Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - Chuck Berry

This Grey Squirrel was awaiting my arrival at the cemetery this morning, but apart from a group of feeding House Martins overhead that's all there was.

Radipole proved a little more productive with at least c4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes still in attendance, and the common and prolific

Purple Loosestrife now well in bloom giving the reserve a 'purple haze'.

There were also a few Warblers to be seen and heard including Cetti's, Willow, Sedge and Chiffchaff, while c8 Common Terns fished across the lake. Of these the was still one adult feeding a juvenile which had no more than a trace of brown in the mantle, and looked, in my view, to be well capable of fending for itself? Among these was also a larger Tern which with only a fleeting glimpse I had to consider most likely a Sandwich, while here also good numbers of House Martin were in company with 50 or so Sand Martins. A calling Whimbrel attracted my attention as it few from west to east, followed by a Redshank in the same direction and vocal, both looking for somewhere to put down and feed, but both looking in the wrong place here!

I considered it worth a walk up Radipole Park Drive in pursuit of the afore mentioned 'large' tern but didn't relocate it, however I did arrive at one of the angling 'pegs' to see this fine

Roach of about 1lb landed and then returned to the water seeming no worse for the experience. This coincided with a text from Daragh Croxson announcing the arrival of c8 Avocet at Lodmoor, which had been my next intended location, so was well placed to pop over Alexander Bridge and down Weymouth Bay Avenue to the moor. Just inside the 5 bar gate a

Garden Warbler appeared briefly, but not this one, No, this one was far more obliging further along the track just before I saw c2

Black-tailed Godwit fly in and commence feeding in the shallow pools. It wasn't long before the

Avocet were in view and while studying these, even more Waders flew in by way of these c9

Common Snipe. Further to that there was a single Little Egret, c2 Common Sandpipers, another Whimbrel and a Common Buzzard, but that was all for the moor today. Catching the bus back to Weymouth it was worth a stop to see how the

'Roadies' were getting on with preparing the stage for the 2 days Music Festival commencing at 13-00 today.

At the Bill things were more mechanical than avian with c11 Red Arrows flying over, but a bit late with the camera,

and the tireless Richard Newton was about to start combining in the 'Top Fields', as one of

several Power Boats cut close to the shore-line.

Local artist Sally K Servian also had a mini exhibition of her works from her Chesilisk glass mosaic tile collection, which are for sale. Not restricted to tiles, these 'true to life' and beautifully coloured pieces also include panels, pictures and table tops. Sally can be contacted on 07500349779, info@chesilisk.com or via www.chesilisk.com.

It was now gone noon, and a little late for the 'turn of the tide' but nonetheless made my way to Ferry Bridge where 'bird-wise' it was much the same as yesterday. However, on the other side of the causeway there was an event taking place which was a spectacle in its own right. The kite and wind surfers were out in force, and as the wind had now reached an estimated 6 on the Beaufort Scale all were taking full advantage,

Three 'kiters', each on collision course with the others, had no difficulty keeping out of trouble

as the 'wind surfers' mingled among them.

Here one of the 'kite surfers' has just taken the plunge, kicking up a nice wake in the process.

There were a couple of fungi on the roadside verge, but now it was full steam ahead for Weymouth and a basin full of Rock 'n' Roll.

A good crowd had gathered under a threatening sky, and it wasn't long before we all got a bit wet, and it wasn't long before I started bumping into a few muso mates I hadn't seen for many a day.

First were Nick Gomer and Chris Whiteside (with his missus) 'Rockers of the Old Brigade. Nick, it seems, has been playing harp (harmonica) with Brahms & Liszt, Red Rooster and Custer's Last Blues Band since the beginning of time, and was just rushing off to Bridport to do just that with the latter outfit. Chris on the other hand has been vocalist with Thin Lizzy soundalikes Bad Reputation since they formed in the mid-80's.

'Sanctuary' are a group of Weymouth youngsters playing mainly their own compositions in a Metallicaesque style and did their reputation no harm this afternoon when they kicked this music marathon off.

