cold westerly wind on the end of the Cobb where 5 Purple Sandpipers were on the rock armour.

Rock Pipits and several Pied Wagtails along Marine Parade.

The Black Redstart and Stonechat are still around the Marine Theatre area, and 17 Oystercatchers spread over the ledges.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Dull, damp and dismal on the Cobb this morning - and high tide.

6 Purple Sandpipers on the outer Cobb wall and another 7 asleep on the rock armour. A few Rock Pipits on the Cobb and along the sea front. 8+ Oystercatchers on the landslip beach to the E of Lyme.

A single Grey Wagtail on the Mill leat - where shrub/weed clearance is taking place.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Miserably dull and very blustery on the Cobb this morning.

Just 4 Purple Sandpipers peeping out of their 'holes' in the wall beneath Victoria Pier.

Rock Pipits grounded along the road round the Cobb and quite a lot of Pied Wagtails along Marine Parade.

A small flock of about 12 geese? flew low over the sea heading W as I arrived - but had flown over the Cobb before I got my binos out; did anyone else spot Black Brant Geese flying west?

2 Grey Wagtails along the Lim and a Dipper behind Lymbrook Cottage.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Much better day today than of late - blue sky, little wind and warm. Low tide in the morning.

On the ledges 4 Oystercatchers, a Mediterranean Gull, GBB Gull and a Redshank. At the cliff edge a couple of Grey Wagtails and a Raven feeding on the beach.

A few Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits along Marine parade.

Almost birdless on the Cobb - just a Crow dropping a whelk shell onto the rocks on Monmouth beach.

 

[Roger Boswell]

Bright and sunny but very cold on the Cobb this morning.

Just 5 Purple Sandpipers on the rock armour at the end of the Cobb and a few Cormorants further out.

Grey Wagtails and Rock Pipits along Marine Parade.

Black Redstart still on Church Cliffs.

3 Mediterranean Gulls in the sea E of Lyme.

Several Pied Wagtails at different locations on the Lim.


Visited Broadstone yesterday to see the Waxwings - a magnificant sight!

 

[Roger Boswell]

Bitterly cold wind blowing along Marine Parade this morning. Much brighter PM but remained about 3C.

Female Blackcap, Song Thrush, Dipper (Higher Mill Flats) and Grey Wagtails down the Lim.
Also an influx of 20 Mallards.

Another Song Thrush on Church Cliffs and a few Rock Pipits in front of the Museum.

Pied Wagtails chasing one another along Marine Parade.

10 Purple Sandpipers feeding on the rock armour at the end of the Cobb

 

[Roger Boswell]

Very low tide PM - and the sun had gone to give another very cold experience on the Cobb.

Very little to see - the 3 Mediterranean Gulls were still in a small group among all the Herring Gulls in front of Church Cliffs. Otherwise just Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits weaving between the visitors along Marine Parade.

Even the Lim was deserted PM!

 

[Roger Boswell]

Report a day late

Tuesday 25th Jan
Down the Lim - Wren and Grey Wagtails and now 4 'pairs' of Mallards.

Church Cliffs - Raven
East of the cliffs 5 Oystercatchers on the 'landslip' beach and the 3 Mediterranean Gulls still swimming together in a tight group.

Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails along the sea front.

9 Purple Sandpipers on the rock armour.

Pictures show the problems we have with our bird table. Just 5 minutes after putting something larger than a sunflower seed on the table the Gulls are there. Despite my 'defences' they still get through. Even if tied to the table they still go for it!