Homeward Bound

The morning for disembarkation at Southampton started with heavy rain and a strong wind but this quickly turned to blue sky and calmer weather.

Diva and TSH were very impressed with the Southampton arrangements to transfer them to where they had left the car at the departure terminal. At 08:38 they were on their way home.

The first thing they encountered was a huge queue for petrol and signs saying no petrol on the M27 and M3. TSH had planned on an easy departure from Southampton and had filled the petrol tank up before departing on the cruise.

They had both enjoyed the cruise and TSH’s thoughts moved to planning the trips on the next cruise which is booked for the spring of 2022.

TSH asked his daughter, who works for the RSPB, to identify the birds seen at Dundee and on the voyage back to Southampton. The birds at Dundee turned out to be guillemots (same family as the auks he had diagnosed himself) and the little birds on the ship were meadow pipits wisely moving south for the winter.

Bugs, birds, and botany

Off to the RSPB reserve at South Stack. The trusty satnav, Emily, took TSH and Diva on a clever short-cut which involved grass in the middle of the road and hedges scraping the car on both sides. The lighthouse was closed because Pinewood studios are filming, but no movie stars appeared. The Peregrine Falcon chick was clearly seen on its second  day of flight but two puffins could only be seen properly with the aid of a friendly twitcher's telescope. The previous day, the falcons had eaten two puffins for lunch. An intensive search for choughs was carried out by the zoologists in the party, but none were located although smaller birds, including stonechat were seen. There were numerous wildflowers and a red flying bug. The zoologists were consulted about this and they confirmed that it was a 'red flying bug'.

TSH thought that the Coronation Turkey baked potato would be a step too far so he had a turkey sandwich instead. TSH and Diva allowed themselves a cake because of all the fresh air and walking, They had tiffin, which is a no-cook cake with broken biscuits and raisins covered with melted chocolate and then chilled.

Off to RSPB Valley, next to the RAF station, which is much smaller and does not have any facilities. Just one path, which led to a stile, a field of wild horses and another stile. Diva did not like the look of this at all and persuaded everyone that the best thing to do was to return the same route. A later check on the map suggested that this was a wise decision.

Seen during the walk: marsh orchids, flag irises and swans. Other birds were often heard but rarely seen, but the over-riding noise came from the Hawk fighter jets overhead.

As there was no England match, dinner was served promptly and the wine had to be paid for.