It's Only Mates 'n' Music But I Like It, Like It, Yes I Do

And to cap it all, just as I was pulling the duvet under my chin, when the door bell rings and another child is born. Joy, next door, has been waiting the same as I for her grandchild, who was born at 21-30 GMT. So far no name, but weighed in at 9lb 7oz. Was that a champagne cork we heard pop?

Polygeneticism is derived from the proto-alchemical principles of the Desmondovarians, a Dorset tribe who attempted to transmute precious DNA into pure musical form without the aid of a safety net. In doing so, all audience participation was carried along on a tsunami of riff and Doppler, consigning them to a life of leaving no Stone unturned.

Hence Polygenes were born, somewhen in the 1990's, comprising my musical mates Chas Dickie (Cello, Keys et al) http://www.discogs.com/artist/Chas+Dickie formally with 60's created Van der Graf Generator and sideman of more rockers than you could imagine. The locally inspirational Chris Lonigan (bass) backbone of many a Dorset outfit, while playing alongside numerous luminaries too numerous to note here http://www.chrislonergan.co.uk/background.htm Chris Page (drums) also formidable on the Dorset and National scene, plus Robbie McIntosh (Guitars, Piano etc) ex Pretender, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Paul McCartney, John Mayer and Nora Jones to name but a few http://www.robbiemcintosh.com/discog.html

Only ever producing one album, titled '9 Stones' under this guise, this afternoon they performed a 'one off' rendition at Peter Smith's No6 on King Street, Weymouth. The highlights were undoubtedly the Floydesque track 'Provisional Ritual' (Stone 4) and the seminal Uoy Rof Esum Tog I Evah (Stone 1) which blends eastern sounds with snorting spices. Unfortunately, and for reasons unexplained, View From An Eyelid (Stone 11), naturaly a Lonigan composition for solo bass guitar, was excluded but be sure, after the protestations of yours truly it will not be left out again.

Wot 'appened to the sound check man? Peter (No6) Smith, roadie of this parish, checks out the amps!

Robbie in full swing

Chris Page, only half of 'drum & base'

Well it seems to be alright now - Alright Now?, that's by Free in'it?

Chas thumps a mean Cello (Julian Lloyd Weber watch and learn)

Donnie Lonigan loosing the flavour of his chewing gum

And then a man steps right up to the microphone. He says at last he's heard the 'time bell 'ring. "Thank you, goodnight, now it's time to go home", and he makes it fast with one more thing. We are the Sultans!

Moi - contented as I now have Toco Tucan on my 'World List'

The early part of the morning met with little success, but on the way home via the Hump and Ferry Bridge things did hot up a bit. A total of 10 Stonechat were seen along with a single, calling Redpoll, about a dozen Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush and a male Blackcap at the Hump, then on to FB. There my first Brent Geese, this end of the year, were represented by 7 individuals, however these were not 'the' first as a single was also seen there a couple of days ago. With them were a few each of Dunlin & Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 Mediterranean Gull plus 2 Little Egret.

The 2 Knot with one of the Bar-tailed Godwit - Ferry Bridge, Portland

The 2 Knot - Ditto

Off-shore 'birding' with the Buchan Birders

While some of the secrets of Buchan Alpha have already been unlocked on this blog, the diversity of species may still be a mystery to many. Over the coming days I'll post some images to highlight what does go on 120 miles north east of Aberdeen, hoping they will be of interest to most of you. While David Bailey still remains unperturbed about my photographic prowess, it should be pointed out that most of the following were taken with the rig camera, usually spattered with oil based mud and occasionally used by the Roughnecks to hammer in nails.

Little Bunting - might as well start with a goody and a nice story to accompany it. Going about my harduous task of sitting around drinking coffee and story telling, I was interrupted on the radio by our standby boat announcing they had caught a couple of birds. "One we think is a House Martin" the Captain informed me, "and the other a Linnet". Delighted with both, especially the latter a 'rig tick', they were duly winched aboard in a Twix chocolate box. Straight to the comfort of my cabin, the first was seen to be a Storm Petrel (easily confused I guess) and most welcome as the first I'd ever handled. The second was much more of a surprise, the pictured Bunting.

