With the Internet having been down for a couple of days, it's a bit of a catch up today.
Monday evening we went to the Three Tuns Pub in the New Forest to celebrate
Janet's (left) birthday along with Hugh, Daryl and Cath,
very good food spoiled by extremely poor service,
another hostelry scrubbed off the list!
Early
next morning Hugh arrived back for breakfast to report a 'pair' of
TUFTED DUCK (male) on the pond. By no means a regular sight here so good
to see a couple braving what is a busy thoroughfare.
Plenty
of activity on and around the feeders with GREENFINCH and HOUSE SPARROW
in good numbers, looking pristine and seeming to have had a successful
breeding season.
So, later in the day a quick run down to Longham Lake where
the activity was limited to
PIED WAGTAIL,
the activity was limited to
PIED WAGTAIL,
a 'blaze' of DAISIES,
REED WARBLER
GREY HERON
a pale (washed out) MALLARD
and other Wagtails capitalising on the abundance of Damselflies.
On my return both Tufties were on show at the pond side.
All
day Wednesday was spent around Portland and Weymouth with first port of
call the Portland Bird Observatory. Good to see again the few people
who were there, but otherwise very quiet on the ground. The only
exception to this was one of a number of
JAYs
that
had been paying infrequent visits to the garden. A species that I had
previously not seen on the Island, but with no time to search I made to
leave. Issuing my final goodbye, the bird concerned obligingly flew into
a tree give views for about one minute. Onward to Secret's house, where
fortunately I found Mrs Secret (Jane) and son Robert who is presently
on holiday from Bristol University. Another serious session of catching
up before heading off to lunch with Lesley Brown. Being mobile we were
able to venture a little further afield and ate in the Sailor's Return
at East Chaldon, with the countryside thereabout as ever a fine example
of just what Dorset has to offer. There was something of a reversal here
compared to Monday evening as the service was superb but my 'long
roast' pork belly had seen better days, but dealt with in a most
professional manner.
On our way back to Weymouth we took time to watch
THATCHERS at work in the village.
and the final 'catch up', for now at least are some photographs
received since the last post.
A very proud Grandpa with 2 of 3 very special little boys.
This image was captioned
'The Two Fredericks'
and
lastly a great surprise from Kourou, French Guyana as Marine Agent Ho
You Fat, who I shared a beer and a little time with on the last
adventure, wrote
Master
Bagsy. Good day, how is the world treating you? Excuse me while I look
after the sun and the big moon in this morning day!
Kind regards
Yvan HO YOU FAT - HYF SHIPPING
