Snow...What's That?!?

Yes, so very last week, but that's delays for you.


The sudden and entirely unexpected attack of snow last week almost entirely missed the Patch, falling instead as a BLEEPload of rain. The very tops of the inland borders got about an inch. That's it. Woo.

The thrush movement on Friday did get as far as work, with Redwing audible overhead as I arrived, but other wise I have seen no real effect here. Ho hum.


So, the weekend saw me having an amble about on Saturday in what was mostly blazing sunshine, and going for another with the Folks on Sunday in what turned out to be rather showery conditions.


Let's do the exciting stuff first, shall we?


So, Sunday. With lots of ice and snow still inland, we decided not to go far, though I was still slightly surprised that my suggestion of Berry Head wasn't shot down.
Yes, there were quite a few people with dogs [Her Horribleness doesn't get on with anything with four legs, really], and we did indeed get rained on, but we also had a nice amble through all the woods,

White Violet!

Yes, the best thing we found was a flower.

Speaking of plants;

Hawthorn in leaf.

Having coffee and a sample of the latest run of my flapjacks to consider, we toddled down to the seawatching spot, as it's nicely out of the way and you can sit down and admire a view that definitely won't have livestock in it*

Mmmmh, limestone

[[Spot the Wallcreeper**]]

On the way, we saw a few birdies, notable for having far fewer trees in shot.

Best Fulmar Shot Ever

"I think he meant flight shot"

"He can still kiss my utcs..."

Fulmars are brilliant.

::Hawks ominously::

I said brilliant!

::Runs::



Ahem.



So, a nice fairly calm and somewhat overcast day.. What to look at?

Looking the other way

Fulmars are tricky targets

Gannet: "Ooh, that's a black cloud"

But enough attempts at SA, there were things lower and slower to see;

BHG

GBB

How're those two for opposites? :) [Yes, gulls gulls gulls...]

Day boat washes nets =

lots of gulls!

But none of these were the main attraction;

Hello

Who's this?

Harbour Porpoise!

At least 8 and probably a few more were showing for much of the afternoon, often very close in :D

And it got better!

Common Dolphins!

At least 14 and almost certainly a LOT more were further out and far faster!

And now for a quiz, name that thingy;

Megafauna spp.

Probably another Porp, but look at how steep the leading edge is! [Too broad and such a vertical trailing edge for it to be CD, though..]

Then there's this;

Breach!

I caught this entirely by accident while photoing the gulls following that trawler up there. Looks like two animals visible; one end on in front, and a possibly much larger one breaching nearly inverted - about 130°!! - with what looks like a big fish caught in its mouth! Very vigorous for HP [!], and no beak so not CD [or BD]. Mouth is in the wrong place for a Bluefin, so I'm at somewhat of a loss.


It was all fun and games, with even getting rained on not putting a dampener [hoho] on things.


Patch update, with sunshine and so on, will be about sooner than later.


Be Seeing You...




[[*Ok, one time there was a cow, but it wasn't livestock....I'll get my coat.]]
[[**No, I couldn't see one, either***]]
[[***Sorry.]]