Will You - Hazel O'Connor

Without an iota of change in the weather or bird situation locally today, I took a little time to stroll through the cemetery paying more attention to the monuments than anything else. Tucked away in a corner, I noted the tomb of these 2 eminent Royal Navy Officers who, despite their rank, appear to be little known on Google.

Radipole produced nothing outside of the expected, so before taking the bus directly to Portland Bill there was a little time to wander

Weymouth Sands & Seafront

now devoid of the Summer (or even Indian Summer) tourists. Apart from the continuing keen westerly wind, there were only a few Swallows and Siskins heading out into the English Channel,

and the now seemingly established resident Little Owl in the Observatory Quarry, seeming a little bashful today. Even at PBO nothing seemed to be stirring with only about a dozen birds on the 'ringing list' today. On the walk to Southwell I did encounter this other local!

Obviously not familiar with the Highway Code, this Kestrel saw fit to stop despite the Clearway sign. It is unusual to be able to get this close to any bird of prey, but unperturbed by my presence it allowed close approach and this series of photographs.

Kestrel

A shot from the bus at 'low tide' Ferry Bridge, showing exposed Oyster Beds and the sand bar (complete with a number of Mediterranean Gulls) close to the Small Mouth entrance.

Probably? the final photos from Venezuela?

Yellow-crowned Parrot

Yellow-headed Caracara

Yellow-knobbed Curassow

finally, it would seem that my choice of an 'All Time' Top Twenty Pop Songs Chart has generated quiet a bit of interest, especially concerning "Will You" by Hazel O'Connor. There is even something here for the 'naturalist' as I know of no other music link that kicks off with Six-spot Burnet on Knapweed!

Sometime, especially when listening to this exceptional song, I want to re-jig the chart and put it firmly at No1, but then I'd have Jimi to contend with. Described as 'exceptional', not only for the haunting voice of Ms O'Connor, and the naivety of the lyric but the whole structure of the piece. Clocking in at a meagre No8 in the Pop Chart of 23 May 1981, the first time listener may think it just another 3 minute bauble joining many thousands before it. On the contrary, there is far more to this than just a pop song. At precisely 2 minutes and 42 seconds into what is a pleasant enough madrigal, it sounds to be coming to an end before the stix are cascaded across the whole drum kit, bringing back to life what is without question the finest saxophone break in the whole of pop/rock music. To say it outshines Rafferty's Baker Street and The Saxophone Song from the Kate Bush album The Kick Inside would be a bold statement indeed, where it not 100% plausible! You have the link, so take a listen, and weep!

You drink your coffee and I sip my tea
And we're sitting here playing so cool, thinking "What will be, will be"
But it's getting kind of late now
Oh I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now
Or will you just politely say goodnight?

I move a little closer to you, not knowing quite what to do
And I'm feeling all fingers and thumbs, I spill my tea, oh silly me!
But it's getting kind of late now
I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now
Or will you just politely say goodnight?

And then we touch much too much
This moment has been waiting for a long long time
Makes me shiver, it makes me quiver
This moment I'm so unsure
This moment I've waited for
Is it something you've been waiting for, waiting for too?

Take off your eyes, bare your soul
Gather me to you and make me whole
Tell me your secrets, sing me the song
Sing it to me in the silent tongue
But it's getting kind of late now
I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now
Or will you just politely say goodnight?