Danny Adams, the man I really wanted to see, was as has become usual running the show, comparing, announcer, sound checker and you name it. I have followed Dan's progress since he was a 'nipper' and I doubt there is anyone more versatile, talented and just down right charismatic than he. Accomplished Bass and Lead Guitarist he made his mark on me one Sunday afternoon gig in Pete Smith's music pub the Park Hotel. Having buzzed around the music business trying to get gigs with a number of bands, like a wasp that just won't go away, he stepped up to the mic and did the vocal on Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. In my view Robert Plant was the only person in the world who should ever sing this difficult and punchy song, but now there's ANOTHER. I know you'll be logging on Dan, so all the best and hope to see you manana!

The deliciously named 'Dinner Ladies' filled the mid-afternoon slot with a series of classic 60's, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Travelling Wilbury's, late Bowie et al songs that brought the house down. Numbers you can sing along to always go well at this kind of gig, and when everyone was 'at it' you must have been able to hear it in Dorchester.

Then out of nowhere, there was 'Fuzzy'! Chris (Fuzzy) Coombs has for a long time been my tip to be Weymouth (Dorset or Great Britain's) next great impresario. Again, someone who has been in and around the local music scene since he was a kid, he now has over 60 bands, 40 of these from the Weymouth area alone, on his books many of which he has personally mentored. 'Fuzzy Music Studios' is based on the Granby Industrial Estate where budding musicians, or anyone else for that matter, can hire floor space, instruments, associate equipment, recording facilities plus production and management technique to get your thing off the ground. He has his own 'Festival' coming up on Saturday 4th September at the Ferry Bridge Inn, Weymouth end of the Chesil Beach Road, showcasing 6 local bands and promises a great evening of 'sounds', commencing 18-00 thru 23-00. Hope to see you there Chris!

The heavy rain showers did damped the afternoon a little but didn't seem to deter these Lads in Hats, and by the time Johnny Cash tribute

The Man in Black came to the stage I had already had to seek refuge in The Swan (JD Wetherspoons) 3 times.

Looking forward to a return visit tomorrow, when who knows we might meet??

Once (or maybe twice) In A Lifetime

The jury returned a verdict of RED-NECKED STINT

Without knocking the arse out of it, I've had my moment and now a few thoughts before it is confined to the history books. There are a million miles between standing alone on an empty foreshore looking at a strange little bird and sitting in the comfort of your home knowing exactly what it is. For those who have never been there, it's a daunting time and usually one in which you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, but you have to make your own call. Reacting differently may have allowed others to see this 'first for Dorset' (and 8th record for Great Britain) but despite that I have been well met by my fellow 'birders' today. With only a single exception, I wish every birder I know could have seen it but that was not to be, but I thank those both near and far who sent me 'best wishes' last evening and today. As for this Blog, the Stats went higher than ever before to a fantastic 483 'hits' yesterday, mainly due to the kindness of Martin Cade the Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory who highlighted the bird and my Blog on the PBO Website. In addition Dick Filby's company Rare Bird Alert and Steve Gantlett's magazine Birding World have undertaken to feature this find as the number of readers continued to climb. Arriving home at 16-15 I logged-on to witness the 1,000th 'hit' for today clock up and noted that the Falkland Islands and Malta have now also joined our ranks (which I also put down to PBO involvement).

Finally on this subject, I thank you the readers for your interest and hope you continue to look in, and maybe I'll get Dan Pointon off my back as well, having broken the record for the number of texts I have ever received in a 30 minute period - was rather looking forward to seeing you again matey!

One hour after high water today was about 12-30 when I had planned to return to Ferry Bridge for another look, but the signs didn't seem good under a clear blue sky featuring only the sun and a rapidly waning moon. Ideal conditions for Waders, or any other birds for that matter, to buzz off, which also applied to the cemetery where there was a single Coal Tit and several Goldcrests singing, and this

Wren that put in a brief appearance before I headed for the Bill.

Wheatear featured predominantly at Barleycrates Lane with 30+ showing with c19 Yellow Wagtails in the sheep field.

Willow Warblers were also present, plus c2 each of Chiffchaff & Tree Pipit, c4 Raven, c2 Peregrines, half a dozen Gannet, c2 Swift, a Stonechat and a few House Martins.

At the Obs there were a few other things including this Convolvulus Hawk-moth that had been released overnight from a bedroom in the lighthouse tower, plus another

Wasp Spider at least twice the size of the one shown here some days ago.

