Flicking through the TV channels
last night my thoughts were drawn to the Dampney family, down there at
Parley near Christchurch, as family member and Olympian Zara was once
again 'on the box'.
There
was also an e-mail containing this photograph of a SPARROWHAWK, taken
by Joyce Wilkie wife of Earl one of the many bus drivers I know in the
town. A little strange maybe that it was taken in their garden in Queen's
Street which is the heart of suburban Weymouth - Thanks Joyce!
To
be kind, maybe today should best be described as Autumnal and quiet,
with the stiff chill westerly breeze persisting, cloud cover at a
maximum (with one or two sunny spells) and drizzle by late morning.
Quiet? Well that was mainly due to the lack of birds, or any wildlife
for that matter.
There did seem to be an extraordinary number of BLACKBIRDs around, while approaching Westham Bridge
c2 GREY WAGTAILs flew close overhead while 'calling'.
Lack of subject matter that far inspired a shot of a nearby COOT before busing to Portland.
By the time I reached the West Cliff at the end of Barleycrates Lane, all that had been seen amounted to just
plus c2 less than obliging COMMON WHITETHROAT.
With
the protection of a coat it was a pleasant enough walk along the
cliffs towards The Bill but unfortunately devoid of birds save for a
single Wheatear and a few Swallows. Once again the Observatory Moth
Traps provided some interest with
COMMON RUSTIC on offer, and some human interest as the
King's,
Ron (Chunky) and son Simon, arrived for a day trip from Hampshire.
Infrequent visitors, this is the first I have seen of them this year,
but always a great pleasure and laugh to encounter them once again.
As ever Martin, the Warden, came to the rescue with a much better photo opportunity of COMMON WHITETHROAT as the
| Num | Perc. | Country Name | |||
 | 70107 | 71.54% | United Kingdom |  | |
| 7374 | 7.52% | United States |  |
