Friends May Come and Friends May Go!

Two-tailed Pasha

A thing of beauty is a joy to behold. This magnificent insect was photographed by my rediscovered childhood friend John Wood in his garden in Spain last week. With it arrived a description of what's about down there at the moment, and an invitation to visit any time. Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, Bonelli's Eagle, Nightingale, Scops Owl to name but a few, I hope it won't be too long before you have to start fluffing up the pillows for my visit. Best wishes John & Marion.

and following yesterday's post of the strange cloud formation hanging over Radipole Lake, Paul Harris sent me another image of interesting stratus. Taken from the Chesil Beach, the Isle of Portland can just be seen emerging from the murk.

While last night was probably one to forget, we decided at the last minute to go for the Custer's Last Blues Band gig in Bridport. Having sussed the 'gig guide' via Friday nights Dorset Echo I had by that time forgotten the venue but felt quite confident we would be able to find out from one pub landlord or the other. Arriving in the town at 21-45 having driven the 20 odd miles through much low cloud and mist along the coast road, my enquiry at the Ropemakers Arms bore fruit. I had thought the Hope & Anchor was a good bet and this was confirmed by the dread-locked barman, but as I was leaving his pub he added, "it could be over by now though as it started at 15-00. I still haven't paid for the petrol yet. Nice to have had your company once again Andy, safe journey back to Derby.

Jo Lawrence & Co

No sooner had Andy Lindsay departed than I received another 'migrant' from the north, this time in the shape of fellow 'birder' Jo Lawrence. Jo met Daragh and I in the shelter at Lodmoor at about this time last year, and as a stranger in town I took it upon myself to show her around. Within the first hour together (we) I had found a Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers nest with young and went on to have a great time. The next day, in company with Dave Foot we ventured a little further afield, to Tarrant Hilton Airfield where we 'dipped on Corn Bunting and Quail. Nevertheless, a friendship was formed and here she is again for another birding week in Dorset. It is in fact Jo's second visit to the county this year as she and a couple of mates did venture down from London for the Bufflehead. A little late I fear, but by way of bonus did get the Hoopoe. So far she has managed Arctic Skua and Ring Ouzel, so we are hoping for a good day together tomorrow.

Gangling, ungainly and perhaps not the best looking lad in the Spur's 'first eleven' at the moment, I was much amused to hear the Peter Crouch reply when asked the question, "what do you think you would be, if you hadn't become a famous footballer Peter". The dry and witty reply, "a Virgin". Nice one son!

Blues & Greys

We finally made it to Number 6 at 21-00 last night after what I can only describe as 'not the best meal I've ever had at The Swan'. There Andy and I first bumped into Guitarist Jon Storey and Vinny (The Chip) Johnson of the Marlborough Fish & Chip shop fame. A couple of pints with them, we then paid our 'tenner' and went into the gig where The Producers were just flashing up their first number. As indisputably one of the best blues outfits on the southern circuit it was a shock to find that only 30 punters made up the audience. The first half of the set comprised mostly self penned numbers but the highlight came with their own rendition of the Marshall Crenshaw classic Somewhere Down The Line. Andy and I were fairly sure that the last time we had seen the band was a number of years ago at The Flowerpot in Derby, but during the interval we checked up with Messrs Skinner and Saunders to find that we were right.

Drew-Drury, Skinner, Smith & Saunders

The second half continued in the same vein, with the highlight of the evening coming by way of a self penned number Long Dusty Road. Saunders relates the story then when backing the newly formed Splinter Band when former recluse Peter Green (ex Fleetwood Mac) re-joined the music scene and complimented the guys on this number. Dave went on to say that he had to admit stealing the riff from Green, who in turn informed them he had nicked it from Howling Wolf.