Little Bunting - sporting new shackle. It was kept in the warmth of the Marine Control Room overnight, and as luck would have it there was a 'chopper next morning. Communication with the shore had Paul Baxter from the Aberdeen Bird Club collect it from the heliport, transport it to Cove (a few miles south) and to the delight of a crowd of 'year listers', ringed and released it.

Water Rail - an annual visitor in ones and twos, usually in the Autumn

Wigeon - small numbers showed most years often passing straight through. These, just 2 of 15 that day, took advantage of the fresh water supply from a recent shower on the heli-deck, to wash and drink

Short-eared Owl
Long-eared Owls

Both of the larger Owls were annual on both migrations, and with a ready and plentiful food supply faired very well. The only other Owl ever to have been recorded on Buchan, involved a 'ringed' bird that was 'controlled' on Shetland a couple of days prior to it visit, then sent ashore by 'chopper from the rig. This was before my time so details are a little sketchy

Ticking Away the Moments That Make Up a Dull Day - Pink Floyd

Having enjoyed excellent company for dinner last evening, Joy my next door neighbour and her gentleman friend Roy helped me through braised duck followed by Stilton and Port. A dark and dingy early morning with a stiff westerly didn't seem very promising for bird life, and it wasn't. The best to be seen at Radipole were single Sparrowhawk and Chiffchaff while the 4 Black-tailed Godwit remained in situ, with good numbers of Common Snipe and a couple of sub-adult Common Gulls. At Portland things were dire to start with, managing to count all the alba Wagtails and Mipits before I got to the Obs, 3 and 2 respectively. 2 Ravens and a Peregrine brightened an otherwise dull day at the west cliffs, while at the Bill, Gannets seemed to be moving in good numbers and 2 Balearic Shearwater entered the notebook as bird of the day.

Before entering the Observatory I noticed yesterdays BBC man's car in the same place, inconsiderately blocking access on the farm track going up to the privet hedge. However, today there was an addition stuck to the back window, a 'Police Aware' notice. It transpired that having left it there all day yesterday to go filming, he had lost the keys and had to send for help. The RAC man was, by all accounts, able to gain entry, but with all the sophisticated anti-theft devices was unable to start the engine. I ventured that had certain people been in the area he would likely have found a tractor or other farm plant parked close up behind it.

My only other observation today was the start of work on Officer's Field opposite Victoria Gardens at Underhill, Portland. Domestic dwellings by all accounts, but I think one could place a pretty safe bet that they won't be for local young people at affordable prices!

A photograph at random from the archive of an Alpine Chough, taken in Spain June 2005


The final post from the Egypt collection, again centers on the Desert and Mountain areas

Desert Lark - a lucky last minute find just outside St Catherine's Monastery

Isabelline Wheatear - present in all arid areas

Sinai Rosefinch (female) - the only site I know for this species is part way up Mount Mosses. I don't know if they favour any particular elevation, but the 2 separate occasions I've seen them, they have been about 20 to 30 minutes up (if that's any help)

Sinai Rosefinch (male) - one trait of this nifty little finch is feeding on seeds extracted from Camel dung, so path watching is a good idea

Wildlife People Day

Today's post is probably a little more about personalities than birds, there were a few people about, but fewer birds. While Meadow Pipits still seemed to be moving in good numbers, alba Wagtails were nowhere near as plentiful as yesterday. Barleycrates only produced single Whinchat and Grey Wagtail and the west cliff just single Wheatear, Merlin and Peregrine, with 2 Ravens putting on quite an aerial performance. Further down the island a few Stonechat were in evidence (with one caught in the Obs garden coinciding with my arrival there) 3 Yellow Wagtail flew over calling, a scattering of Chiffchaff, a Pheasant calling from the privet hedge area and all 6 Grey Partridge being far more confiding. At the Obs I picked up on 10 Common Scoter flying east but apart from a few Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Auk Sp that was it.

