With A Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles

No wonder the HAWTHORN BERRIES are disappearing at a
great rate of knots!

I caught c5 BLACKBIRDS in this bush stealing them this morning.

A small party of CROSSBILL were heard while emptying the
trap, none of which landed. Archive photo for illustration.

Despite the persistent heavy rain and high wind there were c4 Moths in the only trap set last night including c2 Beaded Chestnut,

 ROSY RUSTIC,

and DARK SWORD-GRASS

Had it not been for falling behind a couple of days with Posts that would be all of interest today, but there's more. Harking back to Thursday, there was the second (after the Ring-billed Gull) of the trio of rare/uncommon birds in the area which had been located in Poole Harbour a couple of days earlier. The day wasn't solely about the 'rarity' as around the harbour (the second largest Natural Harbour in the World) there is the prospect of much else to see. On that day the New Moon was just 4 days old

hence the early morning very low 'spring tide', which it was hoped
would have attracted some Wading Birds.

Setting up the telescope on Evening Hill, a vantage point for browsing the Lagoon on Brownsea Island (distant), there was a good chance of seeing both Avocet and Spoonbill but neither were in residence today.

The place seemed to be swarming with
OYSTERCATCHERs

and there was also a late departing/overwintering bonus
SANDWICH TERN

It was at the SANDBANKS to SHELL BAY (Studland) FERRY
that I met Marcus Lawson, a recent evacuee from Kent who has
now set up home and 'birding' in Dorset.

We were in fact on the same mission and shared an interesting
conversation during the crossing.

BROWNSEA ISLAND (home of the Boy Scout Movement)
CASTLE and on the mainland before we left the home of

Queens Park Rangers Football Manager
HARRY REDKNAPP
My plan was to search the 2 bays either side of the Ferry Terminal
while Marcus made a B-line for the bird. Exchanging telephone
numbers would allow for updates along the way.

Happy with the decision as there I found
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

and a pair of in flight
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (female leading the male)
both additions to my Year List. Just before leaving Marcus
called to confirm he had relocated the 'rarity'.

Arriving at the sandy REDHORN POINT
I could see

MARCUS (left) and fellow 'birder' BRIAN SHAW
both far to busy elsewhere to spot me. They were looking at the
unfortunately distant

SURF SCOTER
a large 'Sea Duck' that breeds in Northern Canada and Alaska.

Too distant for a photograph, this image is from the archive and was taken in Barrow, far north Alaska in 2010. Perhaps needless to say, but this was also an addition to the afore mentioned list and to the 'ongoing' Dorset Month List for November. Other additions in what is know as Brand's Bay between Redhorn and Goathorn Points were

PINTAIL (male)

and male (top) and female GOLDENEYE.

With reports of Black-necked Grebes both here and in Studland Bay I felt confident that this further addition would be 'just a matter of time', but never 'count your chickens etc'.

From a high point overlooking the latter locations there is a fantastic view of the OLD HARRY ROCK, but where were the Grebes? You can only spend X amount of time searching and

RABBIT,

FUNGI and

RING-NECKED PARAKEET
were also logged, it was a brisk pace back to the car as the rain
clouds were now looking seriously threatening.

From the BANK'S ARMS Public House Car Park
I was drawn, not for the first time,

to the main village of STUDLAND and more particularly to the fine

CHURCH

GARLANDS around the doorway,

and substantial 'butressed' NAVE.

NORMAN ARCHES,

BANNER,

ROOF VAULTING,

NORMAN COLUMNS,

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS,

detail of STONE CARVINGS

CHOIR and ORGAN PIPES

traces of ancient WALL PAINTINGS,

and NORMAN FONT all add charm and history to this place!

View from the Choir to High Alter.

2 fine HATCHMENTS
likely the Banners of the predominant Banks family hereabouts.

A final look around the exterior with its
slightly more modern addition.

It was now raining quite heavily so just time for one more shot
of the structure and an ancient

YEW TREE
synonymous with English Church Yards.

Through the windscreen and now torrential rain a quick snap of
CORFE CASTLE ruin and a very brief stop at

Middlebere where all of note was a very vocal
WATER RAIL.

During my conversation with Marcus, the name of mutual 'birding' friend Steve Smith cropped up and by coincidence that very evening I received an E-mail from another friend alerting me to the Steve Smith Blog which can be viewed by clicking the Link - Best of Luck Steve hope to see you sometime soon!

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