Breakfast In America - Supertramp

Just in time to catch the Monday deadline for today's post, I am in the home of Jeff & Doreen Vance along with their 3 lovely children Taylor, Rya and Kyle, but more of that later. It'd 16-30 here in Miles City, Montana which is 7 hours behind the UK so I only had 3/4 of an hour before Jeff stepped in to save the day.

To catch up with yesterday, we arrived Minnesota, St Paul's just a little behind schedule, but with still sufficient daylight to view a bird or two. I had guessed, as usual, that the first species to be seen would be Feral Pigeon, but that was beaten to the notebook by Purple Martin. A cloud of hundreds were easy to identify at distance as the only 'all dark' hirundine on the sub-continent, and similarly the American Crow is the only corvid hereabouts. So, with the daylight rapidly fading there were just 2 choices, either move on, if a Greyhound was available, or a motel. As luck would have it there was just a one hour wait for a service to Bismarck, North Dakota which not only progressed my journey but saved paying a hotel as well.

Before departing Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota there was a photo chance with Common Grackle, this one being of the 'bronze' variety and as the name suggests very common and gregarious. Also I had to activate my 15 days voucher for unlimited travel on the Greyhound coaches and all their connected operators.

Trip Ticks - 4 Lifers - 0

By 21-00 we were on our way to Bismarck capital city of North Dakota, which I was hoping to be the springboard for a southerly ride into South Dakota, but there was a change of coach at Fargo and a whole change of plan. It was there I met Jeff as he gave me a hand to change buses as he was the new driver for the rest of the trip. We seemed to hit it off immediately we got underway, and having told him my plan he was quick to tell me there might be some difficulty with a connection. Arriving Bismarck close to midnight, the clerk at the bus depot confirmed that although there was transport to Pierre it would cost me a further $40 as it was a shuttle not covered by my open ticket. There was another snag also as he checked that ticket, the young lady who had issued it had not entered an expiration date on the ticket making it impossible to issue another. This is where Jeff stepped in both suggesting I miss Pierre and a long delay and making several telephone calls to sort out the ticket problem. He also said that if I stayed on the coach with him I could do the change in Billings, Montana but while this was a longer distance it would take less time. I had a good sleep before waking just before we crossed the border into Montana

and this was the first photograph of the day as we continued through the grain growing belt.

Then followed the vast national Grassland, by which time Jeff had doubled as driver and personal tour guide, alerting me to much of interest on the way.

Then we drove through the Montana Badlands

and some of the wildlife included this American Bison which despite the fence this a truly 'wild' animal.

Until recently he was the alpha male but has now been ousted by a younger beast.

Swainson's Hawk

Through the Roosevelt NP where we found this

Ringed Turtle-dove at our first daylight stop.

Also on offer where several small groups of White-tailed & Mule Deer plus Prong-horn Antelope but both of the latter escaped the camera.

We had now arrived in Custer County, Montana and passed this stand of trees which is the area where General Custer's army camped for the last time before reaching the Little Big Horn some 100 miles to the south.

All of this time Jeff and I had been discussing the prospects of some birdwatching and had called his wife as she goes birding regularly in the area. He then suggested I use Mile City as a staging post and catch the ongoing coach to Billings this evening which in turn would meet up for the connection into South Dakota. Not only this. but once Jeff had handed over to his relief driver, he took me to

This Nature Reserve, collecting me 5 hours later.

The first thing I noticed were the number of Grasshoppers, Coneheads, Crickets etc, in what could be described as 'plague proportions'.

and I would say if this sort of thing continues there will be a lot more in the none to distant future.

Western Meadowlark

thought to be Nashville Warbler

House Wren

Red-breasted Nuthatch

What used to be my preference Myrtle (now Yellow-rumped) Warbler

Cedar Waxwings

juvenile Cedar Waxwing

young American Robin

adult American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco

The best shot I could achieve of a Brown Thrasher

After Doreen had driven back the 7 miles to pick me up, Jeff took me to the library to update this Blog. On the way he invited me to dinner with his family in their home, what a privileged! In the event the library doesn't open on a Monday so they allowed me to use their computer as well. At dinner we also had the pleasure of the company of Doreen's dad and mum who are 'rancher' further down state and in about an hour they plan to take me to the Bus Depot, ending a fantastic day.

