Another Portland Promotion

After the shortest Spring on record, 5 days, Summer arrived with a vengeance today. Not that it brought any birds with it, and after a walk which took in the cemetery, Radipole, the full length of the Rodwell Trail, Ferry Bridge plus Barleycrates back to Victoria Square, the following were all there was of note. At the Radipole kissing-gate a sight I had not encountered before, a pair of Robins 'food passing' and a single Sedge Warbler singing its head off in a reed-bed.

I couldn't resist including this as 22 carat 'eye candy'. Sat in the hot sun with just a little cirrus cloud left in the sky. One of many wartime gun emplacements can be seen in the fore-ground, with the village of Fortuneswell peeking from behind the cliff. Beyond the curve of Chesil Beach, the National Sailing Academy (venue for the 2012 Olympic yachting), Portland Harbour and the start of Weymouth with Wyke Regis to the left.

Raven - UK's largest corvid (Crow) unusual to get one so obliging, it seemed to be suffering from the heat as it simply sat there with bill wide open.

Jackdaw - UK's smallest corvid both birds seen in close proximity of each other on the West Cliff, Portland.

The Spirit of Portland, an exceptional stone carving by Joanna Szuwalska

depicting representatives from the 2 main industries on Portland in days gone by

The Fisherman

and Stonemason (left click the images to full appreciate the fine detail)

A Stone Quarry Crane a throwback to when most tasks were done by 'hand'.

The Plinth simply signed JC Sellman, Sculptor and bearing his mark.

Quarrymen's tools

Lifting Chains and Hooks.

'Quiddles' (without the 's', a Portland word for Squid). My neighbour, Joy, has been waxing lyrical about me visiting this particularly eye-catching eatery perched on the edge of Chesil Beach at the promenade end of Chesil Cove. I had intended saving it for a day when a decent feed of seafood was required, but looking down from the stone sculpture, featured above, it looked too tempting to pass by. A slice of Walnut & Coffee cake (large enough to secure the Ark Royal alongside) and a cup of coffee sat in the sunshine, I made the acquaintance of a lovely lady Clair who's husband was serving on the RFA Argos. This was fortuitous as being the large ship I reported last week, with no pennant numbers, saying I would investigate and get back to you. I have since discovered the numbers are there but I didn't see them!

and probably only of interest to me, I do find the Statistics Counter intriguing, this is yesterdays result. It's fantastic to see so much interest still shown from many other parts of the world. Thank You All.

If you are of the mind please extend this LINK to your friends, the more readers the MERRIER, an e-Mail to ALL your Addressees would do the trick.

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	449	89.80%	United Kingdom
	16	3.20%	Estonia
	14	2.80%	United States
	4	0.80%	Argentina
	4	0.80%	Hungary
	3	0.60%	Netherlands
	2	0.40%	Venezuela
	2	0.40%	Canada
	2	0.40%	Australia
	1	0.20%	Trinidad And Tobago
	1	0.20%	Korea, Republic Of
	1	0.20%	France
	1	0.20%	Italy

A Storm in Bethnal Green

In total contrast to yesterday's leaden sky, this morning's was devoid of any cloud, the sun had risen above the Gloucester Hotel before 06-30 but it was cold. Given these conditions it was probably predictable that migrant birds would be thinner on the ground, but still there was much of interest. At Radipole Chiffchaff, Reed, Willow and Sedge Warblers all vied for vocal position, and with a falling water level a couple of Common Snipe had risked dropping in.

This pair of Shoveler looked splendid in the 'pink' morning light.

The Great Northern Diver in Wey Bay was presumed yesterdays bird, but that was all of note across this expanse of sea. On Lodmoor, early indications were that a large 'fall' of Willow Warblers had occurred overnight as it seemed every bush and tree had at least one singing bird. There were also 3 species of Goose today comprising mainly of Canada's plus the now longish staying Barnacle and a regularly returning Greylag. At the 'shelter' I met up with Neville Fowler who had already found the Common Sandpiper and together we watched a couple of adult Black-headed Gulls swirling above before I departed telling him of my intent to visit Wareham later in the day. On the way to the 'hump' there was a fresh Brimstone butterfly and thankfully c4 'returning' Oystercatchers, which had been absent for a few days.

One of the c4 'returning' Oystercatchers which had started prospecting nest sites, only to be 'flushed' by the dumping of a lorry load of aggregate and the RSPB continuing their road building project across the moor at, I might add, a most inappropriate time of year.

At the 'hump' I found what was thought to be a second Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper (first this year for me and photo from the archive), both well out of range for a photograph.

Meeting Daragh at the sea wall we walked in company to Overcoombe Corner in the hope of finding Garganey but without success. From here I decided to catch the X53 Jurassic Coast bus to Wareham, but before its arrival, Neville happened along and offered me a lift. Having decided also that Cattle Egret was a good idea, he joined me in the search of the water meadows either side of the town's bye-pass. After an hour, and no luck, he left to try Wareham Forest but in my persistence was lucky to see the target bird fly from the direction of the town, in company with a Little Egret and land out of sight among the Mute Swans. I persevered for a further 40 minutes before heading for the returning bus, logging c2 pairs of displaying Common Buzzard, a lone Sparrowhawk, c3 Curlew, a single Green Woodpecker plus another c3 Brimstones en-route.

