All In The Game - Cliff Richard

I drove to the village of Emsworth in Hampshire yesterday, which is literally no more than a stones throw from the West Sussex border, to pay a short visit to my dear friends Paul (Winger) and Teresa (Tess) Lifton. A couple always 'interested' in wildlife up until a couple of years ago when on a similar day to the one we had today, they 'got the bug'. On numerous previous visits they were always happy to recognise my passion for wild birds with at least one day set aside to undertake what is effectively a Mini Bird Race. Each of the party would take a guess at how many species may be seen during the sortie, with the totals today reading Tess 75, Paul 62 and me 60 - the game starts the moment we get up!

WOOD PIGEON,

COLLARED DOVE,

BLUE TIT and

GREAT TIT were entered in the log while we ate breakfast, as were
Hose Sparrow, Greenfinch, Robin and Starling.
All the rest of our days birding would take place in
West Sussex where en-route we scored Feral Pigeon, Mallard
Black-headed and Herring Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw,
and Rook before arriving at

IVY LAKE
No Kingfisher as advertised on the notice board

but other more 'common fare' were on show.

MALLARD,

MOORHEN

COMMON TERN,

a well worn FLY AGARIC fungi did not enter the list

but GREAT CRESTED GREBE,

GOLDCREST,
Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Jay, Wren,
Willow Warbler, Cormorant, Cetti's Warbler, Dunnock, Chaffinch,
 
and LONG-TAILED TIT followed before reaching

There to greet us were
 
 SWALLOW and House Martin along with the chance to

photograph JACKDAW already recorded.

At the 'feeders' CHIFFCHAFF were in company with Goldfinch,
and Pied Wagtail and more

FUNGI
was seen as we took the short walk to

 

the HIDE looking directly over the main road and into the

LAGOON. There we saw Shelduck, Lapwing, Pheasant, Kestrel,

and a distant Wader which eventually, after bringing the telescope
into play, was seen to be a
COMMON SANDPIPER.
A small flock of Stock Doves and a Raven that had found a good
meal were considered 'bonuses' as we continued to

 

in the hope of a female Pied Flycatcher which had been there all
week and would have been a Year Tick for the Lifton's had we seen it
unfortunately, even after a long search we didn't!

However, this deficit was soon made up by at least half a dozen

 

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

and previously seen CORMORANT

before we even got to the water's edge.

Once there it was just a short hour to the 'top of the tide'
which in time honoured fashion pushes Wading Birds to roost.

REDSHANK

were first to fly in and joined, fairly close to our position, by

KNOT (middle) and DUNLIN.

Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover were
all in good numbers while the Grey Plover amounted to c3 and
Bar-tailed Godwit just a single. Other additions included Wigeon,
the late appearance of a Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Great Black-
backed Gull and yet another unexpected bird Arctic Tern!

Decamping to the

shingle beach, among the SEA KALE (Cabbage) we did a

mini sea-watch which only resulted in a single addition,

GANNET

We were all quiet amused at this 'red-nosed' monster passing
overhead, and wondered how many onboard were in similar state.

I expect you were all just dying to see
BILLY BUTLIN'S across the bay at Bognor Regis, but now time was
pressing and we needed to hurry on to the final location of the day
Thorney Island where there was at least one reasonable expectation!

 

OSPREY was distant, but it was an Osprey and a very welcome
addition to the day list. It would have been an addition to my
Year List too had one not flown over the Motorway as I neared
Gosport yesterday. Common Buzzard and Linnet were also seen
here, and as we were about to call it a day a small flock of

YELLOW WAGTAILS
flushed from beneath the nearby cows.

That should make a total of 68 which made it a fairly 'close call' all round, however as the total was revealed Paul turned out to be the eventual winner - CONGRATS to him. Home was where the Curry and Eton Mess, with fresh home grown Raspberries were, and a convivial evening to follow.

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Bird of Prey - Uriah Heep

In transit today, a whole 40 miles including a short stop off at Blashford Lakes. Nothing but the usual fare there but again the air was full of prospective sightings of the now daily Osprey. Seems it turns up about 09:00 each day, steals a fish then high-tails it to who knows where. It was felt that another series of Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Dunnock photographs at the various feeding stations might deter the reader, so into the archive for some proper Osprey shots!

These were taken in the small sea-side town of Falmouth

nearly 800 miles north of Perth on Australia's west coast.

During that trip in 2012 I stuck mainly to the west coast covering the
route from Perth to Albany (300 miles) in the south, via the coastal
highway, then returning along the 'inland' track to Perth.

From there it was a continuation north, keeping once again to the
coast road, reaching as far as Port Headland (1,000 miles)

before returning to Perth via the Western Dessert Highway.

Sleeping in the car on occasion was fantastic as lay-bys there
just lend themselves to that type of travelling.

On arrival I would park up facing west and watch the sun
drop below the horizon while eating a supper of fish and bread,

then turn the car around to watch it rise next morning.

