Going to My Hometown - Rory Gallagher

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'JIMI' R.I.P.

A dull old day was Thursday with a dank feel throughout complete with an equally persistent and gusty North Easterly breeze. However, that aside, it was the day designate for the Strange Rover's annual dry-docking so it was a visit to Weymouth (my former hometown) and a couple of hours at my old stomping ground Radipole Lake. With a recent positive report of its continued presence there, high priority was given to the Hooded Merganser which is now in its 9th year of residence.

Given the conditions just about anything that stuck its head above
the parapet was considered 'fair game' to the lens, and started with

FERAL PIGEON

COOT

which have now disappeared from Parley Court Farm,
hardly any Gulls on the car park, which was considered unusual,

and a few dozen

TUFTED DUCK

with all the females keeping their heads down.
Having plied the track between Visitor's Centre and Sluices 3 times with
no sign of the illusive Duck we decided to walk the circular track
soon finding a resting

GREY HERON

and considered very lucky

although distant views of c2

MARSH HARRIER

We could well have done without the ever stiffening breeze

but the effect it was having on the 'dead heads' of the
COMMON REED
seemed therapeutic, while we don't think the passing

CORMORANT
even clapped eyes on us??
Next in the log was a first of the Autumn

COMMON GULL
but by no means as the name suggests back at PCF, just 5 records.

Back at the car park and there were a few more Birds to sort
through and included

MEDITERRANEAN GULL

a sightly closer
COMMON GULL
with a few
 BLACK_HEADED GULLs

HERRING GULL

along with

a couple more

MEDs

CORMORANT

LITTLE GREBE

and a far more active and obliging female

TUFTED DUCK
Just about to give up in favour of a few chores in town

and what should appear but the

HOODED MERGANSER

even catching Fish.

Where they went we cannot fathom, but the 2 best video clips

were lost in transit!

Finally, a Blast from the Past and

2008 when this fine Duck was first discovered!

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