Tuesday 28 January 2014

Dipping the Dippers

With the Internet problems seemingly no nearer to being resolved, update to follow, I'll return to my journey on Friday. A pleasant day weather wise, it was decided to make a second attempt at getting to Lyme Regis hopefully without all the snags of the previous try.
KING GEORGE III
looked down from his plinth on Weymouth seafront as the
X53 Service arrived 10 minutes late.
They have tarted the buses up a bit since I last travelled this route,
some for better like this map.
A beautiful scenic run
but who for heaven's sake decided to obscure the views with
these tacky pictures - it beggars belief!
STRIP LYNCHET FIELDS
an ancient system of farming.
Dorset Downland and Heath.
IRON AGE TUMULI
(burial grounds)
FARMSTEADS
WOODLANDS and VALLEYS
It's all there just to sit back, relax and enjoy.
WEST BAY
one of several towns and villages visited en-route.
 
Approaching BRIDPORT
and the MAIN STREET there.
Heading towards CHARMOUTH with GOLDEN CAP in the far distance.
THATCHED COTTAGE
and arrival at
LYME REGIS
There had been no bird reports from this area prior to my visit,
either because no one is looking or there is nothing to be seen.
Unfortunately it was the latter! Species hoped for included Black
Redstart, Purple Sandpiper an unlikely Common Sandpiper but
most of all Dipper.
FERAL PIGEON
DUNNOCK
MAGPIE
 
close to its redundant nest,
HERRING GULL
ANCIENT FORTIFICATION?
MALLARD
in fast flowing stream and
BILL the BARD
An extensive search was made alone an extensive length of the
RIVER LYM
without effect
but there was chance of seeing again what is said to have been
the first work by BANKSY since coming out of retirement.
The views along the river are beautiful but didn't really compensate
for not seeing the Dippers or Black Redstart for that matter.
SONG THRUSH
BLACKBIRD
WOOD PIGEON
 
ROBIN
in full voice.
These shingle banks and
bridges along fast flowing water are usually ideal spots to see Dipper
but also support good numbers of
GREY WAGTAIL
Back to the seafront past the Town Clock
and a walk towards the Harbour and the World Famous Cob.
Knowing full well I'm qualified, it did take a while to get this onto
the Lorry.
HARBOUR ENTRANCE
complete with
ROCK PIPIT
and
PURPLE SANDPIPER
brought the birding to an end,
 with a steady wander along the promenade to catch the return bus to Weymouth.
The sun shining on Golden Cap the highest point on the 
south coast of England.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN UPDATE
If like me you know all there is to know about Internet interruptions, then you will have sussed that it has been nothing to do with the excuses issued by British Telecom re:- defective router, flood water, conversion to Fibre Optics. No, we have been well aware all along that it's down to the
LEYLANDII TREES
Yes, these they now tell us MAYBE, but not necessarily, the reason
for the defect. Plan now is to saw one or more down after which all I am
doing is waiting for the next 'reason'!! 
I also think I may have something wrong, as on the days there have been NO Posts the Stats, especially those relating to the USA, have gone off the scale. Yesterday's total hit 1848 the highest since the Blog began - but MANY THANKS for visiting anyway!
Entry            Pageviews
United States
                4000
United Kingdom
                  908
Germany
                    51
Estonia
                    42
Canada
                    32
Russia
                    20
France
                    14
Ukraine
                    13
Norway
                      8
Australia
                      6