Long Tall Sally - Little Richard

With a few things to catch up on this morning and with the last couple of days producing very little, I decided to do the chores before going for the 09:30 bus to Portland. Having barely looked at the weather and with the mobile phone out of reach for the moment, I just caught the fading strains of the ringing tone. The missed call, timed at 08:17, was from Ian Stanley, which could only mean one thing, stimulating an immediate recall. Fortunately I was dressed and ready to go as Ian announced "Black-winged Stilt outside the Radipole Visitor's Centre"! At a brisk pace towards the reserve, making telephone calls and sending texts as I went, it seemed what is a short walk on any other day was on this occasion akin to a marathon. Just about to reach the bridge, and the 3 or 4 'birders' who had beaten me to it, the jangling of

Bearded Tit emitted from the reed-bed a chance not to be missed given the scarcity of this species so far in 2011. After a few 'clicks' of the shutter I reached the bridge

with this sight meeting my eyes, from l to r Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe (distant), the target bird and Common Tern.

A closer view of the Black-winged Stilt

and Common Tern.

The Stilt was extremely active, even taking to the air at one point and completing a circuit of the lagoon, before settling once again to preen. There are more pictures at the end of this post.

In addition it was noticed that some Coot chicks

are now hatched and, as usual, making strong demands on parent birds.

There were also a good number of large Common Carp viewable from the bridge with my mate Dave Tissington, himself a seasoned Carp angler, suggesting this individual to be in the region of 15 pounds in weight.

One sharp eyed member of the throng also spotted a male Garganey

some distance away but fortunately in open water so could be seen well. With the excitement subsiding, there was chance to take note of the weather and a Marsh Harrier, also at great distance and altitude, which featured a half covered sky, a generally chillier feel than yesterday but some bright sunny periods. Afforded a lift to the Bird Observatory by the Warden Martin Cade, I was now in the planned position had there been no rarity. However, it wouldn't be true to say precisely, as if I had made my own way to the Obs it is highly unlikely there would have been connection with this

Turtle Dove that did coincide perfectly with our arrival

but lingered only a matter of seconds. With 2 'Year Ticks' in the bag it was worth a short search for the Dove, but with no luck there was chance to capture this image

of a pair of Magpies breakfasting on a dead Rabbit.

Returning to the Obs it was noticed that this Honeysuckle will doubtless soon be in bloom, and with a single Pomarine Skua plus about 30 Manx Shearwaters for good measure it was soon time to catch the bus for Ferrybridge for the turn of the tide.

Nowhere near the number of Waders as in recent days, but there was a single Sanderling among the 60 or so Dunlin but there was disturbing activity close by.

Having reported yesterday the sighting of the first Little Tern on a nest, today the RSPB construction gang have moved in! It's the 20th of May for Christ's sake and here are John Dadd and his marauders building, heaven knows what, a matter of a few yards from this sensitive breeding colony of Globally Threatened Sea Birds. Am I alone in thinking this is tantamount to 'breaking the law' or am I also a little too sensitive?

Is it the new Fleet Visitor's Centre, a Hamburger & Trinket Store or just the RSPB once again trying (without success) to justify their existence - LEAVE THEM TERNS ALONE!

A sub-adult Herring Gull finds a tasty Limpet for lunch.

Finally, a Pink-legged Pictorial

Black-winged Stilt in company with a Gadwall

In company with Shelduck

"Oh by the way, which one's Pink" - Welcome to the Machine (Floyd)

Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind

It maybe a little premature to mention the 'S' word just yet, but given the azure blue and clear sky, virtually no wind (except on exposed coasts) and shirt-sleeve temperatures it was 'Summery' to say the least. Another day for heading directly for Portland, I was taken there by a bus driver familiar to me but whom I knew nothing about. After a chat it turned out that Ian 'Whacker' Payne was not only in the same branch of the service as myself but was also a member of the Submarine Service during the years I served. I hope you get a chance to look at the Blog Whacker, and if so welcome aboard!

It was soon apparent that Landowner Curtis Gould's gesture to keep the mud flowing for the

resident House Martin population by keeping the puddles topped up with water was not a one off.

The water continues to keep the soil soft and is undoubtedly instrumental in helping towards successful breeding this year - let's hope so and THANKS Curt!

With little else on offer it was straight to the Portland Bird Observatory where things were little better, but as good fortune would have it there was a moment of respite

as the Warden found this Lesser Whitethroat in one of the mist nets. As the good fortune didn't last, after a coffee and bun, I turned my attentions to Butterflies and headed for the West Cliff.

