Like a ship restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, it was mainly domestic duties, two runs to the airport and a single caravaner, any bird watching took place in sight of the galley. A good deal brighter, although we didn't see a whole lot of the sun, but things turned brighter still after my first return from Bournemouth International to find the
'almost full plumage' male MANDARIN back on Parley Pool. My discovery coincided with the arrival of Mousy the Gamekeeper who informed me that since the turn of the month it had been on the Manor Pond. weymouth
While busily preparing dinner for the family return, yes 16 days gone already, the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER paid several visits to the nut feeder as did the regular Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Peasant and Collared Dove. I'm expecting the Dampney's back before dark so I'd better get the peas on and leave you with a few more images from the Peru/Chile archive.
KILLDEERLLAMA
This series of 5 shots were taken around the Peruvian coastal towns of Pisco and Paracas
where hundreds of thousands of seabirds over-winter. Most numerous among these are something like 75% of the North American population of FRANKLIN'S GULL. Others include Royal, Elegant and Sandwich Tern, Peruvian Pelican, Grey, Laughing and Belcher's Gull, Black Skimmer, Humoldt Penguin etc.
juvenile MOUNTAIN CARACARA.MOURNING SIERRA-FINCH
PACIFIC DOVE
PACIFIC PARROTLET
PERUVIAN BOOBY
People of the High Altiplano.
VICUNA, relative of the Lama, Alpaca and Guanaco.
PERUVIAN PELICAN
They're back safe and sound with a tale to tell over a glass or two of Burgundy no doubt - hic!