The first person I meet today was Geoffrey Senior, who's beautiful illustrations can be found in Barry Goater's excellent volume British Pyralid Moths. Barry and I have 'birded' together on a couple of occasions, and his Field Guide helped somewhat in my clumsy efforts to identify micro-moths during a 12 year trapping period. It was interesting to meet the other half as it were.

Next I bumped into Max Hug Williams, someone else I had never met before, these days Cameraman for the BBC. Recently returned from Africa where he had been undertaking some 'freelance' mammal shoots, he was today taking various footage for next weeks 'live' showing of Autumn Watch. Coincidentally, I was introduced to 3 of his team last evening, while looking for the Ruddy Shelduck at Radipole.

Earlier, I had put a couple of fellow photographers (in my case I use the term loosely) onto the Grey Partridges, for which they were very grateful. One I seemed to recognise and later it dawned on me that it was Charlie Moores, probably best known locally for his heavy involvement in the production of the Digital Video 'The Natural History of the Isle of Portland.' Responsible for Photography, Editing and Narration this work should be a 'must have' for anyone remotely interested in the magical nature of this special island, especially the novice. Ably advised by Martin Cade, Warden of the Bird Observatory and local artist Joyce Bee, the Text, Research plus some photography was in he main handled by the late, and much missed, Peter Mowday. Accompanying Charlie was Richard Crossley, now resident in my old 'stomping ground' of Cape May, New Jersey and author of 'The Shorebird Guide' published by Houghton and Mifflin just one of his many talents. I should also mention that he is also an acquaintance of one of my US birding friends, Sandra Keller. Before my first trip to Cape May I contacted Sandra, as she had suggested on her regular postings on Surfbirds, and received a wealth of useful information about the area and like minded contacts. This made life very easy as I joined a number of walks, met some of the most hospitable people and increased my States list ten fold. Sandra plus Doug, Mary and Gabe Johnson (to name but a few) remain firm friends and I very much look forward to them visiting Dorset. If any of you over The Pond are reading this the invitation remains very much OPEN!

The Grey Partridge being much more confiding

Richard & Charlie in Top Fields

Max Hug Williams setting up gear and directing where he wanted me to pose

Stonechats - Portland Bill, a bird in the hand

is said to be worth more than one in a bush

Martin Cade, Warden Portland Bird Observatory, processing the captive

'Wave Ruler', the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fast Fleet Tanker of the Wave Knight Class, passing Portland Bill this morning

Egypt continued

Today and tomorrows posts continue the journey through Sinai, northward up the coast of the Gulf of Aqabah, sharp left into the desert region and back south to Sharm along the banks of the Gulf of Suez, including Ras Mohamed. St Catherine's Monastery, a must stop place, was built in 500 and something, at the foot of Mount Moses (of tablets of stone fame) and is reputed to be built around the Burning Bush. Agreed, there is a bush there but not to worry the fire has been put out. Crammed full of priceless artifacts of all denominations Arab, Greek, Roman and even Western oil paintings, in two visits I've not seen any of them. For me, what's outside is what matters with the following photographs giving some idea.

Saint Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Moses

White-crowned Black Wheatear - this a 'first year' not yet showing the adult crown

Spectacled Bulbul - common in the region, but seemingly confined to irrigated areas

Tristram's Grackle - a small colony exists on and around the monastery

Lists & Listers

A bit better day today for me despite the lack of any huge numbers of migrants except for Alba Wagtail and Meadow Pipit. This was mainly due to a number of 'boxes' being 'ticked' in what is a great necessity for most 'birders' - Lists. Most of us have them in one form or another, (I don't know anybody who doesn't) and while I have probably embraced most at some time or other, I have now reduced them to what I consider essential. In the past, these have included lists compiled 'from British Rail Trains', 'TV ', 'various Countries', 'First Sightings at Airports' and even 'Birds Heard on Films, Radio etc' - sad git! World, UK, Dorset and Home are now the most important of lists, but also my Dorset 'ongoing' Month List holds great store, but unlike some birders who keep a month list, every month of every year, mine simply gets longer annually. Spending so much time away from home has a detrimental effect on this list so today, being the first of a new month, I managed a little redress, picking up a couple of useful additions, also adding to the latest List in a long List of Lists the Photograph List.

