Lest We Forget

After what seems like just a few short weeks, it's Remembrance Sunday once again. There was a huge temptation to head down the Fleet this morning to search for Black Brant and Whooper Swan but my sense of dedication for my fellow servicemen and women is far too strong. It's a ceremony I have respected in many different parts of the world over the years and under a number of banners which gives me time to reflect on my own service participation and the inspiration that drove me down that path. It came initially from my grandfather Scan of Weymouth (Stanley William Edwards, the Scan stood for Scandalous) who's own service career started at the outbreak of the First World War when he an 2 mates agreed they could best serve King & Country by joining the Royal Navy. The way he told the story was the need for a little Dutch courage, which was taken to excess in the Swan pub (now JD Wetherspoons), and waking next morning with severe hangovers all 3 found they had gone into the wrong recruitment office and were now fully fledged members of the Army. Throughout the conflict he excelled reaching the dizzy heights of Regimental Sergeant Major in command of a detachment of several horse drawn field guns, taking the surrender of several enemy regions for which he was awarded the Military Medal.

My father, Frederick, on the other hand managed to select the correct force and became a Matelot at the beginning of the second war. Serving initially on the Murmansk Convoys as kids we were familiar with stories of ships being torpedoed on a daily basis and place names such as Benghazi, Trincomalee, Alexandria, Archangel, Calcutta et al were familiar. While serving aboard HMS Coventry he too was torpedoed spending a considerable amount of time in the water and sustaining lasting injuries. His medals amounted to what would be described as a 'chest full'. My mother, Constance (daughter of Scan & Ginny), was also decorated for her services in the Royal Air Force in the Barrage Balloon Division.

Living in Weymouth and from such ancestry it was more or less a fore gone conclusion that I would end up in the RN where my sea service began on what were referred to as The Cod War. A travesty in my opinion where 'greed' reigned supreme as our country tried to rob a smaller and less powerful nation of their fishing rights, we underestimated them. Iceland fielded 3 gunboats, the Thor, Odin and Prince Albert which in a nutshell out manoeuvred the Royal Navy by much better seamanship, ship handling and overall tactical supremacy.

The Standard of the Submariners Association.

From there it was 14 months in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden which in the 60's simply spelt trouble all round. Dhow searches for weapons, gold, drugs and other precious commodities was dangerous daily fare, but a cakewalk compared to the pull out of Aden. Their I spend an unforced, short detachment in the Radfan with the Parachute Regiment, SAS & SBS it was my only first hand experience of real war and can empathise with what our lads and lasses have to contend with in the likes of Afghanistan, 6 years in the Submarine Service became light relief. Today has been yet another opportunity to reflect on the few personal mates who 'fell by the wayside', those who have served, still do so and those to come - why not Give Peace A Chance?

Services marching past the cenotaph.

As predicted I hooked up with Sooty & Gill Stockley for an after the parade drink.

There was plenty on offer after the event, and at the New Inn, Littlemoor the Army were holding court.

At Finn's my dear friend Ian Jenkins and I managed to catch up on a long outstanding drink.

Back In Familiar Territory

After a first day back of persistent rain and the previous 3 weeks of temperatures constantly in the 90's, it was good to be back on familiar turf on a mild, cloudy day with little in the way of wind. A chorus of Chaffinch, Robin and Goldcrest greeted me within the cemetery, but there being little else it onward to Radipole. Immediately I heard the familiar song which so many times has meant 'welcome home' to me of the Cetti's Warbler closely followed by Water Rail and Bearded Tit in quick succession, all 3 Radipole specialities in as many minutes. Along the loop path Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kingfisher all went into the log, but there seemed to be a shortfall of wildfowl. That was redress, in part, at the shelter where Tufted Duck and Pochard were present in equal numbers, about 2 dozen each, with teal being represented by just a single pair. Close to the Visitor's Centre c6 Shelduck were busily feeding while there were at least 100 Gulls on the car park but they were exclusively Black-headed. A Common Gull did put in an appearance as I neared the Gurkha restaurant, followed by the surprise of the morning as the Hooded Merganser popped up from nowhere. That was more or less it and as 'high tide' was imminent I thought the best move would be straight to Barleycrates and the Bill.

