Kites - Simon Dupree & the Big Sound (later to become Gentle Giant)

With some big changes in the offing for my future there is no shortage of things to do at home these days. So much so that since my return from Cork I have had to all but shelved social events, including lunch with No1 daughter and a trip to Kew Gardens, in favour of making some determined progress. However, there is often an exception to any rule so in the eye of a rain storm last evening I made my way to the

at Ferry Bridge to meet my 2 new found friends from the Orient, along with a Dutchman I had not yet met.

I had visited this establishment twice before, both soon after it opened a few years ago, and on first glance it seemed much improvement had been made under new management.

 

WEI GE (China) and SYENNY LEE (Taiwan) had both made it through the rain and seemed as though they were keen to get on with the dining, but Wei had a little formality to perform before we did. The occasion was to say farewell to her before she returns to Italy tomorrow to continue her studies before finally going back to China.

I was rightly thrilled to hear that the short excursions I had taken them on had been a memorable part of their stay in Weymouth and Portland and was given this beautifully decorated Chinese box

 

containing an equally intricate tiny 'Kite' kite. Wei described how her parents had taught her to make such things as a child, so what a fitting gift!

During all of this, David our Dutch company and flatmate to the ladies was quietly looking on, and all were seeking help with the menu. On reaching the

JOHN DORY they were all intrigued to know the fanciful story as to how it got such a strange name. Also known as St Peter's Fish (the Janitore or door [dory] keeper to the gates of heaven) as he was commanded by Jesus to bring this species, leaving his thumb and finger prints on either side of its flanks. I had often thought of being a salesman, "3 John Dory's and a plate of Sprats please"!

 

As for 'main course' how could you possibly dine on Portland without taking what is unarguably the finest Crab in the world?, "3 Crabs plus 1 Skate wing please"! A memorable evening, bon voyage to Wei in the hope of all being back together one day. 

With the opening ceremony for the Para-Olympics taking place this very evening, it was no surprise to see HMS Bulwark steaming past Portland Breakwater to take up station as 'Guard Ship' once again.

However, for me there was even more interest on the Ferry Bridge foreshore encountering 2 

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLs with extremely dark upper wing and mantle feathers.

Without going into technicalities, they do not look like the 'race' commonly found in Great Britain so points to their origin being possibly north eastern Europe.

I wasn't too sure about this juvenile Gull in company with the above.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

The SANDERLING at the same location were also slightly more obliging, so couldn't resist publishing these shots.

 

High on the agenda today was catching up with the FUNGAL PUNKS as they too were about to depart for sunny Stockport, which I did close to the Portland Bird Observatory (background) allowing me to say my goodbyes. I had already spent some time with Jill and Dave, but unusually daughter Katie had been absent but on another mission. Talk about 'don't let the looks fool you', as just yesterday this beautiful young lady attained a BLACK BELT in Karate!!

 

Shortly after a second bon voyage in as many days, the WRYNECK (a small European Woodpecker) showed itself again in the Obs Quarry

giving the fortunate half dozen of us some excellent views and the chance of a distant photograph or so.

It was a bit flighty, but even so all were satisfied with what we had seen, and I for one was ready for another coffee - a visit to the Secret Lemonade Drinker me thinks. Once there and telling him of my good fortune we returned to the quarry much faster than I had left. News was, it had not been seen for a full 30 minutes but

within seconds of the words being uttered it broke cover, perched in the open, albeit a little more distant than before,

and started WRYING its NECK. A 'lifer' for Secret and the accolade from him of being the Best Birder on the Planet for me. It's OK I'll be back in the mire again shortly!

Tiger Feet - Mud

I thought my luck had changed first thing this morning as there was a tickling sensation on my chest. No such luck, it was simply this fine specimen that had chosen to share my bed for a while, thankfully I didn't squash it!

 

 

ORB WEB SPIDER

A SPIDER wanders aimlessly within the warmth of a shadow,
Not the regal creature of border caves.