Harry Skinner - Lead Guitars & Vocals

Dave Saunders - Bass Guitar

Ray Drew-Drury - Keyboards

Biff Smith - Drums

As much as the gig I do love talking music with Number 6 landlord Pete Smith and last night was no exception. Andy had already met him at my 60th birthday bash and they immediately embarked on a discussion about Martin guitars. Andy has recently bought one and Pete had one of the original model, now worth a King's ransom. He went on to tell us at the time of purchase another potential customer arrived to look at a Martin with the store owner demanding a £30 non-returnable levy to protect his valuable instruments and avoid time-wasters before he would even get one down off the wall. It was chucking it down with rain by the time we were ready to leave, so in his usual generous way Pete piled us into his car and drove us home.

It was a late morning for us, but eventually we did get underway for a walk along the Rodwell Trail where apart from Blackcaps there was little bird life. However, there was one sight I had not seen before, a female Blackcap building a nest. It had been intended to look at the tide line at Ferry Bridge for waders but even from the FB public house we could see a number of dogs 'off lead' so there was little point. The blackboard outside the pub was advertising a roast pork Sunday dinner for £7.00 so we took advantage of that. Back to Weymouth by bus, we walked the promenade, pleasure pier and harbour-side before heading home. On the way we had Common Tern, carrying fish, a small passage of Swifts and noted some Coot activity where the nest with eggs had once been. Looking over the Westham Bridge parapet we noticed they had already made good headway building a new nest, and arrived just in time to see them copulating. Let's hope they have more luck this time.

Grey Mullet - there was a large shoal in the Backwater, more than I have seen there for many years, of about 3 -350 fish many estimated at 4 - 5 pounds. There was a time when someone would have had a net around them in no time at all, maybe the reason for the rapid decline in the first place. Not only good to see so many, but a good indicator that all is well with the water in Weymouth Harbour.

The pair of Coots moments after 'the act'.

A strange cloud formation hanging over Radipole.

The Wall - Pink Floyd

Andrew Lindsay - how would you feel if this bloke knocked on your door asking for a 'free' bed for the week-end?

Andy Lindsay my mate from Derby decided on an impromptu week-end in Weymouth giving me just 4 hours to knock up a 'pot-mess' (Naval for stew). By 21-30 we were eating and drinking a couple of bottles of Burgundy and a glass or 3 of Port.

This morning we consigned ourselves to a walk along the west cliff at Portland and down to the Observatory. Not a lot of birds about, but Andy wouldn't profess to being a birder but does have a fairly keen interest. How our visits usually go is, when I am up at his he takes me course or fly fishing, where I have had a good deal of success, and birding when he is here. The things we do have in common are a passion for Blues, Rock and Prog music, fine wine (hence the Louise Jadot last night) and good food. We ended up covering a fair number of artistes from Leadbelly to Cowboy Junkies and rounded off the evening with my current number one choice Dark Matter by Southampton band IQ, and his all time favourite track Salisbury from the album of the same name by Uriah Heep.

Golden Plover

With good numbers of Swallow and House Martin passing along the coast there was always a chance of a good migrant being among them, but in the end, best birds were c2 Grasshopper Warblers, a few Whitethroats, a Peregrine and a distant Golden Plover (the first I have ever seen in Dorset in the month of April), in summer plumage, in Top Fields. This afternoon he went off to have a look at the Sand Martin Wall, with the promise that he would try not to disturb anything, while I stayed home to do this and check the 2009 vintage from Bordeaux - it is said to be outstanding. Our mate Stephen Williams, owner of the Antiques Wine Company now has a Blog as well as a Web Site, which may well be of interest to readers of these pages, where he interviews the owner of Chateau Le Pin, arguably the finest Claret in the world. I'll let you know if I ever get lucky enough to try it, the link is below.

We are spoilt for choice as far as this evenings entertainment is concerned, with Wishbone Ash playing The Cheese & Grain in Frome, while The Producers perform at Pete Smith's Number 6 on King Street, Weymouth. I feel the later will win on distance and a couple of pints alone.

FineWineBlog | Wine news and views from Stephen Williams

I only told Lindsay to take a photograph of the Sand Martin Wall, but he took it upon himself to take a picture of this crippled Coot wasting my 'film' in the process.

and here's the Sand Martin Wall that disturbed nothing in its construction. Sour Grapes aside I wish it great success similar to the one at Blashford Lakes!

