I'm So Glad - Cream

As far as temperature goes, there was little or no sign this morning of the impending 'cold snap' as predicted by the weather forecasters, but it was the sky, or lack of it, that told the story. Completely obscured by the most foreboding clouds it seemed inevitable there would be some precipitation before the day was out, and there was!

Very quiet once again on the bird front, this female Goosander on Radipole Lake was the only sighting worthy of notebook status but there were a couple of other things to keep the mind active.

It wasn't long before I encountered Terry Coombes (close to the Gurkha Restaurant top left) overseeing yet another session of Wildfowl ringing. By laying a trail of corn and bread for the Ducks, they are very easily tempted to get withing arms length, but then comes the tricky part of snatching them from the water.

This is deftly done by Luke Phillips who is seen here with yet another Tufted Duck

which is gently placed in a sack prior to 'ringing' and, with all biometric measurements taken, returned unharmed to the lake.

I have to admit to a quiet chuckle, every time I see this operation, at the story some time ago in the Dorset Echo, reporting these people as 'stealing' the ducks for the restaurant trade. I'm sure the well meaning member of the public who reported them has long since been forgiven?


At last, here is a short footage of the Hooded Merganser

'diving now'!

On the beach, the familiar sight of this man who regularly feeds the host of Carrion Crows was the last of my avian delights for the day as I had far more interesting things to do - SHOPPING! Not that I've ever tried it, but I feel it would be preferable to stick a needle in my eye, but there comes a time for each of us.

A trip to Dorchester always softens the blow, plus a new pair of boots, 2 dozen Quail's eggs, an oven ready Guinea fowl, 2 bottles of Sauternes and a grit lump of mature Stilton made it all worthwhile.

Back home, I continued what has been a 3 day retrospective listen to the music of 60's iconic trio 'Cream', and coupled with a visit from fellow 'birder' and music buff Dick Morris, I wish I'd stayed home all day. Last night I played, among others, their first album

on which they render their own interpretation of the Willy Dixon penned classic 'Spoonful'. When Dick arrived the Royal Albert Hall Reunion gig was on the turntable, and coincidentally the same track, which was the catalyst for some serious, in depth muso chat.

I had to relate to him how this track alone had captured me, and enslaved me forever as an ardent Blues follower. On a late November evening in Southsea, Hampshire in 1963 I visited the Kimbles Club on Osbourne Road to be confronted by a group of 'Herbert's ' under the heading of 'The Falling Leafs'. I was immediately captivated by their renditions of 'black blues' numbers allowing me an accurate idea of when I was first sold on the genre. Returning home on Christmas leave a couple of weeks later, I reported to my mum (also something of a muso) that something was about to visit us, the likes of which we had never heard before!

This was my present from her that year, which includes in the play-list not only Mr Dixon's number the the equally dramatic Buddy Guy composition 'The First Time I Met The Blues', how appropriate! The rest is history.

I have encountered the 3 members of 'Cream', under various guises over the years and as mentioned in yesterdays post both Bruce & Baker as part of the Graham Bond Organisation. Clapton unwittingly led me to another dimension when I first saw him perform at the Southampton, Ritz with what has long been my top British Blues Band - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, but the most amusing of all these encounters involved Ginger Baker.

Arriving in the small and quaint South African town of Tulbagh, priority was a bed for the night, which

mine host Lucy was able to provide at less than extortionate prices.

I don't remember the tariff but it was certainly the best value B&B the 'Fat Kid (Jim the Medic' and I had ever encountered.

That evening we ate, among excellent company but that's another story, at a little al fresco restaurant just up the road. There, to cut a long story short, we were told of the town's most celebrated resident, one Mr Peter Edward 'Ginger' Baker, and how he regularly took lunch at another eatery just around the corner. Next day, at the suggested hour, we too dined there rubbing shoulders with the great man at the next table, and it was the following day as we left town I nearly suffered a broken neck.

