Don't They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid

We start with a late item from Monday, late as all I had the wit for was to post the Blog. My friend Lesley Brown (right) had kindly invited me to lunch, with my suggestion to meet at the house of mutual friends Michael & Wendy Honebon. My reasoning was that as I had promised to share a good wine with them before Lesley and I departed in separate directions for the holiday this presented an ideal moment.

The wine, a Charley Herring Spotwood Shiraz (the bottle is already empty) was very good, but it was unanimously agreed that a second bottle would not go amiss. Well, you know how sometimes one thing can lead to another, it was a further 3 bottles later that we decided to send for a Chinese Take Away which we ate with a further 3 bottles. Lesley and I never did get to the Riverside Pub for lunch but had a darn good laugh these impromptu parties often being the best, I was poured into a taxi about 20:30, hence the late post last night - Hic!

The morning started on a real bright note as I sat first thing enjoying a coffee and watching the BBC News, when all of a sudden there in front of me was one of the most sort after birds in the world. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is one of the most critically endangered creatures on the planet, and like its predecessor the Ne Ne or Hawaiian Goose there have been a number of eggs taken from their nests on the Russian Steppe and taken to the Wildlife & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.

We can only hope that the result for them will be the same as the Goose which was plucked, if that's the right word, from the edge of extinction.

With Great Spotted Woodpeckers displaying and both Carrion Crow & Long-tailed Tit seen carrying nesting material during this month, it might be fair to say that it's down to some unseasonable weather.

No surprise then when this pair of Wood Pigeons were caught 'at it' at the exact spot that the Blackbird escaped the clutches of the Sparrowhawk.

Don't They Know It's Christmas?

Collared Dove on the Sparrowhawk ridge, a few Redwing (now becoming daily), a Black-tailed Godwit, ever present

Black-headed Gulls and a few Common Snipe were about all that were seen, so it was off to the seafront to catch the Portland Bill bus.

While waiting there was time to take a look at this Oil Tanker Mare Atlantic swinging to her anchor in Weymouth Roads, while there was a pleasant surprise when the bus arrived.

An early visitation from Father Christmas which rather please the Bus Pass Birder.

On the Bill Common and Car Park there was the usual gathering of Herring Gulls, while down at the Point

these Crab and Lobster Fishermen were already hard at work. There was a feeding frenzy of mostly mixed Gull and some Gannets much further out in the Tidal Race with the odd Guillemot and Razorbill flying through. In addition there was again a single Purple Sandpiper and while taking a coffee at the Bird Observatory I was lucky to see 2 of what had been over 30 Red-throated Divers.

Leaving to head home, this Car Transporter was chugging its way up Channel while

this Goldfinch, one of the UK's smartest looking small birds,

graced this roadside bush.

As far as Common Buzzards go this was quite close,

so when it perched on a dry stone wall

there was chance to capture a few more shots.

Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees

Still trailing by a day, so it's back to the second day of frost but otherwise another lovely day. Walk through the cemetery produced this winters first 'feeding'

Redwing, the very few others have all been fly-overs, and not surprisingly

in this apple tree closest to the house and outwith the graveyard wall. This tree must attract as many birds as all the others combined so always worth a long look. Chaffinches predominated here today with singing bids seeming to be perched in most of the trees.

This car was covered in ice that morning, but I'm sure readers living further north would be happy to swap weather conditions.

Have you ever seen a Blackbird looking 'sheepish'?

Well now you have, and one that was lucky to still be with us.

Feeding in a local garden it hadn't seen what I had, but all of that was about to change as the local

Sparrowhawk

launched itself from the ridge and gave chase, fortunately we can report

it made off empty taloned.

Over at Radipole water levels were back to their previous low, where what Common Snipe were present seemed to be flying in from further up the River Wey Valley.

Ice had also formed on the Buddleia Lagoon,

and also today the Cormorants were able to stand on the now exposed rock island.

As in the cemetery there were plenty of Chaffinches here as well a little bolder that usual now food is becoming harder to find.

On the car park I met Derrick the Duck Ringer along with Terry Coombs and his helpers Guy and Catherine. Unfortunately, the lovely photograph of the latter 3 was lost due to a 'technical error' (aka 'gross incompetence) leaving just this one of baiting the Ducks.