Believe it or not, this is a Merlin. As John Down gave me a lift back to Ferry Bridge this bird was 'posing' on a fence post but only until I tried, unsuccessfully, to photograph it perched!

and if they work, these are 2 further video clips from the Floating Oil Rig Buchan Alpha. One shows an example of some of the migration we used to enjoy (occasionally involving hundreds of thousands of birds), while the other is a Water Rail in an environment you may not have seen one in before?

The Jury's Still Out

Did someone say August? This morning, under the protection of 3 layers and a scarf, it seemed more like late October but with the rain gone and still some cloud cover to keep the glare at bay it was just about ideal. Heading for the cemetery, the wind appeared directionless at least in the heart of the conurbation, but further down the road it was felt to be in the north, with maybe a little east in it. Over the past few days it must have visited every point on the compass?

This ragged Robin was my first encounter, but failed to notice immediately the Garden Warbler sat on the Bramble just behind it. When it did manifest itself it was flying to the top of the bush not allowing time to even raise the camera. Perhaps needless to say that was the last that was seen of it, but on the 'plus' side it was a first record for me at this my 'local patch'.

Having announced only the day before yesterday that fungi was scarce in the cemetery today there were 3 of these that I can only presume are Toadstools. The Field Guide is in my hand but apart from there being hundreds of of varieties, they all look the same!

Arriving at Ferry Bridge it was confirmed that the wind was in the northern quarter, and what looked like the same bunch of Gulls were again roosting on the grassy area. On the sea wall was a lone Turnstone (thought you'd be fed up of photies of these by now) and this

Pied Wagtail. Having rattled off just 2 quick shots c2 Wheatear in company with a Swallow flew across the bay giving some hope of a movement of migrants, and the Gull /Terns were similar to yesterday except the c3 Sandwich Terns had increased to c5 with a Common Tern close by as well.

As with Turnstone, the readership may well have had enough of Mediterranean Gull also, but this juvenile perched on this lump of Portland stone was just too much to resist. Not only is this my favourite plumage phase of this stunning Gull the picture is also esthetically pleasing don't you think?

All of that was fine until the Royal Navy arrived in their Parafin Pigeon, well not quite the RN, they are in fact the Fleet Air Arm (or Waffoo's to me and you) a bunch of brave boys and girls who can't quite decide whether they want to be at sea or in the air, and while a decrepit ex-Submariner and they would never agree, it's Best Wishes to them all.

Having flushed everything in sight and undertaken a mid-air waving manoeuvre, obviously mistaking my gesticulations for some kind of greeting, I got to talking to fellow 'birder' Nick Stantiford who was one of the very few who went 'public' during the tussle with the RSPB. Nothing to report on the bird front, but apart from saying he is an ardent reader of this humble journal he has also invited me for a day off the Bill in his boat. Good on ya Nick, and great to see you again today! I waited until he had gone, then allowed this

Redshank to fly in

then spent the next 30 minutes or so

quietly stalking it to get these shots. In so doing a look across the now expossed vegetation to see

a very tiny, rufous Wader.

On size alone, compared with the accompanying

Dunlin, it was sure to be a Stint?

Little Stint was always most likely, but the few I have seen have never been this rufous, so the

doubt bells started to ring. That's when it took to the wing and headed off down the Fleet.

In the meantime this Dunlin was so obliging I couldn't resist it, but soon the bird in question

returned, giving opportunity to take these closer shots

even some with Dunlin

and Ringed Plover for comparison. Red-necked Stint was now being considered, but only ever having seen one in my life and knowing little about identifying such a bird I was perplexed.

Having contacted the usual circle of 'birders' by text announcing Little Stint I returned home not really sure what I had seen, and to refer to the Field Guide. The next move was to send the report and photographs to the PBO hopefully for inclusion on todays website (http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/) which is well worth a look. By now it was looking good, in my humble opinion, for Red-necked.

Later this afternoon I had a call to say that on the photographic evidence there was a suspicion that it could indeed be a Red-necked Stint and several birders headed to Ferry Bridge in the hope of relocating it. By nightfall there had been no news, so I can only assume nothing has been seen of it but I'll await a final judgement from those more learned than I!

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