Passing by this rather opulent property complete with horse stable (the blue roofs) polo field

and swimming pool the Skinny Youth suddenly hit the anchors shouting "did you see that". I was sure he had, at long last found me Bennett's Woodpecker, but no, he had seen

this sign at the entrance to the Cream drummer's residence - we didn't venture in!

and finally, as I was once again editing photographs from the Madagascar trip last night, this one of a Yellow-billed Kite, caught my fancy.

More Of The Same

The tentative plan for today was to meet up with my new 'birding' mate Mark Hill, but it was a loose arrangement with no time or place arranged. I do like to get to 'the office' early, and as I did so

the Sun peeked above the buildings on the Weymouth seafront as I took a first scan across Radipole Lake. It certainly had the feel of another quiet day but as the weather was bright, sunny and not what you could describe as cold, best enjoyed considering what is predicted for the next few days.

Again Long-tailed Tits abound, this just one bathed in early morning rays along the Buddleia Loop where already the lagoon had frozen over again. At the shelter a Marsh Harrier flew up to the North Pool area where already there was a Common Buzzard sat on a bush. Otherwise it was similar to the last few days with a Water Rail putting in a brief appearance (always a welcome sight), as what looked like the same group of

c6 Black-tailed Godwit

carried out their ablutions close to the Visitor's Centre.

Here, one is obligingly showing the 'black tail' and diagnostic white wing bars, while across the water a number of Common Snipe seemed recently arrived taking advantage of today's lower water level.

Still determined to get video footage of that striking little duck the Hooded Merganser, I made for the sluices but again it couldn't be found.

Out of sheer frustration I did take this short passage of Tufted Duck, which hope will suffice until we can bring you the real star of the show!

A short text proved that Mark had walked north over the bridge only a few seconds after I had cleared to the south, but in the event we met up and were soon on our way to Lodmoor. There we walked the northern and eastern perimeters with little to show for it, but on the south path these

Coots made for an interesting and maybe regimented picture. Further along we found the Long-billed Dowitcher which was one of only 3 species of Wader we saw today, the others being c2 Dunlin and just a handful of Lapwing.

Similarly to Monday, c2 Common Buzzards were present (this one seemingly having befriended a Magpie)

but soon flew off across the Moor, while the second seemed content sat atop

one of the methane breather pipes which relieves the now redundant council tip of this unwanted gas.

Almost back to the exit and I heard what I thought was a Firecrest in the waterside bushes,

and with a degree of patience we were rewarded with a few glimpses of one of my personal favourites. There are no apologies for dragging these 2 images out of the archive, as I would happily publish such shots every day.

Our final sighting on the Moor was this Blackbird enjoying one of the last of the (feral) apples that grow close to Weymouth Bay Avenue. These trees are thought to have originated again from domestic council rubbish tipping?

To complete our days observations we returned to Ferrybridge, where the male Goldeneye was still present, but no sign of the 2 fems. However, a female Goosander had turned up (will that do?) as c3 Sheduck flew across the Fleet and out to the open sea. All else were a few dozen Red-breasted Merganser and the now 'winter resident' Little Grebes. We'll have to see what the promised 'cold snap' of the next few days brings!

Where the Shadows Run From Themselves

There will definitely be tears before bedtime, having decided on a re-listen to the 'Cream' Reunion at the Royal Albert Hall while composing today's Blog. I'll keep you posted as we go!

After a most pleasant evening over a meal and a pint or two with Dick Morris, Peter Coe and Paul Harris yesterday, the latter sent me this rather interesting photograph of what we are calling

The Purbeck Serpent. The sweep of shingle beach in the foreground curving into Ringstead Bay forms a perfect tail, while the head of the monster is characterised by the headland of White Nothe.

So, on to today which both bird and weather-wise was 'quiet' to say the least, with the wind backing those few degrees into the north it already feels like the predicted cold snap is upon us again. With nothing to report close to home it was straight to Ferrybridge where I met and enjoyed a couple of very pleasant hours with long time friend and fellow 'birder'

Bob Ford.