The target of this ringing exercise were Tufted Ducks, which on this occasion seemed to be keeping there distance. Even a bucket full of corn wasn't having the desire effect, luring everything including the Hooded Merganser and the Strange Duck. It may be of interest to some that I for one have never seen the Merganser take any human offered food, only ever seeing it feed on small Crabs, Eels and other small fish. That is not to say it is not 'hoovering' the bed of the lake for corn or bread, but there is a theory that it is attracted to the feeding station as are the fish and crabs.

However, the corn was attracting good numbers of Coot & Mute Swans.

Portland on the whole remains quiet except I did see, at great distance, one of a few Red-throated Divers picked up by the Sea Watchers but unfortunately not the Eider Duck.

Nevertheless, there are still the stalwarts that can be relied upon including the 2 Little Owls

One of at least 3 Common Kestrels

a Magpie

plus beautiful sunny views across Weymouth Bay and onward to the Purbeck Hills

and Southwell Village. Finally, a couple of shots from a little further afield, firstly from my friend

Patricia Shearing of this fine male Mandarin just 10 minutes walk from her home in the Thames Valley,

and a little closer to home from my mate Paul Harris who saw this Great Bustard fly over his house earlier this week and the next day found it feeding in a field at Buckland Ripers a small village just outside of Weymouth. Thank you both for a pair of stunning photographs.

The Long Week End

A little bit of 'catch-up' after a busy week and therapeutic week-end. The whole of the week-end was a bright sunny affair and the first since last Sunday that I could once again follow the Bagsy Trail. As the Christmas week-end is rapidly approaching it may pay dividends that we are a day behind with the posts. With plans for the festive season now laid and paid for, as are those for the first few days of the New Year, we will endeavour to catch up over the holiday period.

This little fella met me at the cemetery gate and being so obliging and more than 'full frame' who could resist a Grey Squirrel? In addition there was a Song Thrush close to home, while both Goldcrest & Coal Tit continue to 'sing' there.

The rain of the previous couple of nights had certainly lifted the water level at Radipole, this Cormorant is standing on a small rocky island that is more often than not well out of the water. In addition, a late walk around the Reserve showed a total lack of Common Snipe, but today a couple were back taking advantage of the recently cut patches of reed along the main path.

At the north end of The Loop, Pochard numbers had increased 6 fold on my best count of 5 so far this winter, but that is far, far below the usual number at this time of the season.

Whilst watching and counting the Ducks my attention was drawn to squawking high in the trees along Radipole Park Drive. There I watched a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers 'displaying' for a full 10 minutes - bit early for that kind of nonsense!

This Carrion Crow was taking full advantage of the peanuts, likely intended for the smaller birds,

but having polished off the whole jolly lot it elevated itself to this bench doubtless looking to where more could be found.

A Dunnock too was enjoying this free feed, with nuts having been purposefully left 'behind' this distance marker,

while the moon, today in its 'third quarter' still lingered in the bright blue sky.

As winter creeps on more and more birds take refuge in the Inner Harbour, where these

2 Little Grebe were in company with Coot and Mallard directly under the Town Bridge. Swiftly on to Portland Bill where

at the 'point' the full effect of the NW wind could be felt Brrrrrrr!

and the waves seen to be crashing in to where

3 Purple Sandpiper were taking shelter.

Looking back to the east it could be seen what a fine day it was, but all the more pleasant in the lee of the Lighthouse.

As the sea crashed in against the East Cliff

I stopped to admire this Clinker Built Potting Boat and wondered how much such a vessel might cost these days, a lot more than a months wages I'd warrant.

Despite the spume Rock Pipits still foraged along the ledges, but with news of a Snow Bunting up by the Privet Hedge there was no time for dallying. There were also a few Gannet, Guillemot & Razorbill flying further out to sea, but I missed the moment by no longer than it take the camera to focus as both Little Owls were sat side by side in the Obs Quarry.

Like most others I was too late but an 'escaped' helium balloon did give me time to practice a couple of 'flight shots'. I doubt the image would be anything like this had it been a fly-over Great Snipe?

Finally, walking the Top Fields to the tune of a few Gold and Chaffinches, this male Blackbird presented itself so best to loose off a shot.