The Bay today.

The Bay at lunch time was a great place to be. We're sheltered enough here for the extremes of the weather to be somewhat softened.

Even so the sea had a certain angry look about it as high tide approached. The car park is a mess, even more than when it was "renewed" in 2007 The sea has deposited a lot of shingle onto the top, but compared to many places we have nothing to complain about.

Sea watching was quite interesting, with loads of Guillemots both flying through and settled on the sea. The odd Gannet came through and there were loads of Kittiwakes and Fulmars zipping around in te windy conditions. One Red-throated Diver was about the only other bird of note.

Here it's quite safe to watch the waves crashing into the sea wall, but I'm always amazed how many people end up losing their lives because they are prepared to takes risks with the sea, despite all the warnings that are given each time a storm arrives. The line between exhilaration and irresponsibility is a fine one, but unfortunately the result can be devastating.

As a cricket fanatic, who has been disappointed by the performance of the English team in Australia one thought did come to my mind.

It's OK to play like a six year old when you're six, but not when you're 33 +. Sam hopefully will learn .............

Badger benifit from Prior's wicket

Being addicted to watching cricket on the TY came in useful last night. Having watched England struggle to 72-5, I was enjoying the fightback orchestrated by Matt Prior, when he drove at a widish ball and was caught at deep point, or cover point. Disappointed I decided that bed was in order and wandered out to check the garden from the window.

The security light came on and there stood a badger, enjoying the remains of dinner that Pam had put out for him.

Dubious Connections

We had a visit from a female badger at about 11 pm this evening. I had put some tit bits out for her in the hope that she would appear before I went to bed. 

Badgers, being omnivorous are quite partial to almost any bit of food, and I guess that even a piece of slightly stale home-made bread makes a change from the normal Earthworms.

Jack and Josh are both keen on cricket and a strip was cut on the "lawn". It was mowed, almost to death and rolled several times, producing a rather browner strip, that wasn't very flat, but did vaguely resemble a wicket. Here you can see Mrs Badger approaching the batting crease!

At the end of her snuffling she wandered up the wicket and disappeared through a gap a deep mid off.

Talking of Cricket, here's on at Rutland, actually in the middle of the Birdfair. This Roesel's Bush Cricket was (I'm told) singing away (stridulating to be precise) but unfortunately the sound is now outside my hearing range. Of course it was easily found be two sharp-eared grandsons,  and Pam took the picture.

I don't think that they could actually hear this Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar munching away. It had already been found and was posing for several photographers, again thanks to Pam for the picture. A home, if we find these caterpillars they are normally on Fuchsia plants, but this one is on its more natural food plant, Willow Herb.