Soggy Again

With continuing things to get done, there was a definite Patch-y flavour once more. Though having said that, I did get off-Patch on Sunday - albeit not for birding - and managed to see [well, hear, then see] something nice; Brambling! At least one, possibly as many as three [I was looking out of a window and trying not to be too obvious about it, ahem], with assorted Chaffinch and so on, at.. We'll say 'near Totnes'.


Earlier on and definitely chasing birds while on the way to doing Things, we have a few odds and ends for you.

Snowbell!!
[AKA Three-cornered Garlic]

Before the Solstice..?!?!

This was taken while out in epic rain, and my camera was not happy with how much of said water came to say 'Hi' up close and personal. I think it's recovered, but I didn't risk it again that day.


Sunday morning was Patch Patrol time, with if not gentler rain [harder, even, with extra crunchy bits for that ow! factor] then at least spaced-out rain.

As tends to be the way, most of the good stuff [relatively speaking] was at the Nose..

About to go for the coconut!

But not all. :D
Things have been perking up again, with Blackbirds and Robin much more obvious. 


Anyways, the day did start quite promisingly;

Red sky in the morning.

Take a coat.

The Sun was trying behind the rain

Zoom in!

How many Guillemots can you see?

Inevitable gull shot

Obliging Block 'ead

As a change from horrid immature

Herrings, here's a Geeb

Ahem.

Seal 1 "Has he gone yet?"

Seal 2 "Nope..."

GND: "Showboater"

Looking down from IMD, a couple of mid-sized grebes [probably BN] were in Hope Cove, but no sign by the time I got that close. The GND up there had shown up, though, so not all bad.
Also present, a few scattered auks. Further off, a party of Scoter were again loitering around the Buoy Farm - Outer Buoys this time - with about 40 present.

Shall I spare you more blobs?

Nope.

Caught about half up top, 

but at least there's a wingflap

Also of note; some late migration, with this little darling in/off and landing practically at my feet!

"Whaddya mean, 'Yes, I have no sarnies'?!?"

Speaking of things up close and possibly even in focus..

Heath Waxcap

Only waxcaps still to be found - the brightly-coloured ones having mysteriously vanished - but fortunately, more to look at with

Hmm, what are these?

Velvet Shank

Growing on Blackthorn stumps.


Also of interest, a visible Tawny Owl on Saturday evening, unfortunately this due to being flushed by some morons setting off a bunch of fireworks... [Why?!?!?]



Be Seeing You...