A Pretty Ordinary Day

Clear, bright, sunny, cold but all round not much of a bird day. Unusually, the cemetery was almost devoid of birds, as was Radipole. Nothing appear during the walk to Lodmoor and on the moor only the longish staying Godwits, single Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat and Dunlin were noted. Additions included a few more Swifts and a Grasshopper Warbler, while a Green Woodpecker also showed.

So, for a little bulk and to keep the readership interested, here are a few images, taken during my 2007 South Korea tour.

Red-flanked Bluetail

Yellow-throated Bunting

Rustic Bunting

Meadow Bunting

Black-faced Bunting

Another Day At The Office

With a little more cloud cover this morning it initially felt a few degrees warmer when I left home, but it soon became apparent that the wind had veered even more towards the east and was equally chilly. In the cemetery the Jays were still active, while at the Radipole kissing gate it seemed very much like the Lesser Whitethroat was once again holding territory at the traditional site. That was about all bird wise, with the Common Sandpipers gone, but there was an almost perfectly intact Mallard's egg shell on the path. With just a narrow split, it looked like Charlie Crow and been in action somehow sucking out all the goodness from within?

The empty Mallard's egg.

It was only when I arrived on the Esplanade did I feel the full effect of the wind, which was only about 15 knots but added a wind chill component to the already cold temperature. There were a couple of unidentifiable Terns in Weymouth Bay, but of note, all the merchant ships had left (maybe a sign of an economic upturn?) leaving just 2 Royal Naval Destroyers carrying out anchoring drills. I noticed they were communicating to each other by morse code on an Aldis lamp, something I thought may have been superseded by now given modern technology. I remember when I did my Mates ticket in 1976 how I struggled with semaphore, but by the time I did Masters it too had been, thankfully, consigned to the bin. It surprised me that I could still read the message, but being in the usual 4 letter code format was unable to make head nor tail of it. Probably as well as they wouldn't want the public to know they are going to blow Osmington Village off the face of the map tomorrow!

The moor was alive with bird song, not least this Sedge Warbler, trying to attract a mate but both Common and Lesser Whitethroats were also doing their share. The small Dunlin flock had diminished by 50% from yesterday, now comprising just c11 birds, but Common Sandpipers still remained at c3.

Common Sandpiper, this one being quite confiding this morning.

In the north west corner there were still a number of Hirundines Swallow, House & Sand Martin which today had been joined by about a dozen Swifts. Walking the sea wall c3 Little Terns were flying and fishing close to the shingle beach, while just a little further off-shore there were c2 Common Terns doing likewise.

Common Tern

Ditto

Little Tern

Likewise

On Portland, starting at Barleycrates, c4 Redstarts appeared in quick succession including my first female of the year, to be followed by a male Blackcap, c4 Whinchat, a small passage of Wheatear appearing to fly straight through and a fairly close look at c3 Gannets as they flew along the west cliff.

Ring Ouzel

From Reap Lane, across Top Fields to the Observatory was all but devoid of birds, except for a steady trickle of Swallows, but at Culverwell there was news of a Ring Ouzel in the next field. While this Blackbird like bird with white bib does show up occasionally in the Autumn, this really is the best opportunity to see them in Dorset. Having spent 15 -20 minutes looking in the reported field with no luck, I decided to follow another birder up the Sweethill footpath where, some yards ahead of me, he flushed it. It remained on an elder bush for about 2 minutes, affording me a good view, before disappearing into the heart of the bush and not being seen again. The person who had reported it to me came up the field some minutes later, but alas to late to see the bird. Today's individual was a female, who's bib is always duller than the male.

Finally, while leaving Culverwell, for a much needed coffee, I was approached by a Brumie lad and his family who asked if it was me making complaint about the Marsh Harriers at Radipole. On such occasions I'm inclined to ask "who wants to know" and especially after yesterdays incident on the Radipole footbridge. If they say 'good on ya' then I admit who I am, alternatively if they are staunch RSPB followers I'd simply say "good bit of management burning the Marsh Harrier nest down wasn't it"? This bloke said he recognised me from this Blog and was most complimentary and supportive, telling what the RSPB were destroying up his way.

