We've
just about seen it all now weather-wise, with sun, rain, wind etc all
showing a hand over the last couple of weeks, today was the turn of
'dense fog'. Peeking through the bushes along the Rodwell Trail the view
is usually as far as the Isle of Portland, but today just as far as the
small boats moored close to shore.
Nothing unusual along the rest of the trail with DUNNOCK
and WOOD PIGEON being the only birds to fall to the lens
but the humid weather had the effect of bringing SLUGs and Snails into view.
In
recent weeks I have read and on one occasion seen on the television
reference to 'wheelchair diving' which I got a first hand look at today.
2 gentlemen were readying this rig for their incapacitated friend at
Fathom and Blues Divers stationed at the Ferry Bridge Inn. I'll need to
know more, so will make further investigations.
Apart
from c4 of each Curlew and Dunlin there was little else of note at 'low
water' Ferry Bridge and as can be seen visabilty had not improved by
the time I headed for Portland.
There, the small flock of juvenile STARLINGs hadn't attracted a Rose-coloured bird,
and
as reported on the PBO Website in the week CORMORANT numbers seem high
for the time of year. With little else on the sea it was time to head
for the Observatory, where on the way
the 'dark' LITTLE OWL had temporarily abandoned its favourite slot in the rocks
for a far more open position.
WILD STRAWBERRY are now starting to appear around the lip of the Obs Quarry,
where
also my first MARBLED WHITE of the year was photographed. Bird-wise at
the Obs things were also very quiet but the Moth (light) Traps had seen
some overnight success but nothing of a scarce or rare nature. Some of
the more attractive insects included
AZURE
DAMSELFLIES were busily procreating. After coffee it was time to leave,
coinciding with the fog lifting, so for the first time since my return
it was decided to walk the East Cliff path back
Although
the image doesn't show it too well, REEDY DITCH which is fed from a
natural spring at Culverwell (the distant bushes centre) and 'run-off'
from Top FIelds was almost in full flow, most unusual for this time of
year.
The carpet of pink Thrift has now disappeared, to be replaced by the equally attractive cover of yellow BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL
all
along this rugged coastline. I have no proof , but like to think that
the 'dressed' stone blocks in the foreground are residue from the
construction of St Paul's Cathedral, London. There are still blocks of
stone around the Island that bear the mark of Sir Christopher Wren, but
have never been able to find one in this area.
At
one of the many redundant quarries here there was a moment of 'high
drama' on finding this SHEEP seemingly stuck down one of them.
Obs
Warden Martin Cade is the obvious choice as first point of contact, for
if he dosn't know who to alert he'll know somebody who does. A report
may follow?
It
was the turn of the Prince of Wales to visit the National Sailing
Acadamy at the north of the Island today, and while he usually travels
in a helecopter of the Queen's Flight (red livery) he could well have
been in this chopper. I say that because on my way home the same
aircraft was stood on the tarmac at Castletown, but it could just as
easily have been an escort or nothing at all to do with him?
and I often wonder how many more years this pinnacle has left standing.
Finally at Southwell village there was a chance to watch HOUSE MARTINs also feeding young.
On returning to the nest with a bill full of insects, the 'food passing' is so quick
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