Having made an early decision to stay at home yesterday, all I saw of Weymouth Carnival was part of what I believe to be
the AEROSTARS aerobatic display team.
Meanwhile,
it was an early start towards Ferry Bridge to watch the tide recede. At
the crossing POLICE with SNIFFER DOGS were still on alert for the
ParaOlympics
checking every sealed manhole cover and drain.
It
was a fine enough site across the sand foreshore, but not a sign of the
Little Stint or the half dozen Curlew Sandpiper that featured there
yesterday. Quickly on then to Portland and
GROVE POINT particularly to check out reports of a Hoopoe that had been seen there earlier.
Patrolling this part of the East Weares, passing by one of the landmark chimneys, saw no joy at all
but the scenery is spectacular and there is always 'something' to be seen.
Not quiet so scenic is the Young Offenders Institution
and the adjoining facilities for the Prison Officers such as the BOWLING GREEN.
What were formally the Rifle Shooting Butts of the now long defunct HMS Osprey can be seen from here,
as can the 2 NAPOLEONIC BATHS which were both constructed and used by French Prisoners of War.
The Goats were released here some years ago during which time I have never clapped eyes on them,
were a total of 8 just lounging around.
The
now derelict DURDLE PIER was once the shipping point for probably
millions of tons of Portland Stone for the building of London and many
other cities
while this precious natural commodity is still being extracted from 'open cast' quarries here.
A
fantastic vantage point to view the Island trailing of to the south
where among others Portland Bill Lighthouse and the Bird Observatory may
just be seen.
In
addition, 2 of Portland's 3 castles may be viewed from here RUFUS (Bow
and Arrow) CASTLE (left) named after William II also known as Rufus
during the 1100's Rufus Castle Link and PENNSYLVANIA CASTLE (right) built in the early 1800's by John Penn, grandson of the founder of the State of Pennsylvania, USA Penn Castle Link.
The course of the redundant Portland Steam Railway follows the Weares almost to the castles
before forming a loop which eventually had the train running to Easton
in the centre of the Island.
This is now a Public Footpath and part of
the Jurassic Coastal Path.
TUDOR
COTTAGE on the thoroughfare known a Wakeham is typical of a Portland
Stone built home, and on closer inspection even the old red brick baking
oven can be seen jutting from the stonework bottom right.
what I would describe as a RAIN BEETLE
c2
PIED FLYCATCHERS, singles of Common Sandpiper and Great Spotted
Woodpecker plus dozens of Chalkhill Blue, Meadow Brown, Marbled White,
Gatekeeper and Red Admiral Butterflies, 'hands up' all those wanting a
guided tour!
and
finally, an amazing shot from fellow bird watcher Peter Saunders who
has been monitoring the activities of EMPEROR DRAGONFLIES in his garden
at Southwell, Portland. Here, one is seen with a BEE which it has killed
and is now carrying off to who knows where. Further to this, Peter told
me this morning that he has seen them catching Oak Eggar Moths, which
must have a similar body weight, de-wing them on one side then abandoning
them. Strange goings on in deepest Portland!!