Bon Apatite

From front left Doreen's father Roger, her mum Edith, Doreen, Jeff, Taylor, Rya and Kyle.

Additions, not already mentioned, to the trip list include:- Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Prairie Falcon* (3), Downy Woodpecker, Cliff Swallow, Northern Flicker (both Red-shafted and Guilded), White-crowned Sparrow, Blue Jay, Rufous-sided Towhee, Wilson's Warbler, Grey Catbird, Sage Thrasher*, Chipping Sparrow, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Ferruginous Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. * denote ''world lifer'.

Trip Ticks - 27 World Lifers - 3

There's A Feeling I Get When I Look to the WEST

and my spirit is crying for leaving.

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
and the voices of those who stand looking.

And it makes me wonder!

Minneapolis Flag



Minneapolis Seal

It will be a bit of a 'westerly' migration for me to day as I fly KLM to the USA, destination Minneapolis, (nicknamed the 'City of Lakes') the largest city in the State of Minnesota and the 48th biggest in America. This is the springboard for what will be nearly 3 weeks of 'State hopping', mainly on the Greyhound Bus Network and a chance to take what comes along while visiting a number of States not seen before. Having already covered 32 of the 50, it would be a shame not to do the rest?

I'll be looking for Internet access on the way, hoping to keep a continuous diary, so hope to be in touch with the readership again soon. In the mean time here is part II of the Kingfisher series.

And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

The second in the Kingfishers of the World series.

New Zealand Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher - sub-Saharan Africa & Asia.

Ringed Kingfisher - Southern USA plus Central & South America.

Sacred Kingfisher - Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands.

Stork-billed Kingfisher - Southern Asia.

White-throated or Smyrna Kingfisher - Eurasia.

Woodland Kingfisher - sub Saharan Africa.

and what a fantastic milestone, as today we welcome the 100th country / region to our readership. Puerto Rico brought up the 99th participant and now Azerbaijan brings up 'the ton'. Welcome to one and all and PLEASE pass on this link to everyone on your e-mail address list or write it out for all your friends and families, it's good to welcome you all!

In Memory of Eddie Franklin 1953 - 2005

With the prospect of finding any birds anywhere today, I decided to head immediately for Portland Bill this morning where, if they thought it was 'dank' over there, they should have taken a look at Weymouth which was more like Mordor than a sea-side resort. With only one glimmer of light in an otherwise dark tunnel, a Wryneck at Barleycrates Lane was the only bird of note, while others included several Wheatear, c3 Whincat, singles of Song Thrush and Whitethroat and a few Swallows seemingly reluctant to cross the coast. The alternative was a look at the Weymouth Sea Life Park & Marine Sanctuary where, on the way, there was another chance to view the

Ocean Tug Nordica this time at work in the bay.

Almost to the day, it was 5 years since many of us lost our dear mate Eddie Franklin who drowned aboard his small trawler saving the lives of the other 2 people on the boat at the time. Tina Bowerman, who had invited me along today, was one of those that when his boat started taking water was saved by Eddie's quick thinking but he was trapped in the wheelhouse. Many of the specimens in the Sea life Centre had been caught and donated by our mate, and today gave us a little time to reflect on a quiet and lovable man.

Several of the species herein remain nameless,

but the idea is just to give the reader a look at what is on offer in this most interesting of places should they ever get the opportunity to visit the town.

The original Pisces III which was part of one of the deepest recoveries the world has ever seen.

It is hoped that by right clicking on this image to magnify, all will be reveled.

This I know is an Undulate Ray,

and this a shoal of Mackerel,
while these are

Humboldt Penguins.

Some kind of Terrapin,

an Otter,

a model of St Paul's Cathedral and other London buildings and a

rather beautiful tropical fish.

finally, just a glimpse behind the scenes, which doesn't begin to show the logistics required to run such a fantastic place.

