Gimme Shelter

I was looking for the near impossible this morning, some shleter on a north facing coast from the 15 - 20 mph southerly wind with some elevation so I could count the vis and keep my eye on the sea! I did actually find a nice depression on the north side of the dunes that was really sheltered and high enough for me to peer over the top towards the south to count any vis. And vis there was, mainly in the form of Chaffinch.

 Chaffinch

With the wind in the south and the fact it is late October I knew that there could be quite a few Chaffinch around this morning and I wasn't wrong as I had 754 move in a general southerly direction (anywhere between south and west). The supporting cast was 4 Meadow Pipits, 45 Starlings (including 16 in-off the sea), Rock Pipit, 2 Carrion Crows, 2 Bramblings (or should I say 2 Brambling calls; there is a difference!), 4 Linnets, 4 Skylarks and a single Alba Wag.

As the tide dropped waders flew in to feed and I had 323 Oystercatchers, 8 Knot, 131 Sanderlings and 90 Turnstone. The sea was quiet with just 26 Cormorants, 6 Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, 31 Common Scoters, 3 Auk sp., 5 Shelducks and 40 Kittiwakes.

A juvenile Merlin gave a cracking display this morning. It dropped onto the beach with prey, although I couldn't see what it had caught, and then it was flushed so it headed back along the beach east. It later came past me again, before doubling back once again.

Not a gripping morning, but nevertheless interesting.

I'm off to see the folk duo Show Of Hands tonight. You have probably guessed that I am more of a 'rocker' than a 'folkie', but I do indulge in a bit of folk sometimes. Below is a clip of Show of Hands performing Country Life in which they lament the change in the British countryside. Enjoy!