But poor, misguided and directionless

 Familiar of some obscure Scottish poet.
The mist crawls from the canal
Like a primordial phantom of romance
To curl, under a cascade of neon pollen.
While I sit tied to the phone like an expectant father.
Your carnation will rot in a vase.

Brief Encounter, the prelude to the Bitter Suite by Marillion. 
after all that excitement there was little more during the day than:-

COLLARED DOVE

The wet weather has been good for exposing many thousands of Slugs and SNAILs.

More GULLs

with c2 parent GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLs tending a small family

of c3 juveniles.

Otherwise, with only a PIED WAGTAIL coming within camera range, it was a quick scamper to the Bird Observatory to check out what had been caught in the Moth Traps overnight. Among many others there were representatives of

THE LACKEY

FLAME SHOULDER and

ORANGE SWIFT

 

 

COMMON BUZZARDs on Bill Hill.

Still some HOUSE MARTIN nestlings in Southwell Village.

Tiger Slaughtered in Cold Blood

Now, here's justice for you! (1) You capture and drag one of the most magnificent beasts on earth from it's natural environment and confine it to an Internment Camp, (2) You put it in the charge of what are unarguably self defining 'INCOMPETENT' human beings. (3) The afore mentioned leave the cage door wide open, proof if proof were needed. (4) The Tiger then follows its natural instincts and mauls to death one of the 'screws'! (5) Then the so called Senior Guardian of the Beasts takes a gun and murders it in 'cold blood' without further ado????

My view:- why not have left the hapless beast (or its fore-fathers) where they are suppose to be naturally, and what a pity it only managed to get one of the Incompetents!

Final Score

Screws 1  -  Wildlife 1

The Power & The Glory - Gentle Giant

Once again the weather forecaster got it right, and while it wasn't a blistering Summer's Day it was almost unbroken sunshine with just a few passing clouds and a gentle north westerly breeze.

With the exception of a rapidly departing LITTLE EGRET, things at Ferry Bridge had remained much the same as the past few days where among the 200 or so mixed Waders (mostly Ringed Plover and Dunlin)

c3 TURNSTONE,

the KNOT and c7 SANDERLING remained.

Reaching Southwell I was interested to visit what used to be the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment to see the status of the temporary accommodation provided for the 'Olympic' Police Force and was surprised to note it had all been removed. There were reports in the press (well not the real 'press' just the Dorset Echo) suggesting that it had been substandard, but talking to a number of those living there every facility had been afforded, sanitary and catering were both of the best with the single word description being 'comfortable'. Well done to ALL those who took care of us during this fantastic event!

Yes, we've all seen this image before, but when I reach the crest of the hill above Culverwell and see the sun shining on this lighthouse, which is the Portland Bird Observatory, I want to share it with everybody!

Within, there had been a decent overnight haul of Moths best of which was

THE COSMOPOLITAN, not rare but uncommon so well worth seeing again, and what a great name? Although the 'mist nets' had been deployed there was little to show for the effort, but there was some excitement to come from seaward 

 

as the ungainly looking MARSHALL BOAT

 

and the CROWDS took up station to view the 2012 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race.

Here are just some of the entrants as they rounded The Bill.

Not surprisingly our friends Simon Earwicker and Deborah Tessier were among the throng and a perfect

opportunity to show off the beautiful 'garden tile' Deborah had made for me. It is now in pride of place!

 

Another section of the crowd with the 'Active Lighthouse ' as a backdrop.

Despite the rain, there has been something of a decent crop of Hay from the Bill Fields, here Curtis Gould completes the final part of the harvest loading and transporting the bales back to the Southwell Farm. This shot also features the 'oldest' of Portland's 3 Lighthouses, I for one certainly wouldn't want to leave that one out.

A WHEATEAR takes a rest and final feed before embarking on the English Channel passage

as Holiday Makers continue to arrive on the open-top bus service from Weymouth!