It's dinner with the Edwards' this evening so I better away and get my party frock on - Manana!

Unlikely Bird, Even Less Likely Location

Sunny, fine, warm, a light breeze that had backed into the west and as ever a fair chance of a bird or two. With little of note in the cemetery, it was across the bye-pass to Radipole which once served as my favourite few acres on earth, but the RSPB have put paid to that. There were a few Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers along with the odd Sedge Warbler, but most of the action was at the bridge close to the Visitor's Centre. Kingfisher and Common Snipe were feeding along the margins as a pair of Common Terns continues to tend the needs of their offspring, while a

Water Rail scurried in and out of the reed-bed. That being all I walked, via the sea front, to Lodmoor where yesterday's grand collection of Waders remained pretty much as before, except for the addition of a Black-tailed Godwit that appeared newly arrived, and more

Common Snipe.

Additionally, and of interest were the vast number of Canada Geese that flew in, I don't remember seeing quite that many here before, and as they came to land

each corkscrewed in a maneuver known as 'whiffling' effectively loosing air from under the wings to allow rapid decent.

Greenshank, likely one of the c4 seen yesterday.

It is also good to see so many berries on the bushes, like this Hawthorn, which should the weather get severe like last winter, could be the savior of many a northern Thrush such as Redwing and Fieldfare.

I had timed my visit to the moor to coincide with the daily opening of the Sealife Park from where I have recently received a complimentary invitation, but as I reached the furthest point of my walk there was a text from fellow birder John Down announcing "Pec Sand at Fancy's Close, Portland"! Roughly translated, it was to tell me that a rare vagrant Wader had been found in the village of Easton at the Top of Portland, and the invitation was put on hold.

Fancy's Close is next to the road I used to live in and is a recent addition of very nice town houses, surrounding what might be described as a small 'village green', but not at all likely a place to host a 'rare yank'. I think if you magnify this photo you can just see the bird close to the sapling in front of the dark coloured car, central! But don't worry, here are a few better shots.

When I arrived, after a second 'twitchy' bus ride from the other side of the Borough, the

Pectoral Sandpiper was resting, head under wing, and certainly not showing any concerns about the human activity around it.

In fact it was soon made clear that this was the second day that it had been here with the residents putting the news out today.

During this time, children had been playing football and other games on the grassy area, and each time the ball went near the bird it simply hopped out of the way.

The Pectoral Sandpiper (showing the band where the lower breast meets the belly, giving it this name) breeds across Northern Siberia, Arctic Canada & Alaska with most spending the winter in South America.

Some do however visit south eastern Australia & New Zealand during the freeze,

with the odd one, luckily, popping into the UK en-route.

It should also be noted that this couldn't have been a better location for a minor twitch, as the grassy area is fenced off ('most' birders keeping outside of this I am told), there is more than adequate car parking, the light & weather were good and even the locals friendly and enjoying the moment. Birding mates Peter & Debbie Saunders told me that one lady came out of her house and asked if anyone would like a cup of coffee or tea, which one or two observers took up, including themselves.

This visit then tied in perfectly with the 'turn of the tide', so Ferry Bridge was the next stop. Unfortunately, nearly a total disappointment with very few birds save the usual Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Mediterranean Gulls. However, this is a hobby where things are rarely still and there's usually 'something' to be seen, as this sequence of photographs show.

Walking over the bridge, I stopped to watch this

Shag hunting and had decided to take a few shots anyway.

Big bonus then when it surfaced with this Blenny.

On size alone, the fish is though to be a Tompot Blenny, as its smaller cousin the Common Blenny only grow up to about 30mm.

Either way it made a tasty snack for the Shag, and it can be seen from these 'details' it had

no intention of letting it go with a pincer like grip in the eye sockets. It did swallow it, as Shags do, in one easy gulp.

and finally, this Army 'work boat' passed by on its way back to the Bridging Camp further down the Fleet.

PS - c5 Ravens flew overhead as I arrived home.