Thursday 27 October 2022

Will Ye No Come Back Again - Carolina Oliphant

 Inspiration is a strange old bird shied away from by many, held by others as a means of further education or enlightment which has visted me no fewer than 3 times in the last few days. These formed most of the reason for a halt to the hiatus that has seen the absence of the Bagsy Blog since Sunday 24/08/2022.

Firstly, during that time period there has never been a day without 'HITS' being added to our previous efforts ranging from a low of 586, on our first full day of absence, to a 'high' of 972 and that's without a Post. We like to believe that this might be that our efforts have been inspirational, having covered so many subjects and so many countries and hope our revival will continue in the same vein. 

The second of these was a visit to the Portland Bird Observatory,

on a pleasant enough day but calling in firstly en-route to Lane End to find a few each of both
YELLOWHAMMER
and
BROWN RAT
considered a
decent start while at
Ferry Bridge, the Gateway to Portland, a decent number of
BRENT GEESE
unfortunately at quite some distance.
As with everyone else we always enjoy a warm welcome at the Bird Observatory, and find inspiration at every visit. Not having even "shut down main engines" we found the Warden, Martin Cade calling my name and beckoning me, surely indicating something of interest was afoot and to find him gentally holding this 'long distance migrant'
PALLAS'S WARBLER
between thumb and fore-finger
and already sporting that all important identity 'ring' on its right leg
allowing any future finer or trapper to add to its movements!
Also of great value was to find the lounge full of many familiar faces all within view of the active
PORTLAND BILL LIGHTHOUSE
However, the Bird was not to be the only 'scarcity' as Martin produced one of the 'beauties' of the
Moth World
CRIMSON SPECKLED
of which many have been seen by myself across Mainland Europe but this a first for G.B.
As the saying goes "all good things must come to an end"
but not before paying on the way back to the
Maiden Castle Ironage Hill Fort
where it looked ever bit as if they were concreting the footpaths????
SKYLARK
We thought they were late harvesting the
SUNFLWER SEEDS
at our end of the county, but this was a full month later, 
with just a single
CORN BUNTING

and finaly the whitest

SHEEP
we have ever seen, the pink hue coming as part of camara incompitence!!
We hope, in turn, you will all be kind enough to alert your Families and Friends to our return, as we will make best efforts to continue Daily Publication.
VERY BEST WISHES TO ONE AND ALL!!
P.S. - This first Post was met by Heavy Rain, doubt we are alone in that!