A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - Nat King Cole

With the temperature rising to 29.9C in some parts of the UK yesterday, this was an October record for the country, and if early morning was anything to go by that record could soon be broken. Heading straight to Portland, as usual stopping at a recently ploughed Helen's Field to find it teeming with birds albeit of common species only. Difficult to ascertain numbers but I did count 150 Pied Wagtail with at least a similar number in adjoining fields. Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch and Wheatear were all showing in many 'tens' while Robins, Chiffchaff, Blackbirds and Siskins were also numerous.

Wheatear

Wheatear with Goldfinch

Continuing on to the Bird Observatory The Warden Martin Cade had already been busy for a number of hours tending the mist nets, from which on one 'round' he re-trapped yesterday's

Nightingale. I wasn't there for either of these events too slack yesterday and too late today, but with Martin's blessing thought these fine shots of a species more often heard than seen

should be conveyed to a wider audience. What a beauty? Portland Bird Obs You will find this link well worth a look. So, with the number of birds dwindling as the morning wore on, and unable to locate the Little Owl that had been showing earlier, it was back to the reliability of the Moth Traps where quantity was much greater that quality!

Blair's Shoulder Knot

Feathered Brindle and

Beautiful Gothic.

There was a small bonus by way of a 7-spot Ladybird on the patio wall before I left the Obs, to find

this single, unidentified Fungi (looks like the Chestnut Mushrooms I get from Asda)

and a Carrion Crow, bill agape, obviously being effected by the now soring temperature?

and so to Australia where there was a birthday yesterday.

Frederick David aft (seen here being ably assisted by brother Alexander) my second Grandson was 2 years old yesterday.

It was by all accounts a great party, attended by lots of family (mostly children)

who no doubt were 'champing at the bit' to get tucked into the Fred is 2 Choo Choo.

but there were of course traditions to maintain, such as blowing out the candles, but seemingly a little out of puff he was helped by

Daddy Bernard & Mummy Lisa.

After all those Smarties it must have been nice just to take the weight off your feet and get the Old Man to read a few Birthday Cards.

Congratulations Son! May there be many, many more!

and finally an end of month look at the Stat Counter where the Motherland has gained a further 1,000 points and the USA getting closer by the day to the 2,000 mark. it is fantastic to note that with the addition of India there are now 15 countries inside the treble figure boundary, but most pleasing to me this month are the number of 'new' African Countries that now participate in the read, 14 in all - WOW - but unfortunately 10 others having dropped off the scale.

Thank You
to each and every reader and hope you will pass the Link on to EVERYONE you know!

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	18089	72.36%	United Kingdom
	1832	7.33%	United States
	624	2.50%	Canada
	551	2.20%	Taiwan
	343	1.37%	Estonia
	318	1.27%	Australia
	247	0.99%	Germany
	237	0.95%	France
	212	0.85%	Netherlands
	193	0.77%	New Zealand
	153	0.61%	Italy
	132	0.53%	Japan
	132	0.53%	Brazil
	112	0.45%	Spain
	101	0.40%	India
	80	0.32%	Belgium
	69	0.28%	Sweden
	67	0.27%	Poland
	67	0.27%	Switzerland
	61	0.24%	Colombia
	58	0.23%	Thailand
	58	0.23%	Peru
	49	0.20%	American Samoa
	42	0.17%	South Africa
	41	0.16%	Mexico
	41	0.16%	Malaysia
	40	0.16%	Russian Federation
	40	0.16%	Finland
	39	0.16%	Romania
	39	0.16%	Denmark
	38	0.15%	Norway
	36	0.14%	Hungary
	35	0.14%	Singapore
	35	0.14%	Israel
	35	0.14%	Philippines
	33	0.13%	Korea, Republic Of
	30	0.12%	Chile
	29	0.12%	Bulgaria
	28	0.11%	Turkey
	27	0.11%	Sri Lanka
	27	0.11%	Greece
	26	0.10%	Argentina
	26	0.10%	Dominican Republic
	25	0.10%	Indonesia
	25	0.10%	Ukraine
	25	0.10%	Croatia
	24	0.10%	Hong Kong
	23	0.09%	Portugal
	22	0.09%	Vietnam
	18	0.07%	Saudi Arabia
	18	0.07%	Serbia
	18	0.07%	Pakistan
	17	0.07%	Ireland
	17	0.07%	Malta
	17	0.07%	Czech Republic
	15	0.06%	Costa Rica
	14	0.06%	Anonymous Proxy
	13	0.05%	Madagascar
	13	0.05%	United Arab Emirates
	12	0.05%	Guatemala
	12	0.05%	Venezuela
	11	0.04%	Lithuania
	11	0.04%	Europe
	10	0.04%	Slovakia
	8	0.03%	Austria
	8	0.03%	Guernsey
	8	0.03%	Egypt
	7	0.03%	Jordan
	7	0.03%	Ecuador
	6	0.02%	Oman
	6	0.02%	Kuwait
	6	0.02%	Bangladesh
	6	0.02%	Virgin Island, U.s.
	5	0.02%	Cuba
	5	0.02%	Macedonia
	4	0.02%	Puerto Rico
	4	0.02%	Grenada
	4	0.02%	Trinidad And Tobago
	4	0.02%	Bosnia And Herzegovina
	4	0.02%	Bermuda
	4	0.02%	Armenia
	3	0.01%	Latvia
	3	0.01%	Jamaica
	3	0.01%	Iceland
	3	0.01%	Slovenia
	3	0.01%	Lesotho
	3	0.01%	Guyana
	3	0.01%	Zimbabwe
	3	0.01%	China
	3	0.01%	Belarus
	3	0.01%	Lebanon
	3	0.01%	Qatar
	3	0.01%	Kenya
	3	0.01%	Georgia
	3	0.01%	Algeria
	3	0.01%	Jersey
	3	0.01%	Palestinian Territory
	2	0.01%	Uganda
	2	0.01%	Luxembourg
	2	0.01%	Mauritius
	2	0.01%	Nepal
	2	0.01%	Malawi
	2	0.01%	Gabon
	1	0.00%	Morocco
	1	0.00%	Ghana
	1	0.00%	Isle Of Man
	1	0.00%	Cameroon
	1	0.00%	Albania
	1	0.00%	Uruguay
	1	0.00%	Tanzania, United Republic Of
	1	0.00%	Macao
	1	0.00%	Maldives
	1	0.00%	Gibraltar
	1	0.00%	Bolivia
	1	0.00%	Faroe Islands