Exchanging our finding thus far, between us we had seen a fine male with 2 female Goldeneye by the Small Mouth Channel, a few Red-breasted Merganser, c5 Little Grebe, a Common Snipe, c3 Fieldfare plus a host of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Mediterranean Gulls. There was also an interesting Wader that I had seen before Bob's arrival, somewhat smaller than a Dunlin and giving high hopes of a Stint, but I had not seen it well enough and we didn't relocate it so that goes down as a miss (for now).

We walked together the southern section of the Rodwell Trail, which bounds the southern limit of Portland Harbour, across which we could see a couple of tugs easing the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Logistic Vessel 'Mounts Bay' to her berth at the Outer Coaling Pier. This brought back a few memories for me, as for a number of years I was heavily involved with Harbour Tug work.

Here too there was little to see, so these 5 (of at least 25) Great Crested Grebe brought some relief, while distantly there were between 8 and 10 Black-necked Grebes and closer by c3 Mallard.

Said I'd keep you posted on the 'Cream' concert as we go, that was 'Toad' Ginger Baker at, arguably, his very best. The date now pales, but it must have been '63/'64 at Klooks Kleek, Hampstead when I first witnessed Mr Baker (no relation) 'live' as part of the irrepressible

Graham Bond Organisation
l to r Jack Bruce, Graham Bond, Peter Edward (Ginger) Baker & Dick Heckstall-Smith (the only person I've ever witnessed playing 2 'reed' woodwind instruments at the same time - circa John Mayall's Bluesbreakers).

In those days Ginger's party piece was a little ditty entitled 'Camels & Elephants' which the history books record as his first recorded drum solo. 'Toad' (along with Pressed Rat & Warthog) have since become the signature of the worlds finest 'white' blues drummer - arguments on a post card please!

Given the lack of action, what better opportunity to present a few more, previously unpublished images of Madagascar. As with the last short series these are with the compliments of fellow traveller Maria Djumic.

White-throated Rail

Eric Clapton has never been my favourite guitarist, in fact he only reached my top 5 during his brief stay with Mayall and what has become known as the 'Beano' album. His finest hour, for me, came during the George Harrison Tribute Concert (coincidentally again performed at the Royal Albert Hall) where, along with Billy Preston, they prised the mortar from the brickwork! On the Cream re-jig he caps the whole thing with his unique, (almost hidden) itchy staccato riff on 'Deserted Cities of the Heart', taps full open at this time for me.

Rice Paddies, the bright green areas are the 'nursery paddies' where the seed is sown

and at the right time dug up and transferred to the main fields.

Madagascar Fish Eagle

and after another tough day at the office the chance for a 'sun-downer'.

Jonas Christiansen, Maria and Moi

and on this very day, John & Kathy in Australia sent these 2 shots of a few of us aboard a

Zebu Taxi, being taken out to the speed boat, and

members of the group awaiting sunset atop a small mountain. Bet you remember this place (Best Mate) Maria, least said eh?

It wouldn't be possible for anyone to level a sensible argument against the fact that Jack Bruce is the finest blues bass player these islands have ever produced. His underrated prowess as vocalist and harp player need urgent redress. Let me suggest a whack at 'White Room' on this DVD, and if that don't do it for you then your surely 'Lost at Sea'!

In the white room with black curtains near the station.
Black-roof country, no gold pavements, tired starlings.
Silver horses run down moonbeams in your dark eyes.
Dawn-light smiles on you leaving, my contentment.

I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines;
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves.

You said no strings could secure you at the station.
Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows.
I walked into such a sad time at the station.
As I walked out, felt my own need just beginning.

I'll wait in the queue when the trains come back;
Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves.

At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd.
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten.
Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes.
She's just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings.

I'll sleep in this place with the lonely crowd;
Lie in the dark where the shadows run from themselves.

Penned by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown (Piblokto)

and finally, an E-mail just as it arrived, with the coincidental reference to 'Starlings' and the lyric above, another 'Twitcher' in the ascendancy I fear!
Thanks Johnny.

