Anyone For Tennis - Cream

HALLELUJAH was the first word that sprang to mind peeping through the curtains first thing, it wasn't raining. As with the lack of grass cutting in the cemetery last week, it was soon to transpire that not only do I 'talk too soon', I also 'think too soon'! 

It was in fact raining, albeit so light it was difficult to see, but passing the Marsh there was a rainbow thumbing its nose at me. The rain had persisted all day and night yesterday but our share had been nothing compared to those further north and west of Weymouth, but the wind had now veered to the north and there was a good chance of us inheriting the residue?

The scene looked similar from the Town Bridge while awaiting the bus, but I refrained from even thinking there was signs of brightness to the east.

At Ferry Bridge there was, given the current whether conditions, an amazing sight of no fewer than c19 LITTLE TERNs a number of which were adult birds carrying fish. On the strength of that it was thought worth a closer look along the foreshore of Chesil Beach where there looked to be c9 juveniles, a great result by anyone's measure.

Approaching the Bill there were definite signs of brightness (but not too loud) which encouraged a couple of 

SWALLOWs

out onto the telephone wires for a bit of preening

and some fluffing up.

It appeared there had been an influx of the immigrant SILVER Y MOTH and the increasing warmth was keeping them on the wing. The marking from which this insect gets its name can be seen on this image.

A SKYLARK then took up station on the roadside verge directly in front of me,

seemingly unconcerned at the noise of passing traffic,

but eventually it did fly off to be replaced by

MAGPIEs. The adult bird had found a RAT, much to the delight of the younger bird

which began pestering for a share. It was afforded a couple of chunks and it should be noted that the parent was one of the few 'ringed' by the staff at the Observatory. That was my next 'port of call', where a few seabirds were being recorded; of which I saw only one a Balearic Shearwater. Coffeed and fed, it was off again towards the East Cliff

where an adult RAVEN was found

in what has become a favoured feeding area along with

c2 of this seasons juveniles. On the walk down it was not surprising to see a mini torrent of of rain water draining from the fields and flooding the road at Culverwell, so it was always going to be worth checking the overflow at the cliff edge.

The REEDY DITCH was in full flow,

and while it is no Iguassu, this is the closest we get to a Waterfall on Portland - lovely isn't it?

With lots of Blue Sky by now and the day getting ever warmer, insects were being coaxed out of cover (or the cocoon) with just a few CINNABAR MOTHs and my best count of

MARBLED WHITE BUTTERFLIES this year,

While there were still billowing clouds over Weymouth Bay to the east, but by the time I reached home they too had cleared leaving a sun-soaked blue sky. It was hoped things were the same at SW20 as Andy Murray strives to be the first Men's Singles Champion since Fred Perry in 1936 against the 'mighty; Roger Federer - May the BEST MAN win!