First thing this morning I made a concerted effort to add Ruddy Shelduck at Radipole to the October tally, but they were uncooperative and not seen. However, with the water level so low at last there were dozens of Common Snipe in company of 3 Black-tailed Godwit as 2 tussling and calling Kingfisher flew by. Arriving at Weston, Portland the afore mentioned Wagtail / Pipit movement was very evident with a count of over 200 Albas between The Hump and Barleycrates Lane (a quarter mile), where a few Swallow, 5 Wheatear and 6 Stonechat were logged. On the way to the Obs 2 Turtle Doves, and the Little Owl were seen, in addition to a calling Tree Pipit which was an addition to the month list. At Culverwell I flushed a Sparrowhawk while 3 Kestrel were screaming overhead, the start of what turned out to be a minor Raptor day. During the walk to the bus back to Weymouth, I searched out and found the Grey Partridges, another month 'first' and photo tick. Back in town, above the Fire Station, a Peregrine was making life difficult for 3 Feral Pigeons, while at home, enjoying a coffee with my neighbor, a large Raptor floated into view at great height, which turned out to be a Common Buzzard. No sooner had it disappeared to the south, a further 6 appeared, at similar elevation, in company with a distinctly different but similar sized Honey Buzzard. 2 of the 6 were giving the rarer bird a real hard time, with all of them quickly disappearing in the same direction. The later was also a month tick and this number of Commons was a record total for home.

Something of passing interest today, was to see a small vessel trawling in Lyme Bay under a 'mizen sail', a practice even adopted by some of the larger pelagic boats in days gone by. Economical, green and quiet, the mizen, at the stern of the vessel, would be set to the wind conditions maintaining a steady speed of about 4 - 8 knots to propel the vessel, effectively 'fishing for free'. I haven't see this practice for many a year - maybe I need to get out more often?

Grey Partridge - Top Fields, Portland Bill

Ditto - probably not recorded on the Island since the early 90's, it would be nice to think they had bred here and not released?

2 of the 'covey' of 6
Almost all present and correct, but one flew off

Magpie - Culverwell, Portland

Little Owl - usually confined to a favoured crack between the stacked stone face in the Obs Quarry, today this one was out in the open and closer to the quarry rim

PS

At 18-30 this evening, the 3 Ruddy Shelduck were present at the North Hide, Radipole in company with 5 Wigeon and 4 Little Egret. Yours aye - Plastic Paul

More images from the Sewerage Works just north of Sharm el Sheikh

Long-legged Buzzard

Red-throated Pipit

Kentish Plover
White Stork - there were over 300 individuals at this site in February 2009

Headline News

A bit earlier start this morning than usual, I was on the bus to Portland at 06-20. There, I bumped into Richard Cockram and later Peter Coe and Graham Walbridge but between us we saw precious little through Top Fields, West Cliff and the Slopes, but a bull Grey Seal broke the deadlock as we arrived at the Bill. 19 Black-headed Gull accompanied in their feeding by a single Mediterranean Gull were also there, with a few Wheatear dotted across the Common and Bill Quarry with the odd Chiffchaff here and there. Things perked up further at the Obs where a single Spotted Flycatcher was joined by no fewer than 3 Turtle Doves in the garden Sycamores. On the way home, via the Privet Hedge path, 3 Stonechat were seen and again a few Skylark and a couple of noisy Kestrel. The Turtle Dove photographs were the first I have managed in Dorset.