Cap,n Bagsy, Since meeting you on the esplanade, where you kindly gave me your card. Have "blogged" every day since. Just to say thanks. Brilliant, really enjoy your diary. I saw a starling yesterday, see what I mean ! regards Johnny Read.

Slight of Hand and Twist of Fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait - With Or Without You from the Joshua Tree album - U2

Having visited both Radipole and Lodmoor Nature Reserves this morning, it would be easy to believed you had been in two different worlds! On the one hand, Radipole was bathed in warm early morning sunshine with most of the watercourse free of ice, while Lodmoor was bitterly cold. The transition was Weymouth sea front, fully exposed to the prevailing easterly breeze and a freezing mist rolling in out of the bay, while the further east I walked the colder it seemed to get.

There was little of note before reaching the Prom except for a small flock of about 30 Redwings overflying, the squeals of numerous Water Rails,

this group of c6 preening Black-tailed Godwit plus a single

juvenile Great Black-backed Gull the only other Gull among a party of 100 or so Black-headed Gulls on the car park, and the Little Egret on Weymouth Beach was a 'first' for me there.

Meeting the icy blast I forged on as far as Greenhill where the fog was now billowing in, blocking the sea from view altogether. This reminded me of the Haar, a coastal fog that effect certain lands bordering the North Sea; the term is primarily applied in eastern Scotland, which would occasionally 'ground' our crew change helicopters when I worked in the North Sea. Through the gloom it appeared that a mob of Carrion Crows were forcing a Common Buzzard out to sea, but it seemed to keep reappearing, but as the fog started to lift c2 Buzzard seemed like they were arriving 'in off the sea'.

The Moor was, by my estimation, about 80% frozen but on one distant margin it looked like the Long-billed Dowitcher feeding, but too far to be sure. In the cold, birds seemed to be far more confiding

with this male Chaffinch paying scant heed to my presence, while in a Weeping Willow tree in a nearby garden, that served as both sanctuary and feeding station for a good number of passerines, there were no fewer than c6

female Reed Buntings. Further along the western path a group of

Moorhens were just about touchable, but the ever alert

Magpies, there were c16 in this party, were having none of that! As I neared the entrance/exit to the Moor I noticed c2

Common Buzzards sitting on separate bushes, and because of the distinctive pale colouration of this individual

I could only assume they were those I presumed had arrived from seaward? Finally, as I headed for the bus stop and in turn Ferrybridge,

this Lapwing was so close to the road, and myself, I thought it might be catching the same bus.

One bus had not long gone by, so it was sure to be a while before the next which was a 'twist of fate' that was to prove very lucky for me. After a full 10 minutes waiting I noticed fellow 'birder' Dave Tissington hurrying towards me from the direction of Lodmoor. On arrival he told me he had just received news of Waxwings in Poole town centre, some 20 miles away, had noticed me waiting and thought I might like a lift. Kindness itself (like the vast majority of the genre) we raced back to his car and were soon underway.

This was the sight that met our eyes when we arrived close to the Sainsbury's Supermarket in Poole,

part of a flock of c47 Waxwings

safe in the sanctuary of a tall Sycamore tree, awaiting a safe moment to dive to the smaller

'berry laden' Rowans close by for a feed.

Thus far Dorset seemed to have been pretty much left out of the huge influx into Great Britain over the past few (cold) weeks,

but today the balance has been redressed.

One of the all time favorites of most in the fraternity, these elegant and striking birds usually only leave their home in Northern Continental Europe when the food supply (berries) runs out. I am not alone when I say this is a moment well worth waiting for - just look at them!!!!

Finally, while talking to long time friend Mike Munroe he informed me that he uses this Blog to keep his ex-pat relations in New Zealand informed of what is going on over here. They were particularly impress, he tells me, with the 'snow scene' photos of a few days ago, so the message to all the Kiwi's is:-

Thanks for Reading the Blog, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and please pass the link on to ALL your friends. As it stands we have 57 NZ readers already - Great!