Rare Goby & More Waders

Ferry Bridge took a bit of a tumble as far as numbers were concerned today, all except Turnstone which reached a month maximum of 32. Apart from a few Gulls the only other evidence of life were 77 Ringed Plover, 22 Dunlin and a single Sanderling. Thinking that was bad enough the walk from Barleycrates to the Obelisk and onward to the Portland Bird Observatory (PBO) produced exactly 2 Wheatear and 3 Swallows, maybe I need to wake up? Disappointment struck there also as I had just missed the 3rd Melodious Warbler of the year, so things could only get better! There was a slight (or maybe a major in some people's book) upturn when I introduced Ian Dodd (now more or less 'in house' ringer at the Obs) to Don Moxom at the Fleet Visitor's Center. Not only was I reacquainted with a local stalker, who had provided both Roe and Sika venison for the Moxom's recent party, but Don also informed us that Couch's Goby Gobius couchii had been rediscovered in the Fleet after many years without a sighting. In addition it was good to see both Edwin Welland and Alan Bull again, both paying a week-end visit to Portland.

Small Pratincole - Bundala NP, Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Water Dikkop - Hlane NNR, Swaziland

Bush Thick-knee - Kakadu NP, Northern Territory, Australia

Great Thick-knee - Wilpattu NP, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Another Quiet Day

My arrival at Ferry Bridge at about 06-30 this morning coincided with a cloudburst, but undeterred I continued. Despite the hour, already there were anglers, windsurfers, bait diggers etc but in their own way they help with the count by herding the Waders onto one section of sand. There wasn't really many to count but my highest Turnstone tally entered the log at 24, along with 96 Ringed Plover, 42 Dunlin and 2 Sanderling. At Sweethill I met up with John Down and we continued together to cover the barns area and Helen's Fields noting, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler a few Wheatears which was about it. At the Bill there was quite a group of Gannet feeding, accompanied by a selection of Gull but none that I could discern as an intermedius Lesser Black-back, but I'm still looking. Also on the sea there were a couple of Arctic Skua, while in the Obs Quarry the 'dark' Little Owl was on show despite the 'fresh' west sou' west wind. Bird wise there was little to add at the Observatory except an exquisite Striped Hawk-moth always an excellent insect to behold. Surely it's time for things to hot up on the bird front, so let's hope tomorrow is the day.

Striped Hawk-moth

Little Owl

A Few More Waders

Black-fronted Plover - Tomato Lake, Perth, Australia

Red-capped Plover - Alice Springs Sewerage Works, Australia

Two-banded Plover - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Spur-winged Plover - Gambia

"I know it's only Rock 'n' Roll but I like it, like it, yes I do!"

The single best thing I did today, was to resurrect 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi', far too long gathering House Spider droppings in the CD cupboard. It had been a while since I last enjoyed the sheer brilliance of Messrs Mills, Buck, Berry and Stipe and checking MS Strong's the 'Great Rock Discography', found that not only are REM his favourite band, but formed as long ago as 1980. If a man is ever stuck for a word or two to grace a Valentine's card, look no further than the lyric of Be Mine. This in turned generated a little nostalgia about my own, 'limited', Rock & Roll career, singing occasionally in the late sixties with the Londonderry band Blues Etc. Then, as those of you who were at my 60'th birthday party will remember, my blistering renditions of 'Nothing Else Matters' and 'Paranoid', as a consequence of which I still receive threatening letters from Metallica and a certain Mr O Osbourne. However, few of you will know my connection, as founder member and vocalist, with the seminal Metal outfit Iron Workz, except for my daughters who remember well the 'royalties'. Having not performed together for a number of years we were approached to do a 'farewell gig' at the de Montfort Hall, Leicester which was videoed for posterity. While no one deserves to sit through the whole 'set', the finale is memorable for the way we all left the stage with dignity and gently eased into civilian life, so this short excerpt is published for your felicitation. Enjoy!

The Only 'Tick' Today

With the number of intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gulls visiting Portland and surrounds an early start was thought a sure way of adding a photograph of this final Sub species to the archive. Despite the 06-00 bus and a brisk walk to the Bill Common, none were to be found. However, there were a few migrants to brighten the morning, during the walk the following were recorded:- 14 Yellow Wagtail, 41 Wheatear, 19 Swallows, 3 Tree Pipits plus single Whitethroat, Dunlin and Merlin. Add to that a Common Darter and a newly fledged Wren, complete with a fully fed 'tick' (pictured) not a bad couple of hours.

Juvenile Wren (with the only 'tick' of the day)

Common Darter

Waders of the Lost Arc-hive (didn't ought did I?)

As promised, this is the first post of a series of Waders from around the World, hope you enjoy them.

Variable Oystercatcher - Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand

Magellanic Oystercatcher - Falkland Islands
Blackish Oystercatcher was also photographed the same day (Boxing Day 2007) but being pursued by a Falkland's Skua, it looks rather like a blurred stick being thrown into the sea.

Sooty Oystercatcher - Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia

Black Oystercatcher - Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

I'm not going to use the 'O' word in case I upset both myself and others, but I just don't know how I get so much information mixed up (maybe that's why my World Bird List stands at 12,800?) The pictures of Chesil beach, below, have no connection whatsoever with Spring Tides, or any other tides for that matter. The erosion and movement of the beach was caused by the storm of 9th February 2009, as the histogram above adequately highlights. My apologies to all and sundry.

Wind and Wave Riders

It was drafty on the fore-shore at Ferry Bridge this morning with even the 'sail shaped' banners on the newly erected lamp post 'yards' being torn from their moorings. At least it was keeping the few Waders that were there close to the deck, making counting fairly easy. Much the same as yesterday with 94 Dunlin, 126 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, singles of Knot & Sanderling plus 4 Wheatear. It was the second day on the trot I didn't record a Mediterranean Gull.

Sanderling

It's tomorrow I believe the World Windsurfing Championships get underway, and if the 'warm ups' over the past couple of days are anything to go by Gold is going to be extremely difficult to achieve. Capturing the action on a single shot still is impossible, so my advise is, if you are able, get down to the edge of Portland Harbour and experience what maybe the biggest FREE thrill you'll get this year.

Plain Sailing

followed by Rough

and Tumble (click on image to see the bigger picture)