Turtle Dove - Obs Garden

Kestrel - Top Fields

Bull Grey Seal - Portland Bill

As predicted yesterday, I am this morning proud to announce the birth of the future Prime Minister of Australia, the likely first man to set foot on Mars, future winner of 10 Olympic Golds and prospective finder of a cure for the Common Cold, my second Grandson. Frederick David York was born to Lisa (my youngest daughter) and her husband Commander Bernard York at 01-30 Australian time (16-30 GMT) and weighed in at 6lb 7oz. Bearing the first name of my father and my middle name, this is a privilege indeed and so many of their friends and family in UK send best wishes to all 3 of them. It is hoped there will soon be photographs to follow.

Also last evening I ventured back to Radipole and was successful in re-locating the 3 Ruddy Shelducks. Easily viewable just outside of the Visitor's Center, they were a little difficult to photograph as at most times reed height prevented a clear shot. With provenance unknown I will include them on my 'year list' which now stands at 246, just 3 species short (at the same time) of my record year of 2000.

Ruddy Shelduck - one of 3 at Radipole Lake, Dorset

Ditto - bottoms up

Ditto - all 3

Egypt continued - from the Sewerage Works outside of Sharm El Sheikh

Mohamed, Me & Assam my new found mates at the Sharm Sewerage Works, where there was always a cup of tea waiting during my 3 visits

Bluethroat - Red-spotted (Luscinia svecica) adult

Bluethroat - White-spotted (Luscinia cyanecula) adult

Bluethroat - 'first winter'

Back to the Grindstone

What Ille describes as "Bagsy's Hard Working" I was back to the 'birding' today, and not a bad morning at that. To start, there was a singing Coal Tit in the Longcroft cemetery which have been almost totally silent during the breeding season, and it was soon apparent there had been an influx of Blackbirds to the area. Only wishing to transit Radipole, and hopefully see the Ruddy Shelduck, I first clapped eyes on the Hooded Merganser which I haven't seen for over 2 months. At my last sighting, it looked in a sorry state, but as the photograph below shows it's now back in really smart plumage. At Portland there was a sprinkling of Wheatear at Barleycrates in company with 2 each of Tree Pipit and Stonechat, a few Swallows & Chiffchaff plus 4 Siskin. At the Hump 2 Lesser Whitethroat were having a tussle in a Dog Rose bush, while close by a female Blackcap and a single Raven were in evidence. There was little to report between there and the Obs, except to say it was good to hear the song of Skylark again. What was prevalent throughout were good numbers of butterflies, mostly Painted Lady and Red Admiral almost exclusively favouring flowering Ivy.

Hooded Merganser - Radipole Lake

While at the Obs, a message flashed on the 'pager' saying the Sandhill Crane, of the last few days, had left Orkney and had been seen at a couple of sites along the east coast of Scotland, including Wick. This brought back unfortunate memories of Sod's Law, at it's very worst, involving what was probably the last such Crane to land up there. At the time I was on the Drilling Rig, Stena Hunter working some miles off the north east side of the Shetland Islands. We had been contracted to drill 11 holes for Joe Shell in the Osprey Field and were crew changing out of Aberdeen by 'fixed wing' to Sumburgh and onward by 'chopper to the rig. For some reason (probably ineptitude) the job was brought to a sudden halt and we 'stacked' the rig in Cromarty. What would have been my very next crew change, via Shetland, coincided with the arrival of Sandhill Crane not 10 minutes walk from the airport, what a MISS. However, since then the situation has been slightly redressed as I have now seen this magnificent species elsewhere - see accompanying photos!

Sandhill Cranes - Creamer's Farm, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Ditto
Ditto
Ditto

So, as it has been such a tough day I'll now get back to my Estonian cherry chocolate bar, courtesy of you know who, and coffee, and hopefully talk again tomorrow when there might be some EARTH SHATTERING NEWS - wait and see!

Over the next few days there will be more photographs from the All Our Yesterdays Series, this set being from the Sinai Peninsular, Egypt early 2009.

The hotel at Sharm El Sheikh, about 10 minutes after meeting Ille

A Little Later
and Later Still with Shisha Hookah Pipe & Bedouin Tea

While out in the garden

Laughing Dove

Sardinian Warbler