They Pulled Down Paradise - Put Up A Parking Lot

Soon after arrival back in Weymouth a late lunch (plus a tot or two) was shared with my friend Lesley Brown, and the prospect of a few additions to the lists during the next few days. Starting out this morning at 05:30 the intent was to enjoy once again the 'dawn chorus' that is associated with the reed beds at Radipole Lake. The songsters are mostly (Acrocephalus) Warblers, birds of the sedges and reeds, ably backed by a variety of common garden birds such as Robin, Blackbird, Wren and Song Thrush etc.







New on the scene since my departure are these ghost like and most pleasing sculptures at the northern end of the Rodwell Trail. Arriving at the reserve there was hardly a bird to be heard and after 3 circuits of the loop pathway a few Reed Warblers had come to life but not a single Sedge Warbler was recorded.

Heading towards Westham Bridge I encountering this young lady and her mum  who had, bravely in my opinion, rescued this HERRING GULL from the perils of the main road. We all agreed it best to leave the hapless bird on the grass verge close to the water, but just an hour later is was dead.

 

Looking towards WESTHAM BRIDGE there was the familiar
sight of the long staying





HOODED MERGANSER

which had been seen on Lodmoor the previous day and

describes as "of unknown origin"

Closer inspection revealed a 'ring' on the left leg

which perhaps points to it being the original bird?

 

Walking the western pathway there was just a single and vocal

WHITETHROAT

still seemingly looking for a mate.



A bold WOODPIGEON



and a 'call' Duck were all that was in photo range,

but Pochard and Bearded Tit had now been added to both lists.

After what easily qualified as the least productive and lacklustre morning I have ever spent on this once truly wild area I considered things could only get better. WRONG! That's when these 2 lumps if rock, completed with advertising hording

and this scale model of the Alamo were encountered. I am sorely tempted to 'trip off on one' but will resist save to ask, when are the 'mugs' pouring their hard earned cash into RSPB coffers going to tire of them nibbling away at the very Wildness that they are mandate to protect.

THIS AIN'T A F**KIN' THEME PARK!

OR AT LEAST IT DIDN'T USED TO BE.

 MULLET in the Backwater,

CORMORANT in the Backwater and

my ol' mate JIM, who keeps my glass topped up at various local Rock Festivals, taking his daily constitutional and coffee. 

The Boy(s) Is Back In Town - Thin Lizzy





Good fortune shone on me once again as I prepared to leave Parley Court Farm and my dear friends there. While I wouldn't pretend to have been a close friend of successful Weymouth businessman Dave Jones we did rub shoulders occasionally at spearfishing competitions back in the 70's. However, his sister Mary was a dear friend of mine at school while her twin brother Mickey was an acquaintance. In recent years Dave's son Mickey, now co-director of the business and regular visitor to Spain, has become something of a mate with his latest return via Bournemouth International Airport coinciding with my planned journey to Weymouth where he has always lived. This led him to kindly offer me a lift back stating "your company will be far more interesting than listening to the radio".  

MICKEY JONES and a
REDUNDANT DECKCHAIR SALESMAN

 KING GEORGE III STATUE

 WEYMOUTH SANDS and SEAFRONT (South)

WEYMOUTH SANDS and SEAFRONT (North)

 X53 JURASSIC SERVICE
should have a bit of business for them in the coming days.

JUBILEE CLOCK

 WEYMOUTH INNER HARBOUR

WEYMOUTH OUTER HARBOUR

 and awaiting in the distance and near future

THE ISLE of PORTLAND

You're Gorgeous - Baby Bird

Look out of any window here at Parley Court Farm and you're sure to see either baby birds or incubating and feeding adults, it's magic. On the strength of that, it was thought a good idea to wander the property and check just what could be found  by way of procreation.

As ever there is one pair of MUTE SWAN on Parley Pond,
but the nest containing a number of eggs just a week ago at the
Manor House Pool has now been abandoned and the eggs are gone?

Staying at the pond and soon the recently hatched
MOORHEN chicks emerge from the sedges.

There are Coot here too but don't seem to be in breeding mode.

Not surprisingly MALLARD also produce 'many' ducklings, but mortality rate is high. Apart from the ever attendant Carrion Crows a number of Pike have been caught from the watercourse recently, one hitting the scales at 9.5lb, which are released to the River Stour, so this also doesn't help.

In the stable yard this morning a PIED WAGTAIL was
capture busily nest building, while

HOUSE MARTINs

were commuting from there to the Manor House

with bills loaded with building material.

The Tudor Cottage Pond also has it's quota of MALLARD chicks
which will be monitored to see how many survive to
growing process.

A 'while' BLUEBELL was of interest on the way to the next site
where Janet had reported more nesting activity.

This vehicle is a redundant Horse Box, these days used to transport and store hay for the owners horses. Early this week they towed it to Ringwood, just a few miles away, to pick up a consignment of feed. On their return they noticed a Robin disappearing into the spare wheel,

and there within found a nest with a number of young birds, totally
unaffected by the short tour. The closed 'gapes' can just be seen.

Sticking to the same theme, close by are the stables where 3 horses are accommodated and their tack hung in the covered area. Here too a pair of ROBINs have taken up residence in a 'nose-bag'.

Here the sitting bird can be seen and as it always flies
away when the ladies rig the horses for a morning ride,

the opportunity was taken to photograph the eggs.

Another small diversion were the GOATs which always attract me

as they are 'pets' and live a life of Riley.

As noted last week the ROOKs continue to tend there young,

while a number of 'squabs' young WOOD PIGEONs have
mature to 'flying' from this nest.

BARN SWALLOW
are nesting in just every out-building on the property

but this pair seem to be a little confused as this is a 'Garage'!

HOUSE SPARROW