By Thomas Weston
A very wet and windy start to the day with low cloud base and persistent rain from the West. A day where you could stay in bed all morning and wait for the fronts to pass. Though, not today, census called, and waterproofs were put on ready for the drenching. The visibility was less than 50m and was better than first thing this morning where staff members reported visibility down to 5m! Crazy.
Treecreeper in Millcombe. Photo by Thomas Weston
Millcombe involved walking through the cloud. The Ugly was not the best vantage point over the Landing Bay as I couldn’t see the Landing Bay from this spot. However, walking on round, Chaffinches, Dunnocks, and Wrens were singing from the brambles and in Smelly Gully. A look from the first bend on the Shore Road just below the Gas Store resulted in the Landing Bay becoming visible. The first Sandwich Tern of the year was feeding around Rat Island, the wintering Great Northern Diver was nearby, and a small flock of Shag fed in the Landing Bay near the Jetty. Walking towards Brambles accommodation, a small flock of Blackcap were in the trees above the Gas Store and our recently arrived Treecreeper was feeding with them which was a great little spot. A couple of Goldcrest were recorded before heading back into the cloud and onwards. Benjamins Chair, Rocket Pole Pond and the Airfield held 10 Meadow Pipits, 19 Carrion Crows, 8 Mallards, and 102 Herring Gulls plus a full drenching. The Village was not much busier so back into the office for some admin and waiting for the storm to pass.