Signs of Tonsillitis!
The other thing about that FANTASTIC continent is the

availability of 'Rest Stops' (garages). OK, you might have to
drive 200 miles to find one but once there showers, toilets and
at most your first cup of coffee is 'free' while the food and craic,
mostly with Lorry Drivers, is terrific. I feel a trip coming on!

CRESTED TERN

I approached to within 10 feet of this bird one of eleven that day!
and while we're at it,

a hark back to our recent

BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE

these images were taken on the same trip.

There were a number of identification issues as part of yesterday's post which, with the kind help of my learned friends, have been rectified or added to that post. Those interested may like to revisit today!

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In the Plain - Savage Rose

Clear, cool and cloudless nights are not usually conducive with prolific catches of Moth, so add to that a 'near'

FULL-MOON
and you have the 'kiss of death'. At least that is what I though
reaching the bedroom last night! Not withstanding there were a
number of interesting specimens within including this

HARVESTMAN SPIDER

the Micro

GARDEN PEBBLE

what is thought to be a baby

LEAF/FROGHOPPER?

 PINK-BARRED SALLOW

This specimen is the far more unusual form, devoid of markings,

of THE SALLOW (Xanthia icteritia flavescens)

the beautiful
FROSTED ORANGE*

2 variants of

LUNAR UNDERWING

Not in the trap, but perched on my car parcel shelf in the
garage the by no means 'rare' but beautifully marked

 HERALD.

This PLUME MOTH Sp

 and this nifty little DANCE FLY brought up a better catch than
most days recently.
Otherwise around the farm a bedraggled

 ROBIN
sought sanctuary under the wheel-arch of a car, while

 at long last we have now 'seen' a

 GOLDCREST
They have been present here throughout the year, and undoubtedly
bred, but have been very much keeping their own council!

 GREY HERON

in the 'wood pile' was the last of the images.

Other activity here over the last few days has seen 'dozens' of Swallows and House Martins congregating on the telephone wire prior to departing for warmer climbs. Both Tawny and Barn Owls are now heard on a nightly basis, while Hugh has had 2 sightings of the later on consecutive early mornings. Down by the riverside Reed and Sedge Warblers now all seem to have departed, with still no 'vocals' from Cetti's Warbler, undoubtedly they are there. Kingfisher too is now a 'daily' sighting and also vocal, both 'large' Woodpeckers seem to have had a successful breeding season as have Lapwing.

With the i-Pod now firmly installed in the car I'm revisiting bands that have for far too long been confined to the attic. Danish Psychedelic outfit 'Savage Rose' were highly thought of from their inception in 1967. Three years later, after 'In the Plain' had arrived, a few of us from the ship caught up with them (I believe it was) at the Kimbles Ballroom, Southsea. By then we were all hyped up on Floyd, Beatle, Stones et al but this was a new genre with vocalist Anisette, drummer Alex Riel and Andres Koppel keyboards coming over as 'outstanding'!

Long Before I was Born 

from the seminal album

Music Critic Joe Viglione's slant on the album:-
In the Plain by Denmark's Savage Rose has a striking cover photo with psychedelic colour coordinated band members surrounded by wild pink lettering of the group name. Inside is innovative music, pretty much living up to the typical Polygram hype from this era written on the back cover. "Let's See Her" sounds like Ten Wheel Drive meets Vanilla Fudge; brothers Anders Koppel and Thomas Koppel wrote seven of the eight tracks, and created with this one clever sound and arrangements. The sleeper on In the Plain, though, is the one non-original, five minutes and 38 seconds of "Ride My Mountain," a composition by Jade. It's a wonderful production number where Anisette's vocal scream out over the very together instrumentation. The back cover photo reflects the intensity of "Ride My Mountain," the band looking like exiles of Charles Manson's clan in the positive of the back cover photo, a larger negative version above it making this import very hip. The Savage Rose look like they are auditioning for the film The Savage Seven. The opening track reminds one of a hipper Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and there is no doubt that Savage Rose find more inspiration in their music than similar bands from the era. The production is somewhat like David Briggs' work on Alice Cooper's Easy Action, while titles like "The Shepherd & Sally" are as experimental as anything on that early Cooper disc. Having the male vocals on "His Own Happiness" is unnecessary, sort of like Big Brother & the Holding Company letting Janis Joplin take a time out. Thankfully, Anissette comes back after a mini-instrumental interlude for a rare look at the band's sangfroid. It is also interesting to hear Thomas Koppel's to-be ex-wife, Llse Maria Koppel, on harpsichord backing his next wife, Anissette. "Evening's Child" is like a psychedelic powwow of jazz-influenced garage rock which cascades into the dirge that is "A Trial in Our Native Town." Without the polish producer Jimmy Miller would bring to the mix on Refugee, In the Plain is a very good look at a highly creative band.

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