Patch Sandwich

No, not a tern post, a weekend post which started and ended bashing the Patch [there's a shock], with a raid up to the Exe in the middle.

This sounds familiar? Oh well, onwards and so on, after all it is only Thursday [admittedly, reality did get in the way, what can you do?] on the actual week after the events to be described. I am getting slightly better.


Spoiler 1; My hoped-for migrant avalanche has yet to materialise.
Spoiler 2; I did still see a few things and even photo some. [Some of those even recognisably..]

Right then, early doors on Saturday, but not a vast number of things about. There were a few [ok, three] Willow Warblers, though, and a couple showing off in the Spot Fly trees were not quite active enough to evade infamy;

Willow

Warbler

Not to be left out, a Chiff sat up, too

Nice hook to mandible tip, there

 

And yes, sylvia showiness also figured

The come-hither shot

 
Hmm, those are far too good for this blog, here's something better

Not on passage

And that was it, mostly. However, that was not all to see, as the sky put on a show. Observe, regardez, lookit!

Wow. Just wow.

Epic sunburst thundercell, people...

Those are just bits of the edge of the cell which glowered up from the south and missed well to the east. Those pics come nowhere near to showing how insanely beautiful it was. I almost forgot about the birds, I sat on the Sunrise bench and watched it for far too long.

On the way back up I met Mr B, who said he wasn't yearlisting, honest, just winding Stoney up. ;) We didn't find a Gropper.

Cut to Sunday, but not before we have a quick balcony shot!

Yes, he was singing

Right then,

A View of Hope's Nose

[photobombed by hoverflies!]

Still scenic there.

Another View,

from Poet's Despair*

Yup, not about the Nose, except looking at it. Photos entirely from Bishop's Walk, possibly the most picturesque part of the entire SWCP. For those who don't know, it's the section of cliff path between Anstey's and Brandy Coves which was used by his bishoprics when the Palace Hotel [now waiting 'redevelopment'..] was actually a palace. There's a lovely** bit of geo-vandalism along there if you want to look for it [not quite on the scale of Buckland Beacon, but along that vein].
By this weekend, the Snowbells and possibly the Bluebells should be well out along there, most prettily in the fairy glens around Black Head. No big pics, as photos really don't work there, but here are some botanicals for you;

Snowbells

Bluebells

Three for one;

Moss

Snail

Dolerite!

Not growing on igneous rocks, this

Cowslips everywhere

I wasn't just looking at the flowers, as I managed to find some resting migrants. Not on land, though..

Even with the light behind me, they're black blobs!

One, two, three...

And finally, as we've seen the south end, here's a view from the north end;

Longquarry Point,

with a few other Patches off in the distance

Those of you expecting the filling will have to wait, as this is quite enough for one post. So yes, coming soon we will have me heading Exe-way, looking for interesting birds, trying to photograph them, meeting more birders and not photographing them, plus a cunning plan that worked in every way except in court.

Aren't you on your tentered hooks now?


Be Seeing You...



[[*A natural seat on the cliff edge, perfect for failing to write poetry worthy of the scenery, causing despair and rash action. Actually, I don't think it's properly called anything, but the urges to both sit and then jump are so strong there that I can't help but name the place. And try not to set foot on it!]]
[[**I apologise for the gratuitous use of sarcasm.]]