Wednesday 6 February 2008

The weather changed again today and without the wind I though it would be worth looking through the Gulls at Dover Harbour. But without the wind there were far fewer within easy range, the majority staying on the outer walls and following the ferries in and out. This Great Black-backed Gull appeared to be at the front of the Speed Ferry queue.

Walking back along the pier you get a good view of what makes Dover beautiful and what makes Dover ugly in one view. How did we allow architectural taste to fall so low in the sixties and seventies?
Back at St Margaret's I walked past "Amy's field" and was surprised to see Honey Bees in and out of the hives there. I always thought that they didn't become active until spring, and although we are having a mild spell and global warming is certainly having an effect is can't really be called spring. It may be that some are always active close the the hive. If there are experts out there I'd love to know.
Walking round the paddock there were at least six Robins singing, although they all remained deep in cover, and even with a bit of squeaking and pishing I could get any to sit in the sunshine for a photo shoot. This was the best I could do.
Looking over to the golf course and then across Pegwell Bay Thanet stood out clearly, Ramsgate Harbour, at the right hand end is 12 miles from where I was standing, but in these conditions it seems much closer.

In the Bay there were two Red-throated Diver not far of shore and at least 50 Guillemots feeding. Yesterday they were joined by a Seal, presumably feeding on the fish out there, but in the lumpy sea I didn't manage to see if it was a Common or Grey Seal, and today in the much calmer water it didn't show.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bees will fly on warm days throughout the winter - they can struggle in warm, wet winters, like this one, as they use up more energy than in cold, dry years, without being able to collect more food.

There is a certain amount of food available for them now though, certainly in my garden (in Hampshire) I've got crocuses, mahonia, the first catkins on the willow and a camellia all out. Hopefully, the bees are getting enough food to make it worth the energy expended.

Tony Morris said...

Hi Serena, thanks for the information.