I'd like to start today's post by extending a huge thank you to Jacqueline and all my other friends at Sotomayor, Arica, Chile for their kind thoughts. The same to Anna Piatkowska, family and friends, now returned to south east Australia, after our meeting at Hato Pinero, Venezuela for your company then and the endorsement of you invitation for me to visit you in Melbourne - I WILL come! Austrian Stefan Kainbacher for the brief but most pleasant lunch we all shared, and Doru Popovichi who gave me so much help in Bucharest. Your E-mails have been very welcome - I hope we all meet again and you pass my 'link' to all your mates. Thank You!
Grey is the only way to describe this morning, but while the rain was threatening it wasn't falling, so that meant I was out! Ferry Bridge, at the very least, seemed like an option as I made my way to The Rodwell Trail, and a cacophony of bird song. The tiny Wren was the most predominant bird, numbers singing all the way along the trail, but there were also sounds from Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroat, while House Sparrows continued to build nests and a Garden Warbler was feeding young.
Grey is the only way to describe this morning, but while the rain was threatening it wasn't falling, so that meant I was out! Ferry Bridge, at the very least, seemed like an option as I made my way to The Rodwell Trail, and a cacophony of bird song. The tiny Wren was the most predominant bird, numbers singing all the way along the trail, but there were also sounds from Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroat, while House Sparrows continued to build nests and a Garden Warbler was feeding young.
Along the way were a number of common wild flowers, with these
Describing the fore-shore at the 'bridge' disappointing would be a gross understatement with just c2 immature Herring Gulls and a single Oystercatcher, but with the rain now starting all that was detected of any Little Terns were their 'calls'.
Barleycrates Lane at Tophill Portland was next, but bird numbers were about the same.
Barleycrates Lane at Tophill Portland was next, but bird numbers were about the same.
Just as the day seemed to be paling into 'ordinary' I walked down the slope to the bushy area of Culverwell where I met up with Martin Cade (Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory) and John Lucas, fellow 'birder'. The latter had just located a Red-backed Shrike, and in very quick time the trio were looking at a 'text book' adult male. Unfortunately, at some distance and in growing murky conditions the photographs were never going to be brilliant,
For a clearer look at the bird, Martin Cade has kindly allowed me to publish his image, which it seems only the 3 of us saw.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE2w1SuB6OvqQilIy7lYeyy3JlDHuPQtalLTBYXFcX8uzTmXKtA94sg77u1-nzu1zGkK_4A87rG42rH1KLKNGOcWUlhvW-z_O00nkoT9Wwqa0yckqpMbWat-I-VNxqvFqOvBRvAE1yyPD/s320/bp_red_backed_shrike_12_080610_500.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6Znr3A9tNYDxqCILSxNJKfA6l3Pwv5CyA_CUhk0c66v6mwsjWR7VyTWvmJxM9_Mp7gEwhA2Sa43y86Xv5E_M4_fsdCzaYtjo5tpGuQXZcF9BQtzt2FMw1rMZrJ6Hp58PP5TjvZlBXw5i/s320/bp_red_backed_shrike_12_080610_500+%282%29.jpg)