On the way this slightly unfamiliar looking 'chopper past overhead, which I intended to investigate on my return home. As luck would have it a visit to Mountain Warehouse on St Mary;s Street, Weymouth to buy a 'dry bag' for my camera had the problem solved. One of 3 most helpful assistants in the shop just happened to be an aviation boffin, and quick as a flash advised that it is a Royal Navy (Westland) Lynx Wildcat AW159 which is one of only 3 prototypes flying at the moment. As a rider, I would say that anyone requiring camping, travel or equipment of that ilk, this is the store to visit!

With plenty of insects on the wing, it wasn't long before both Male and

Female Common Blue Butterfly were seen,

with the male even allowing a glimpse of the under-wing. However, it was some a little less common that I was searching for, but would have to wait a little longer for that.

In the meantime, it was interesting to note this shining example of what is thought to be Oedemera nobilis which unfortunately has no 'common name' on a Thrift flower.

The Auks on the ledges seem to be doing well also, with this group of Guillemots being look over by a single Shag.

As stated a couple of weeks ago after our visit to Osmington Mills, it is an uncommon sight these days to see Spear-Fishermen in our waters, but these 2 fellows were doing just that and had at their disposal some of the most upmarket gear, including the boat, I have ever seen.

A few Small Heath Butterflies also put in an appearance but then the prize I was hoping for,

one of more than a dozen Small Blue Butterflies.

Swallows were also landing on the compound fence and it was also noted

that the Thrift (or Sea Pinks) here are still in full bloom, well behind those at Ferrybridge which are now withering rapidly.

Finally today, I walked back along the East Cliff where, close to Chenye House, I saw Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Kestrel but, even after a long search, no sign of any Wall Lizards at the adjacent Duncecroft Quarry - I'll try again later.

Mrs Robinson (The Graduate) - Simon & Garfunkl

A slightly different stance on the 'birding' today, as I decided to monitor the full 'ebb' of what are now spring tides. High water was at 08:00, with the weather remaining dry except for extremely low cloud or high fog banks covering most of the region despite a fresh westerly blow.

Huddled in the lee of the Fleet Visitors Centre, the first birds on display were a Skylark rising and falling like a melodious yo yo, a Kestrel busily hunting the verges of Beach Road and just a few tardy Swallows, still presumably arriving from the south.

This bright yellow plant a member of the Pea family (maybe Birdsfoot Trefoil or Yellow Vetch? help John) is now replacing the rapidly wilting Thrift

with the first bird to take advantage of the newly uncovered food source was this Jackdaw, seemingly one of a pair.

House Sparrows were also hard at work,

dashing from the sanctuary of the Tamarisk in search of food for their noisy young unseen in the eves of the building.

The first of the Waders I had come to see were a small scouting party of Dunlin and with so few present it was easy to pick out

a single Sanderling with one of the Dunlin in the background.

One of 2 Rooks was also taking advantage of the morsels left by visitors and also digging into the hard earth in search of something a little more substantial. About now, 2 flocks of 40 or so each Ringed Plover flew close past me and landed on the shingle of the Little Tern colony, where today there could have been as many as 20 individuals, a good sign. I am also informed that the first nest had been detected by the continuous watch keepers from the RSPB who will once again be guarding these endangered birds (24/7) throughout the full breeding period.

In addition to an estimated 150 Dunlin (impossible for me to count as being so flighty) there were also 2 Oystercatchers, a single Bar-tailed Godwit and a Little Stint, not totally unexpected but welcome all the same. It too was extremely mobile but eventually fell to the Visitor's Centre telescope but wouldn't allow anything like a close approach. This brought up the 250th species in GB this year, and comparing this figure to the last decades 'full year totals' only two outnumbered this - year 2000 = 258 species and 2002 = a hard fought 298 my best year ever.

Before leaving 2 sub-adult Gulls dropped in, this Great Black-backed Gull

and a Herring Gull but it was now time to pop down the pub for a pint and some Fish & Chips.

There are always loads of people to talk to down The Swan and among them is the ever welcome company of Ted King, looking a little pensive, someone must have reminded him it was his round?

Also there was 'Shipmate' Arthur Copus, who is a legend in his own 'lunchtime'. A man who elevated himself from Boy Seaman to Commander Royal Navy and these days involves himself in who knows how many acts of 'good works'.

and what a way to end this post today as the proudest Dad in the world as my Little Girl in Australia attended her 'Graduation'.

The Family York (l to r) Bernard, Frederick III, Alexander the Great and Lisa (mortar board and all). The rest of the series need no caption except to say

WELL DONE MY DARLING, I LOVE YOU!

PS

There follows the post 'lost to the ether' and not found until now, which should have been posted on 12/05/2011.