Heading east passing Orcombe Point as a boat heads west along the Triassic mudstone cliffs east of Exmouth, Devon, Sept 2, 2022 (Robin Rowland)
Just to the east of Exmouth, Devon, you find the “Triassic Coast,” the western most part of Britain’s famous UNESCO World Heritage “Jurassic Coast.” Wikipedia says of Orcombe Point “At the base are cross-bedded sandstones. Towards the top, the rock types are those deposited by quieter, slower-flowing waters (i.e. siltstones and mudstones). The sediments are markedly red and this indicates that they were formed in a desert. These formations belong to the Aylesbeare Mudstone Group and date from the Triassic period 250 million years ago.”
My tour boat was heading to the next eastern point of land, called Straight Point, where the cliffs are home to a colony of cormorants.
An enlarged view of Orcombe Point with the GeoNeedle at the top of the cliff. The “Geoneedle” is made from different rocks along the Jurassic Coast. (Robin Rowland)
At the top of Orcombe Point is the “Geoneedle”, unveiled by King Charles, then Prince of Wales, in 2002. Michael Fairfax conceived and designed the Geoneedle which is constructed from a variety of different stones, representing both the major building stones to be found on the Jurassic Coast and the sequence of rocks that form this part of the coast.
Passing the red mudstone cliffs of Devon’s Triassic Coast, Sept 2, 2022. (Robin Rowland)Approaching Straight Point, going past Sandy Beach, Exmouth, Devon. Sept 2, 2022 (Robin Rowland)
The Royal Marine Training Centre dates back to 1940 in the Second World War. It trains officers and “other ranks” and has a local cadet corps.
The closer you get to the cliffs, the white quano and the dark cormorants are clearly visible. (Robin Rowland)Tower with red flag flying indiates that the Royal Marines are conducting live fire exercises. (Robin Rowland)The guard boat with red flag off the Royal Marine firing range makes sure no one gets too close. (Robin Rowland)Cormorants and other birds at Straight Point, Sandy Beach, Exmouth, Devon, Sept 2, 2022 (Robin Rowland)There were at least 80 cormorants and other birds at Straight Point, Sandy Beach, Exmouth, Devon on Sept 2, 2022 (Robin Rowland)A closer view of the cormorants. (Robin Rowland)A magnificent coromorant (Phalaccrocax carbo) (Robin Rowland)Cormorants lookng out over the ocean at Straight Point, Sandy Beach, Exmouth, Devon, Sept 2, 2022 (Robin Rowland)The cliffs are also known for Black-legged Kitiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) Here one dives into the ocean off Straight Point. (Robin Rowland)Black-legged Kitiwake at Straight Point (Robin Rowland)Looking east along the Jurassic Coast to Budleigh Salterton. (Robin Rowland)Looking east along the Jurassic Coast to Budleigh Salterton. (Robin Rowland)
Posting date has been updated to shooting date to keep photos in chronological order.
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