Are Friends Electric?

Having returned home quite late yesterday evening, from our dinner at the Swan, the completion of the Blog was a little hurried hence a few more mistakes than usual. More for the benefit of my family, there are others as well as Sibbo, that I should have mentioned such as Fred & Tina, Merv and Alan and Val.

Tony Sibson Middleweight Boxing Champion during the 70's and 80's when he reigned supreme in Britain, Europe and the Commonwealth. Title holder on 3 occasions in all 3 areas, his big challenge came when he faces American (Marvelous) Marvin Hagler for the WBC & WBA World Titles in the States, loosing in the 6th round on a technical knockout. Still great friend, Tony was telling us last night how he has recently returned from his annual visit to Mr Hagler's home in Italy.

Sibbo, still looking 'fit as a butcher's dog was with his daughter last night, but I hope next time he's down Chris his partner will be able to come. Pushing my luck even further, what about trying to coax Sherry Shea over as well. One of the most complete women I have ever met, Sherry currently trouble-shoots for Caterpillar Heavy Plant Worldwide, but was Tony's promoter on the Haglar bill. At our first meeting she told me of her associations with Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Jethro Tull, to name but a few, with whom she had previously been either, Roadie, Promoter, Light and Sound Engineer plus a multitude of other positions.

PS - Hope you and Marion had a safe trip home John, and will see you later in the year.

Leaving home at 06-30 the weather had once again turned chill with the wind having veered to the north east, but the first feature to be noticed where the number of vapour trails left by jet airliners now back in business, after the Icelandic volcano. With only the first Radipole Lesser Whitethroat I have seen this year and c3 Common Sandpiper in the book, things did hot up a little when I encountered Danny (whatever his name is) responsible in part for Public Relations at the Radipole Visitor's Centre. Almost ignoring my greeting, he soon turned on me with a tirade of abuse, not as you might think given the current circumstance about the Sand Martin Wall, but about me making criticism of his colleagues. In his punctuated outbursts, each time turning to go after a verbal volley, he turned on 2 occasions with fists raised (not a good idea) which I took as both belligerent and offensive. Immediately after this incident I did look for the police, without success, but rest assured if there is a repeat of this offensive behaviour strong actions will follow.

Common Whitethroat

At Lodmoor the situation was quite different, which has been the case over the last few weeks, with once again all 8 Warblers either being seen or vocal along with c22 Dunlin, c3 Common Sandpiper, c3 Sandwich Terns, c3 Whimbrel, c2 Black-tailed Godwit and a single Lesser Whitethroat.

Crossing Ferry Bridge the wind was cutting like a knife, but at least there were some birds to see. A group of c6 Little Terns were flying up the Fleet, while another single remained on on of the small boat buoys. There were also c4 Common plus c2 Sandwich Terns, but not a sniff of a Wader.

At Barleycrates, things started with a real bang as I got straight into a singing Nightingale, but was unable to see it, while close by there were a dozen Wheatear, c2 male Redstart, a Whinchat, c3 female Blackcap in the same bush and a single Yellow Wagtail flying overhead.

HMS Ark Royal

As if that were not enough, when I arrived at the top of Sweethill I could see to the east HMS Ark Royal steering a course in my direction. Unfortunately, this was short lived as she turned about and headed for St Alban's Head.

At the Privet Hedge one of the Ark's charges, this Sea King helicopter flew over head in the direction of the 'Carrier'. At the Bird Observatory I learnt that she had been stooging about in the Channel some 10 or so miles off-shore, probably having had any orders to go rescue stranded airline passengers?

Also at the Obs, I was fortunate to see this Garden Warbler plucked from a mist net, that being my 4th new bird for the year today, the others being Common & Little Tern and Nightingale.

The John Mayer Band, with Mayer 3rd from right standing, and Robbie between the tie and the spikes.

