Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Recuperate is too strong a word, but if you have sit around doing nothing for a couple of days then where better than the Portland Bird Observatory. It was pure coincidence that a 'group' booked to stay there had cancelled at short notice and seeing this on the Warden's web site Portland Bird Observatory I struck while the iron was hot! Time for a leisurely coffee while tending the Moth Trap, which contained

 DUSKY THORN

 a new addition to the Property List in the shape of

 SMALL WAINSCOT*

 

 and another

 All else amounted to what might be a SHIELDBUG

then time for the steady drive to Portland.

While I doubt much ground will be covered on foot, the intent will be to keep an ongoing list for the week back up by as many images as possible. In addition the trap will run at Sweethill, just a mile or so to the north of the Obs, in the hope of catching things a little different to here. Luckily, and with a little 'local knowledge', one can still park at various places at the northern edge of Poole Harbour so without leaving the comfort of the car get reasonable views of the bird life there.  First to show and in the same bush were

 BLUE TIT and

 GREAT TIT

 while on the water was found

BLACK-HEADED GULL,

 CANADA GOOSE,

 GREYLAG GOOSE,

 HERRING GULL,

 MUTE SWAN

 and COOT.

 FIELD MAPLE Sp??

 The Tits continued and were represented by

LONG-TAILED

 then back to the sea where a good number of both

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

 

and WIGEON 

which now seem to have established themselves.

 LITTLE EGRET

were, as usual, numerous and all that was seen of

 DUNLIN

was this small flock heading at speed away from the observer.

 Finally on the photo front this

COMMON BUZZARD

put in a brief appearance, disappeared then returned

being mobbed by a couple of 

CARRION CROW.

During this period Jay, Magpie, Moorhen, Feral and Wood Pigeon, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Shoveler, Redshank, Teal, Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Greenshank, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Great Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail and c2 Kingfisher were recorded but escaped the lens. The continuation to Portland was punctuated by a visit to my ol' shipmate and mentor John (Ginger) Prince and his wife Val which turned into lunch and a session of 'swinging the lantern' - "oh for a life on the rolling sea"!

So, the List kicks off with a modest 36 - Watch This Space!

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