Lyme Rocks

Despite the place being situated between home and work I almost never go birding in Lyme Regis. Not sure why, because it is certainly the best local spot for Dipper and Purple Sandpiper. Anyway, circumstances have conspired to put me in Lyme for a few days, so let's see what happens...

By far the most eye-catching Lyme resident right now is this stunner...

I mean... Wow!!

This gorgeous drake Eider has been hanging around Lyme Regis harbour for a few years now, a very incongruous sight in this neck of the woods. To my shame it's the first time I've made the effort to have a look. I'm glad I did. It looked absolutely amazing in the late afternoon sun. It's clearly feeling a bit frisky, and was displaying to anything which looked even vaguely similar to a female Eider, ie, was brown. The young Herring Gulls thus accosted were notably unimpressed.

Understandably, it captivated me for some time...

Just immaculate!

I didn't make any effort to visit the Cobb wall Purple Sands, but spotted this one poking about the harbour beach briefly...

Purple Sandpiper

The little River Lym (or Lim) flows through the town, and is a very good bet for Dipper. Frequently they are a bit shy, and views might be distant, or brief and fleeting. Today was not one of those times, and this bird seemed oblivious to the proximity of passers-by...

Dipper

Gorging on weeny fish...

...and even singing!

The only thing lacking in the Dipper encounter was sunshine. But the Eider made up for that later on!

At the end of the day I walked Monmouth Beach - where I saw a Black Redstart last winter - but it was very quiet today. Finally, strolling back towards town at last knockings I noticed that gulls were gathering in good numbers to the east, off Church Cliff. Very good numbers - several hundred large gulls and a sprinkling of small ones. The light was too poor and the distance a bit too great for bins alone, but there were certainly no white-wingers amongst them. A 2nd-winter Med Gull was nice to see, and I perched the camera on a wall to take a few photos. When I checked them later I realised the bird was wearing a red colour-ring!

2nd-winter Med Gull. I can almost read that ring...

Look at this bunch of lovelies! Might try again tomorrow. With a scope!

This is a bit of a 'went there, saw that' kind of post, but hopefully it's been worth it for the Eider alone. And just to put a cherry on it, a couple of short videos to close: The Dipper quietly singing, and the Eider displaying. And if you listen carefully you can hear the Eider doing that amazing thing that Eiders do. Makes me smile every time...