As I neared home, I bumped into 'guitar hero' Robbie McIntosh who had just beaten the 'dust cloud' returning home from the USA where once again he has been backing (lead & slide guitars plus backing vocals) new US sensation John Mayer With a ball breaking schedule through the US and Canada, Robbie returns home for a few precious days R&R before flying to New Zealand next Monday for the Antipodean / Far East leg of the tour. With no break in between, they then come to Europe including a few dates in the UK. Keen to get a couple of gigs in at No6 he tells me, "that will have to wait a few more weeks yet".

Robbie on the first Paul McCartney (Flowers in the Dust) Tour

Some 'high jinx' with Chrissy Hind aboard Concorde during his 5 years as Lead Guitar with the Pretenders.

and latterly at 'Beatlefest'.

It's An Ill Wind

That doesn't blow somebody some good, and that has been the case for me with the current ban on flying. Unable to get to their holiday home in Spain John and Marion Wood decided on a few days in Weymouth instead. John was my childhood friend, living directly across the road from me in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire since when, 51 years, I had not seen him. To my house for dinner last evening, needless to say there was no shortage of conversation, over dinner. The subject matter covered such things as our visit, as schoolboys, to Trent Bridge to witness the 1957 Test Match between England and the West Indies. John recalls that England declaring at 618 for 6 in the first inning, went on to beat the Windies by a full innings, gone are the days. The England team consisted of such Test giant as Colin Cowdry, Geoff Barrington and Godfrey Evans.

Jazz is a subject close to John's, and his younger brother Robert's, heart and it was hugely interesting to swap anecdotes about our gig experiences over the years. As a long standing patron of Ronnie Scotts in Frith Street, Soho, London, among many others I related the story of not only seeing Flora Purim & husband Airto Moreira perform at the club, but in the days when Ronnie's was more of a 'Speakeasy' than a Club, and things were much more informal, how I had enjoyed a drink and conversation with the Brazilian couple. To say the least, he was impressed saying he rarely came across anyone who had even heard of them let alone had the privilege of talking with them. It's true to say that Airto is the finest percussionist I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, but to be alongside them both was surely a dream come true.

Jazz Giants, vocalist Flora Purim

and Percussionist Airto Moreira

So, on to today where things were extremely quiet at Radipole with just Ladies Smock and a Common Sandpiper to report, while at Lodmoor things were far more active. An 8 Warbler day included Blackcap, Common & Lesser Whitethroat (of which there were c6) Reed, Sedge, Willow and Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaff. In addition there were a few House Martin, a single Whimbrel, c2 Dunlin plus a number of the ever present.

Lesser Whitethroat

An ugly scene just a matter of yards from the public tip at Lodmoor.

On the way to meet John and Marion at The William Henry for coffee, I bumped into these 2 characters both of whom I had not seen for a while. On the left is Tony (Luke) MacKinder who was my Captain for many years, and who single-handedly taught me to 'ship handle' (drive a ship), and Dave Matthews former crew mate, and accomplice on many a trip to Scotland.

After coffee we caught the bus to Portland where we started at Tout Quarry, where I showed John and Marion not only the Sculpture Park, but also the fabulous Lano's Bridge.

John & Marion as we worked our way along the East Cliff,

stopping to look at the Fulmar breeding site on the way.

Willow Warbler

At the Bird Observatory, there was a good deal of activity as already they had a ringing tally of 180 birds. As luck would have it there was a chance to show them a number of 'birds in the hand' which is always an interesting and new dimention to bird observation.

Blackcap (female)

Pied Flycatcher (female)

This evening we visited The Swan (JD Wetherspoon at the Bridge end of Town) were, as usual, there were a number of local characters to meet. Among these was boxing legend Tony Sibson, who it turned out had just bought a property in the village nest to J & M home near Melton Mobrey. John Bailey (known as The Viking) also put in an appearance, as did Robbie Jauntsy of Moto Sails fame. A great meal, with even better conversation ended our day on a high, and thanks go out to all of those who helped to make it so.