Nothing (Much) To See Here

 The week has been unrelentingly similar each day - grey and overcast, dry, with a slight south or south west breeze. The wildlife has largely followed this same pattern, with little change day to day.

Monday 4 November

 On the beach there were eight Sanderling and a single Dunlin. It was particularly good to see Dunlin as we do not get that many on the beach in a year. We probably see more at the Mere than near the sea.

Ignore the S on its breast - it's a Dunlin 😂

Dunlin running

Sanderling running

 

 

While reviewing these photos it struck me how alike the poses were on the shots above of Dunlin (DN) and Sanderling (SS) so I put them side by side...

Side by side DN and SS look to have indentical gaits

 

 A Black-headed Gull in the background of this photo with a Sanderling in the foreground is an opportunity to see the large size difference between the two. The gull isn't particularly big but it looks gigantic with the Sanderling next to it.

Compare Black-headed Gull and Sanderling

That's Monday's sightings covered then!

Tuesday 5 November

A walk along the Mere south aside today. No fireworks on the sightings front but four Whooper Swans, four Bullfinch and a Little Egret did get my heart rate up by one or two beats. Little Egrets have been scarce at the Mere this year - maybe due to the high water levels which prevents them landing and feeding around the shoreline.

Two of the four Bullfinch

Yellowhammer

On the way home three Grey Squirrels were frolicking around the trees near Edenfield. Having nothing else to 'tog I fired off a few shots.

Grey Squirrel

Back home, a Collared Dove was sneaking some food from the feeder outside my office window so a few more frames entered the camera.

Collared Dove

Wednesday 6 November

Another slow day I'm afraid. Although I heard Bearded Tits and Water Rail as usual, there were no photo opportunities. However with the four Goldcrests I heard (and saw just two of them) I managed a reasonable likeness.

Goldcrest

 

More wild flowers in evidence today - Red Campion and White Dead Nettle this time.

White Dead Nettle

Red Campion

Another day done. Uninspiring certainly but at least I'm out and about and still looking for the wildlife that is (hopefully) out there somewhere.

Friday 8 November

A walk to Rolston and then along the cliffs today which was a good old enjoyable leg-stretcher for me. The camera was a passenger for most of the walk but it was a good morning.

A Kestrel along the cliff top hovered for long enough to allow me to get some video and a photo.

In the fields at Rolston the Hebridean sheep kept me amused by walking towards me for a bit. I thought they were going to block my path but they sauntered calmly out of my way as I approached.

They reminded of the stereotypical country yokel with a piece of straw in his mouth 🤣

Also on the cliffs I spotted four Fieldfares at the far edge of the field I was crossing. The distance was great so the image isn't, as it's cropped down as far as I could without losing too much definition.

Fieldfares in the distance

I am hoping for a change in the weather next week as the wind veers more northerly. It'll be cooler, but that's to be expected at this time of year.