Hooded Merganser has featured through these pages on more than one occasion,

but what a perfect example of wildlife?

Talking of which, what the hell is this? Is it a Mallwall or a Gadard?

So, despite the state of the tide a quick look ahead from the bus before it arrived at Ferry Bridge I could see a good number of Geese on the foreshore, and got off there to investigate.

Both Dark-bellied & Pale-bellied Brent Geese were represented but there was no sign of what is becoming a regular Black Brant - maybe tomorrow! There was nothing of note on the walk between Barleycrates Lane and the Bill, but once there good numbers of Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Brambling started to fly overhead. At the Observatory the picture was the same keeping Warden Martin Cade and Peter Morgan busy tending the mist nets.

Brambling (male), the northern equivalent of the more familiar Chaffinch.

Brambling (male) showing some plumage detail.

Brambling (female)

Ditto detail

It was worth investigating a reported Grey Phalarope in Chesil Cove, and while it took a full half hour to locate, it was only in view for a matter of seconds.

This footage of a Grey Phalarope was taken in Norfolk some years ago.

On the way home I encountered these Morris Dancers in Hope Square.

For our overseas readers, this is a form of ancient traditional dance involving smashing sticks of wood together while waving bits of rag and playing dreadful music - comprehendo?

All Good Things etc

As regular readers will have noted I did get back last evening but the journey was not entirely a smooth one. The flight from Tana to Paris went like a dream, in fact that's what I was doing for most of the 10 hours, then there was a 3 hour wait at Charlesde Gaulle for the transfer to London Heathrow . That too was on time, but soon after boarding the Captain announced that a new ticket and manifesting system was being tried and the personal head count of passengers didn't tally with the computer record. This delayed us for some considerable time, during which we lost our 'slot' and were relegated to the back of the queue. During this period the fog set in causing even more delay and in all we were stood on the tarmac for 3 hours. Well done Air France?

Having lost all hope of catching my booked coach journey to Weymouth, I had to resort to the shuttle to Woking and then 3 separate trains home arriving at about 22-00 instead of 18-00. However, my favoured adage kicked in so reminded myself that if that is all that was to befall me that day then I would remain quite happy. There was of course an up side as the cider awaited at Bowie & Sheila's and they also slaked my urge for a burst of much missed Joe Bonamassa so went to bed satisfied and slept soundly.

The weather, heavy rain all day, prevented any chance of 'birding' a blessing in disguise really as the case would still be unpacked, no dhobying done (although that remains wet through on the line) and there would be nothing to eat. As it is I'm about to visit my lovely neighbour Joy for dinner, so after uploading a random series of photographs from the trip, it's Bon Appetite!

A couple of better shots of

Eastern Lesser bamboo Lemur and a few Cweepy Cwalies.


A fine looking Tree Fern

The grounds of the hotel at our last location.

Ring-tailed Mongoose

Chameleon

Diadem Sifaka

Indri again

and this is the sound of those intriguing mammal during a border dispute with a neighbouring troupe.

and finally, it will be ages before all the photographs are edited, notes completed and various lists verified, but for the time being the picture looks something like this:-

Bird Species seen - 160 of which I saw all but 2, Wedge-tailed Jery and Alpine Swift.
Lemur Species recorded - 24
Other Mammals - 10
Chameleons - 9

There will, eventually, be a full report of the trip and I will endeavour to give a summary through these page of many aspects of the tour. After this anyone wanting further information can contact me via the Comments Box.

Going Home - Ten Years After (Alvin Lee)

This is the post for Thursday 11th November 2010 and yes I am home, safe and well. Looking forward to updating more tomorrow, but for the moment I think I hear Bowie pouring another cider, so must away - CHEERS, Hic!

