In the footsteps of Mary Anning

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) *, The Cobb

Mediterranean Gull *
(Larus melanocephalus)

* Additional photos by R:

Birding Bob's Blog

Accommodation

Lyme 1 Hotel

Food and Drink

Amid Giants and Idols

Lyme Regis Brewery

Strawberry Tree

Lyme's Fish Bar

Independent Bookshop

Lyme Regis Bookshop

The return of B6WWWW, and an Old Portsmouth diversion

B6WWWW at Southsea Castle

I took an afternoon trip into town to successfully twitch the widely reported black redstarts (Phoenicurus ochruros) which are frequenting the sea buckthorn in Broad Street, Old Portsmouth. Before getting to Broad Street I stopped briefly at Southsea Castle to count the 14 purple sandpipers (Calidris maritime) feeding on the sea defences at low tide.

I was also pleasantly surprised to re-find my old friend the sanderling (Calidris alba) B6WWWW a bird that was originally ringed in Hampshire in 2011 by Pete Potts. I last saw the bird on the 2nd March 2015 since then it has lost the blue tag on its lower right leg.

Patch-birding-southsea-seafront 2nd March 2015

Having said farewell to this frequent flyer, I then headed to Old Portsmouth and spent some time watching the very showy black redstarts, of which three were present.

Southsea Castle purps !

purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima L.)

surprisingly confiding!