A tale of six hills. Weymouth to Beer. 9th February's glorious weather


Monday 9th February

Goodbye to Claire and Craig at Wilton Geuest House and around the harbour to get to Nothe Forst. Immediately a female black redstart flew in front of me. Great start to the day, new year list bird, it was soon joined by a smashing male.
After photographing these I went along the sea wall path and saw a close kingfisher, a grey wagtail and a chiff chaff.
After such a glorious morning of birding in fabulous sunny and windless weather, the cycling journey took over the day with hill after tortuous hill and white-knuckle ride downhill stretches. A stop for lunch at Abbotsbury preceeded the first of these 'mountains', a long push which was rewarded with meeting two lovely ladies, Julie and Pippa. They had enjoyed the view of not only Chesil Beach stretching into the misty distance but of me struggling up the hill. Pippa runs a business selling native artefacts from Africa and it was lovely to have a chat with them both. I saw them on a couple of occasions later, well heard them as they pipped their van horn and waved anyway.
Six big hill pushes I counted during the day, via Bridport and Lyme Regis. The latter gave me the biggest disappointment of the Biking Birder 2015 tour so far. The cafe where I had enjoyed a superb apple crumble and custard back in 2010 had just closed. “You *****rd”, I joked with the Scouse cafe owner at the door
On reaching Beer Youth Hostel in the dark and having heard 3 tawny owls giving various hoots and quee-wit calls, the evening was spent talking with three youth hostel inmates, 2 Andrews and Griff.

Year list now stands at 137. Next it's off to Aylesbeare RSPB reserves and the various RSPB reserves around the Exe Estuary over the next few days.

Now please have a look at the photographs of today on my facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015

Also if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. Thanks.

All the very best everyone. Love to you all xx

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A little near death scenario to keep me thinking.

Image
It is now Wednesday the 4th of November. I am in a hotel room just south of Aberdeen being a little nesh as it is raining outside. Last Saturday I experienced the worst moment I have ever had whilst cycling. The police are involved but the chances of a prosecution are extremely slim. I can't put any of this onto facebook as my dear Mum is watching my every step/pedal. So here's my book text for the day. Saturday 31st October Fresh SE AM to light S PM Very dark, low cloud and rain AM, very sunny & warm (14C) PM Stunning sunset. The ferry is rocking due to the swell and waves as I awake on the floor of the cinema, my usual sleeping location on the Aberdeen to Northern Isles ferry. We dock at 7 and by 7:15 I am cycling through the empty Aberdeen streets in the heavy rain. My progress is good and before 9 I reach Newborough and spend some time birding the Ythan estuary. A wader flock, mostly dunlin, reels around like a starling murmuration before landing on t...
Read more

Machynlleth to Maentwrog. 24th to 27th March. Barn owls!

Image
Tuesday 24 th March. The journey back to Machynlleth to collect the bike, panniers and carry on towards Lake Vyrnwy was uneventful and surprisingly comfortable on the Virgin train with fewer people on it than the day before. Goodbye to Josh at Wolverhampton and onto Shrewsbury, eventually reaching Machynlleth at 3.00pm. I collected the bike, loaded up and had a pleasant cycle ride towards Lake Vyrnwy. In fact it was lovely despite a quick shower that had me sheltering from the hail in an old sheep barn. Now there were two barn owl boxes inside with a lot of pellets but no way was I going to disturb the occupants despite needing them for the year list. It seemed like the whole route was uphill but with a light breeze behind me I breezed my way up. I was determined to get to Lake Vyrnwy and so as darkness fell I continued onto a B road. It was beautiful with the stars bright and a crescent Moon to the west. Beneath this was a very bright planet which one I don't know. Or...
Read more

Two Days, 3 RSPB reserves, 3 new year list birds and 3 fabulous people encounters.

Wednesday 28th January From a comfortable night at Fishbourne, near Chichester, in a room called Tiberius, the cycling was tough as there was now a strong westerly wind hitting my face. Please let me have the wind behind me one day. To Thorney Island and the checkpoint for the Ministry of Defence. I was given instructions from the officer on charge on where to go and found the west seawall that would lead me to Pilsey Island RSPB reserve. A lovely lady allowed me to hide my bike and belongings at her house and despite torrential rain and a strong gale, I set off. Getting through the security fence, I found it difficult to stay upright as the wind battered me and the mud on the path was deep and slippery. Great fun! At West Thorney I found a greenshank, Bird number 124 for the year, and as the weather was improving I took a few photographs.   Further along the path were a dozen or so red-breasted mergansers, bird number 125.   Finding the sign eventually ...
Read more