Strange Phenomena - Kate Bush

We really have been operating on a 'wing and a preyer' over the past few days, but a brief visit to Portland put paid to all of that. My Gud Ol' Mate the Secret Lemonade Drinker not only managed to mend the power supply to my favoured lap-top, but also found a program that cleared out all the thousands of 'junk' photos lying in a hidden file. Seems each time a photograph is processed despite its final resting place, even when the Recycle Bin is cleared, a copy remains in the system. This had reduced the memory of this particular machine at one stage to less than 1Gb, we now have 40Gb. On the strength of that and knowing he is not 'let loose' all that often I decided to take him, as a treat and Thank You, to Ferry Bridge for the first couple of hours of the falling tide.  

On the way we noted a small party of mixed
GREAT BLACK-BACKED and HERRING GULLS

Given the 'phase',

the first 10% of the New Moon,
it was 'top of springs' at the Bridge.
Soon it will be the phase of the moon
when people tune in.
Every girl knows about the punctual blues,
But who's to know the power behind our moves?

Water, water everywhere!
with just a dozen or so 'small' Gulls on one of the only
remaining islands.

First in sight was this

LITTLE EGRET

followed by one of the
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLs
from back along the Chesil Beach and a

juvenile HERRING GULL
but we should have paid earlier attention to the
aforementioned island.

There among the Black-headed Gulls were c4
MEDITERRANEAN GULLs.

Distracted briefly by 2 DIVERS returning from a 'dip' in
West Bay, as we looked back the Waders had started to arrive.

DUNLIN
were followed by this

superbly marked

juvenile

MEDITERRANEAN GULL
that landed directly in front of us.

DUNLIN
a little closer, a small flock of

STARLINGS

and a larger Wader some distance away.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT
was a Year Tick for me!

RINGED PLOVER

The last vestiges of
THRIFT
which in the Spring 'carpets' much of this area.

Dunlinn numbers reached over 50

while this individual was noticed sporting a 'ring' on the left leg.

We did put in a search for a

TURNSTONE
but turned in a 'blank'. However, this one was waiting for us as we
returned to the car park.

Yet again we end on a musical note referring back to today's headline. This 'track' is from the superb

 KICK INSIDE

one of only about a dozen albums I consider 'flawless'.

here's a 'taster'. Music and lyrics to make love by!

Strange Phenomena

Soon it will be the phase of the moon when people tune in.
Every girl knows about the punctual blues,
But who's to know the power behind our moves?
A day of coincidence with the radio,
And a word that won't go away.
We know what they're all going to say.
"G" arrives--"Funny, had a feeling he was on his way!"
We raise our hats to the strange phenomena.
Soul-birds of a feather flock together.
We raise our hats to the hand a-moulding us.
Sure 'nuff, he has the answer, He has the answer
He has the answer, be-duh-be-duh-be-duh-be-duh...
"Om mani padme, Om mani padme,
Om mani padme hum."
You pick up a paper, you read a name.
You go out. It turns up again and again.
You bump into a friend you haven't seen for a long time,
Then into another you only thought about last night.
You hear your sister calling for you,
But you don't know where from.
You know there's something wrong,
But you don't want to believe in a premonition.
We raise our hats to the strange phenomena.
Soul-birds of a feather flock together.
We raise our hats to the hand a-moulding us.
Sure 'nuff, he has the answer,
He has the answer
"Om mani padme hum." 

 The mantra in Tibetan with the six syllables coloured.

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Avalon - Roxy Music

Firstly today a couple of images, found on the Cutting Room floor, from the recent Bournemouth Air Show.

MERLIN HELICOPTER

and the

EUROFIGHTER

but now for some far more dismal news! All too soon my visit to Bristol has come to an end and for the rest of the day I will be heading south leaving behind

Lisa, Bernard and those 3 little Scallywags
Alex, Fred and Benny.

It wouldn't do if Grandpa Bagsy didn't get in on the act

and I know it wont be long before another visit will have to be made. There is a 'quicker' route down to Portland via the M5 but with some time on my side the 'scenic route' through the Mendip Hills and the Somerset Levels seemed a far more idyllic way of making the journey.

is part way along that route and these days noted for breeding
Great White Egret and Little Bittern
there was always a chance of catching up with one, or both.

Synonymous with the 'Levels' are the waterways and agricultural lands

and of course a fantastic haven for all kinds of Wildlife.

Reed Cutting and burning was well underway on the reserve, which personally was thought to be far too early in the year. Migrant birds still abound and even at Parley there are some still feeding young. The question is, how can the RSPB be sure that similarly other creature are not still procreating during the first few days of September? Answer, they 'know it ALL! Bleat over.

FUNGI
on the boardwalk and a

MIGRANT HAWKER DRAGONFLY
but precious little in the way of 'birdlife. Apart from a scattering of
Wildfowl all else amounted to a few vocal Chiffchaffs in the bushes.

Looking over one of the many bridges these fish were shoaling

which I think could have been Greyling? but among them, on closer
inspection, where a couple of 'striped' individuals which may well
have been Perch.

GATEKEEPER BUTTERFLY
along with unidentified

DAMSELFLY?

MICRO MOTH?

and PLANT brought to an end the wildlife watching but the was a
'bonus finale' to this visit.

In the distance stands the monumental
GLASTONBURY TOR

The Tor has been associated with the name AVALON, and identified with King Arthur, since the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's neatly labelled coffins in 1191, recounted by Gerald of Wales. Modern archaeology has revealed several sub-Roman structures here. With the 19th-century resurgence of interest in Celtic mythology, the Tor became associated with Gwyn ap Nudd, who was first Lord of the Underworld, and later King of the Fairies. The Tor came to be represented as an entrance to ANNWN or AVALON, the 'Land of the Fairies'. There is no doubt in my mind that this is surely 

AVALON!

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Sitting? In The Park - Georgie Fame

Just being with these fine Grand Children is enough, I've gained 20 years since being here, so with the weather set fine again and the prospects of a visit to the park

a good breakfast was essential.

ALEX

FRED

MUMMY and BENNY

A more than willing Grandpa Bagsy.

Then comes the 'not so welcome' bit!

Before venturing any further the boys wanted a look at

Grandpa's new car

 

and after functioning every control on the panel, including
knocking half the charge out of the battery and emptying the
'wiper bottle' there was just time for a

quick drink in the garden before leaving.

PUFFED OUT?

THAT'S ONLY HALF OF IT!

and so for an Ice Cream.

On the way home Alex found this Caterpillar.
A fantastic but tiring day - Roll on the next.

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