Cattle Egret (not the bird seen today)

Following the short item on music album sleeves yesterday, it has come to my notice that the seminal Storm Thorgerson and his catalyst company Hipgnosis have embarked on an exhibition of iconic album sleeve designs at the Idea Generation Gallery in Bethnal Green, E2 7JB, London. Thorgerson has been involved in this work since the 60's, dreaming up fantasies for the likes of Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, The Cranberries and more recently the magically talented Muse. Worth a look? I should say so.

A couple of examples of his (their) work

Whether a solid item 'on' the table or a hole 'cut' into the sleeve, it is simply known as 'The Object', a design made to intrigue and allow the reader to focus on the band. It has certainly generated much conversation about Zep's 7th studio album.

The design, again by Storm, for the Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door.

and finally my particular favourite not only for the striking design but for the context referring to the title of the Pink Floyd album 'Back Issues' - very clever. Oh, by the way, which one's Pink?

It's Not Only the Weather That's Warming Up

Sedge Warbler

One look at the sky this morning said it could be a promising bird day, I was not disappointed. While the songs of both Chiffchaff and Goldcrest are now a daily occurrence the migration has been slow starting, to say the least, so a small passage of Sand Martins at Radipole was a sure sign that something was happening. 50 or so were counted before reaching the kissing-gate, where a passing Sparrowhawk made counting a little easier as it was mobbed by the hirrundines. A few Meadow Pipits were also passing overhead as a now seemingly resident Great Spotted Woodpecker also showed, accompanied by the song of several Willow Warblers. However, it was the reed-beds that produced the best birds with an unseen singing Reed Warbler plus, new for the year, c3 Sedge Warblers.

Redstart (male) the first I have ever recorded on Lodmoor in all these years.

The walk to Lodmoor via Greenhill produced c3 Great Crested Grebe, a single Great Northern Diver and c3 Commic Terns, all in Weymouth Bay, with the latter having nothing to do with vaudeville. The expression is used to describe distant and unidentifiable Common or Arctic Terns which to the trained eye can at least be deduced as one or the other. On, or more properly above, the moor Sand Martins were now arriving in good numbers and while impossible to count where in 'hundreds rather than 'tens'. Among them were just a few Swallows, raising hopes of something a little different. By now I had been joined by Dick Morris and Daragh Croxson, and it wasn't long before DC produced a fine male Redstart, another first for the year. Not overly obliging, it did afford decent views plus a photo opportunity before our attentions were cast in the direction of c2 beautifully marked Black-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit in summer plumage

Ditto

Yesterday's Common Sandpiper, found by Dick, had been missed by Daragh, but I gave him some hope of catching up when I heard one call from the body of the reserve. It wasn't long before he too caught up with that c3 Black-headed Gulls and a Green Woodpecker probably making it the best Spring day thus far.

It was now time to catch the bus to Ferry Bridge, where once again there was an acute lack of birds, but it was interesting to note that work had once again commenced on the protection fence for the Little Tern colony (or the lack of it depending on which view you take). After the RSPB debacle of last year, when returning birds found their way barred by workers still hammering in fence posts and erecting signs as late as the 4th May, I was given to understand that all funding had now been withdrawn from this project. With a sigh of relief, I then predicted success in 2010 but it seems the 'management'? continues.

At Barleycrates, a splendid flock of Linnets (male above) were gorging on seed heads, while not too far up the path a further c2 male Redstarts and a male Stonechat were feeding on the ground, under the watchful eye of a female Kestrel. c6 Wheatear appeared before I reached the cliff, as did c5 more at Reap Lane.

Little else of note was seen between there and the Observatory except for Annie the horse lady who, on seeing me, looked to show signs of relief. Knowing of my travel plans, she thought I had been abducted by Ecuadorian Head Hunters and was, kindly, just pleased to see me safe and well.

At the Obs my luck continued, having barely finished making a cup of coffee, as this smart little gentleman was teased from a mist net. Because of their sharp contrast, I just love 'black & white' birds (particularly the Warbler) but this fine Pied Flycatcher is probably the best of the bunch. Coffee break over, and armed with some insider information of Slavonian Grebe still being present at the north side of Portland Harbour I was off again, clocking a male Blackcap and a couple of Peacock Butterflies at Culverwell as I went. Unfortunately, I found no sign of the Grebe, but by way of a bonus the trees and bushes of the Rodwell Trail (the old Weymouth to Portland railway line) were alive with the song of both Blackcaps and Willow Warblers.

and finally, even if you are not a 'muso' this fine array of guitars and amplifiers will surely impress. The centerfold of Black Rock the new offering from Joe Bonamassa shows just some of his vast collection. For those who know their guitars, among these will be seen a Fender 'Secret Mod' Rory Gallagher Stratocaster (phew I wish), a Gibson 1959 Les Paul 'Gary Moore', a Gibson 1976 Bicentennial Firebird while the lad himself is stood holding 'the immortal' 1959 Reissue Gibson Flying V. For a better view 'left click' the picture.

Apologies for the quality of the scan.