Shameless copycatting!

Inspired by the indefatigable Mrs. Woolley, I toddled down to Haldon Pier, Torquay, this morning, to see if any Purple Sandpipers had returned after the council's latest botc- er, attempt to repair the sea defences. Only one of the lovely little birds was present, being as adorable as ever. [Also various cracks in the shiny new concrete - though the sparkly granite blocks were very pretty]. Also got a good look at a regular winter visitor to Torquay Harbour - the 2-masted yacht 'Nefertiti', who summers off Jersey and has a lovely sweep to her bows. She usually stays in the middle of the out harbour, but is currently tied up in the inner - making a good peer easily achievable!

Found myself wandering around the lanes near Ipplepen this afternoon. Real proper rolling farmland - fields and woods and little streams, oh it were glorious! I'm not usually a fan of lane-walking; preferring more views and less chance of meeting tractors. Never mind zooming 4x4s [bigger than cars], tarmac [hard on the feet], and the whole 'not being able to see the countryside' thing - oh did I already say that one? These were nice lanes, though. A lack of traffic helped [barring an autoloader laden with mangle-wurzels!], also reasonably see-through hedges. Among good numbers of the usual suspects, Bullfinches and a couple of Red-legged Partridges were the star birds.

Now then, tomorrow tomorrow.......