Friday 29 January 2016

Harbour - Moby

What seemed to have become a List is now turning into a
Rash of ROCKERS 'falling off their perch' as in recent days
we have learnt of the passing of Bass Guitarist
 JIMMY BAIN
formally with RAINBOW and in more recent years the backbone of DIO.
Seen above with Ronnie James Dio (also deceased) this is an exact image
of my last live encounter with them both at Wembley Arena some years ago now.
There, they were 'opening' for Alice Cooper but in addition doing their new album
(full album Link)
no harm whatsoever!
Other members of the band on that 'magical' and unforgettable night were
Craig Goldy - Guitars and Keyboards and Simon Wright - Drums.
Blimey was that 16 years ago!
So, quickly on to the Good Stuff and we have captured our first Moth of the year. 
 2016 starts with what is considered to be a rather late
 DECEMBER MOTH
Not new to our Recording Area but somehow that first species has a kind'a MAGICA about it.
To kick-off today's Post we bring you a few images of the the Big Freeze of recent days before continuing with yet another day 'off-piste', the circumnavigation of the Poole Harbour Basin. A decent amount of interest being reported from various Information Websites saw us breaking with tradition and embarking on an 'anticlockwise' assault starting at the old Kerry Food Factory which now looks forlorn and sign-less!
A few 'back issue' images from the freeze of recent days.
 SUNRISE over a frosty HARBINS FARM HOUSE
 PARLEY POND
completely frozen over,
 but seemingly not bothering the Alpacas. 
 Likewise at the 
GRAVEL PIT
which, should similar conditions persist and knowing the entrepreneurial 
skills of the Dampney family per-se it will soon manifest itself as 
East Parley's first Skating Rink.
but on to the business in hand with our first bookable bird, at the
North Eastern edge of Poole Harbour and on the 
Railway Embankment that sub-divides Holes Bay
 a whole squadron of
 OYSTERCATCHER
which was an addition to the Dorset Year List (DYL).
 Of no 'list value', but unable to pass these splendid Ducks by,
 WIGEON
male and female in the bright sunshine - splendid.
 However, distant CURLEW was New for the Year (YL) but after a
45 minutes search for the 'target bird' here, without success, it was
time to try at the other side of the Railway Bridge. We thought the
Curlew was 'distant' but reaching the apex of the bridge that was
nothing compared to the range of the female
 SMEW
A scarce visitor to the County this Red Head (as they are colloquially
known) has been here all season plus a number of previous winters.
Not exactly Cecil B Demille these poor clips may bring
this tiny Duck just a little nearer while this shot from the
 archive shows one at 'point blank'.
Partly by hope and design, this was the 100th and a most welcome addition to the YL.
REDSHANK
 also graced the YL before moving on to
 MIDDLEBERE
 and the quaint little Hamlet which has been restored by the
 National Trust
and are let to the general public.
The state of the ebbing tide wasn't perfect
 but apart from a field full of
 BRENT GEESE
and c2
 SPOONBILL,
concealing themselves all too well in the reeds,
 before entering the hide, all that was on show within were a
 decent size party of
AVOCET
the trio added to the YL.
 En-route to the village of Studland there was time to capture a
shot or two of one of the Counties best known edifices,
 CORFE CASTLE
Formally a wooden structure, in the latter half of the 11th Century the Castle was rebuilt in stone by William the Conqueror and for the next six hundred years was a royal fortress used by the monarchs of England and latterly their constables. By 1572 warfare had changed and Corfe Castle was sold by Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Christopher Hatton, her dancing master and favourite. In 1635 the Castle was bought by Sir John Bankes, who was Lord Chief Justice, as an occasional private residence. The Banks family continue to reside in Dorset. Further Reading Link
 and the irresistible 10 minutes stop at the top of the hill overlooking
REMPSTONE HEATH
(both images, click to enlarge, Bournemouth Bay right and eastern end of
Poole Harbour left. On the lower image the 2 watercourses can be seen
separated by Sandbanks, centre, holding what are reputed to be the
most expensive properties in the World).
At Studland there is a quaint and old fashioned Grocers Shop which
lends itself to another irresistible visit, so at least a sandwich was in order.
From the vantage point of the east National Trust car park
 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
(male top and female)
was the only addition to the YL, but in addition the DYL was bolstered by
lots of Black-necked Grebe, just a single Slavonian Grebe and a single
Ring-necked Parakeet.
Now after much refurbishment and TLC the old hotel here is now known as the
PIG on the BEACH
where, along with Hugh and Janet, we paid a visit to the restaurant soon after opening.
Regular Readers may remember the memories on our first entry and asking the Maitre'd if there had been any teething troubles with the conversions and opening, to which he replied "not a single one". The words had hardly left his lips when one of the waiters dropped a full tray of drinking glasses! In addition this was also the first and only time I for one had ever savoured Chateau d'Yquem, another deserving treat for my 'dear friends'!  
The additions since were certainly worthy of a 15 minute diversion
where it was found they have added an array of Farm Animals 
 including this fine looking
 DORSET HORN RAM
 OLDE WORLDE CHALETS
 and a variety of CHICKEN species.
BLACKBIRD
once again because it was there and looked good.
Onward to Brands Bay and at 2 hours after Low Water
more was expected with just
GREY PLOVER
reaching YL status.
Up to this point all Birds seen had been expected but boarding the
Sandbanks Ferry
Lady Luck showed her hand, represented by a fly-by
 SANDWICH TERN
Entering Harbour!
During that extended and gruelling Sea Passage a number of both Cormorant and
 SHAG
were seen with one just posing on the dock-wall as we reached the other side.
Again expected and feeding the Low Water Line both
 SANDERLING
and
 BAR-TAILED GODWIT
 were the final additions to the
Year List.
A splendid day in a much favoured part of Dorset,
can see why you love it so much Steve!
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