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