Theme For An Imaginary Western - Mountain Part VI

Those of you who have followed this series from the start

may remember our reference to 2 Songs laying dormant,

one of which has been our headline for the last 6 Posts.

The other is also a 'classic' from US Hard Rock band Mountain
Nantucket Sleighride (Link)
 from the album of the same name.

NANTUCKET

Nantucket is an island about 30 miles south from Cape Cod, in the American state of Massachusetts. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, and the conterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated.

For the final, but by no means least, part to TFAIW we paid a visit to Portland Bill where the prospects were good as a finale to our trip with a smattering of new birds for the year and the County! First port of call was as usual the

PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY (Link)
and the onto the Bill where immediately we found c6

PURPLE SANDPIPER

as ever foraging among the rocky shoreline.

The silence was shattered by the passing

Coast Guard Helicopter
a noise we would happily put up with were we in danger.

Looking back along the coast towards East Cliff with the
PBO just peeking above the horizon left of image.

Next up were a good number of

RAZORBILL

viewed from the lee of the

Trinity House Obelisk,

but a search of the redundant Bill Stone Quarry was without success for

Black Redstart

 so something left for another day.

Onward to
PULPIT ROCK
for decent views of

GUILLEMOT

but on the day there was not a Fulmar to be seen!

PORTLAND BILL LIGHTHOUSE

AGROCYBE CYLINDRACEA
found on the Common followed by a view of the third and oldest of
The Islands Lighthouses known as the

HIGHER LIGHT
The afternoon was now drawing on which is when Dave Foot phoned
to ask if I was still around and should he join me for what was
hoped to be the SPECTACULAR to follow!
Together we wandered up the the
Privet Hedge
where already one of the 

SHORT-EARED OWLs
was in a tussle with a Kestrel,

which was followed by what might be described as a

Full Repertoire

by no fewer than c5 birds

flying,

calling,

at perch

and even occasionally

displaying.
Birds or not, Portland is always Great Value with the brief visit, and
unexpected company, very much enjoyed as my day and trip disappeared into the

SUNSET

(looking back south west down Bill Road)

Trivia:- A Nantucket Sleighride was a term used by Whale Hunters, out of the port of the same name, to describe the events following the hand-harpooning of a Whale from a small open boat. The distressed animal would attempt to flee and thus drags the boat along with it, sometimes up to speeds of 25 mph.

The 'keyboard riff’ mid-way and at the end was once signature tune for the TV programme ‘Weekend World’.

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