If your reading this post then I'm home. Not really sure what the rest of the week will hold but Ferry Bridge and Portland Bill will be high on the list of priorities and I hope to be keeping these pages filled as usual. Thank you all for tuning in during what has been a fantastic adventure, with a summary of that to follow when time allows.

Bamboo Lemur

Ditto closer shot

The nest of Spectacled Greenbul, looking to all intent and purposes to be redundant.

That is until Dad arrives with the groceries, at which

the kids come out to play.

Furry Caterpillar

More Fungus for the Punk!

Forest Tree Frog

Another Spider

Pale morph Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher (male)

Unidentified Fish Sp

Day Gecko

More Forest Blooms

Detail of Tree Boa head

Indri which as well as being the only tailless Lemur, is also the only one that will not survive in captivity.

The Final Countdown - Europe

I didn't pay good money to come here and sit around doing nothing, so I am well pleased that the final 2 days here have, like all the others, been full to the brim. There is of course a downside to that, and like yesterday there is little time to do the Blog so once again it becomes a pictorial.

This is one hell of a reserve being almost entirely Primary Forest.

Eastern Woolly Lemur, like most species, confined to the tree tops.

A spider wanders aimlessly within the warmth of a shadow, not the regal creature of border caves - Marillion referring to Bonny Prince Charlie.

Moth Sp

The only endemic and naturally occurring Cactus in the country. It will be noticed this is a hanging cactus.

Nelicourvi Weaver one of 2 'endemic Weavers.

Nelicourvi Weaver's nest, unlike most others of the genre they are solitary breeders.

Talapia

Nuthatch Vanga (male) very difficult to photograph.

Ditto (female)

The delightful Ward's Flycatcher, one of the 'endemics' high on my list of 'must be seen'.

Baby Preying Mantis

Parson's Chameleon, this is what all the Culture Club rubbish was about on yesterday's post.

It is regarded highly on the wants lists of Nature Tourists here,

and our guide for the day, Maurice came up with the goods.

It is worth noting that he and his brother Patrice are acknowledged by Morris and Hawkins in their Photographic Guide to the Birds of Madagascar.

and so to yesterday which was another great success, as almost immediately we entered the Rain Forest the elusive

Madagascar Blue Pigeon perch right before us, albeit of a couple of seconds a volley of shots rang out.

Blue Coua which seems quite common and easy to see here.

Mascarine Martins were nesting in the eves of our exceptionally nice hotel.

Stick Insect, if you can make head or tail of it!

Another shot of Eastern Woolly Lemur and another of

Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher - a much better shot than the previous ones.

and also better than the distant last effort, this Madagascar Little Grebe was both much more confiding and in altogether better plumage.

Mellor's Duck only seen briefly previously, this one of a breeding pair remained distant but viewable. This has to be one of the rarest Ducks in the world?

Scaly Ground-Roller

a real demon of a bird.

and yet another unnamed species of Forest Frog.

Red-bellied Lemur being slightly more cooperative that its cousin.

A profile of

Madagascar Cuckoo Roller, this one a male showing a back view plus

an extraordinary gape,

and a front profile of another individual in poor light.

Madagascar Cuckoo Roller (female)

A forest bloom.

Short-legged Ground-Roller which, contrary to its name, spends much time aloft spotting prey species. This sighting cleared up all the Ground-Rollers in Madagascar with only oneRufous-headed having not been photographed.

Pill Millipede

and a second shot.

Madagascar Swamp Warbler a species I relate to Cetti's Warbler at home.

A real skulker but on this occasion obliged - thank you.

and a fairly large Tree Boa ends the series of photoes for tonight.

If everything goes to plan I should arrive home somewhere near to 18-00 tomorrow, so although I don't need to say it to Bowie & Sheila, but anyway - "have the cider ready"!