My First Long Walk

An unusual title I know, but today I walked the furthest I have done since my heart operation back in November last year. With just a few spots of rain as I headed off, I wasn't going to be undeterred, as this was a bit of a milestone, walking just that bit further than my last effort.

And off course it also meant that I could tick off a few more bird species for my 2026 year list, which at the moment stands at a measly 39. I did add two more, with a Blue Tit and Wren, both seen along Old Quarry Lane, but I did think I might have ticked off more. Still there's 322 more days to go, so plenty of time. 😂

Other birds of interest were a Chiffchaff along Wakeham Railway Cuttings and a 2 Goldcrests tagging along with a small flock of Long-tailed Tits at the back of Church Ope Cove.

There were plenty of Snowdrops in flower, including the patch of Snowflakes Leucojum Vernum in their usual place in the grounds of St Andrew Church.

Other plants just coming into flower were:

Primrose Primula vulgaris

Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum

Laurustinus 'Gwenllian' Viburnum tinus

Russian Comfrey Symphytum x Uplandicum

Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys

Albanian Spurge Euphorbia characias ssp

Hebe Veronica sp.

Here are a few photos from my walk

Today's walk

My first Wren of the year.

An Orange-bellied Bristleshin Phaonia subventa on an Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum

These are Snowflakes Leucojum Vernum

Hebe Veronica sp.

The sea was pretty rough today.

And judging by the size of these waves, I wasn't surprised to.............

..........see some very large drift wood up on the beach.

In fact past storms have taken there toll on this beach hut, which has been well and truly undermined by the rough seas.

I'm over here Ted!!!

This is the Cement Carrier "Cemisle" flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It is on its way from Dunkirk to Cork. More on this vessel here.