Mike Edwards 1948 - 2010

Unusually, we have to start with bad news as we learn of the death of Mike Edwards, founder members and eccentric Cellist of the Electric Light Orchestra. In a freak accident when a 50 stone hay bale rolled onto his van in Devon, Mike died instantly he was 62. He is pictured here (right) with the original ELO line up including Mick Kaminski, Kelly Groucutt, Bev Beven, Jeff Lynn, Richard Tandy and Hugh McDowell.

To describe the day as 'quiet' would be a huge understatement! With the wind remaining easterly, sky overcast and more than a good chance of rain there had to be the prospect of at least a scarce migrant, and indeed there was. Up to and including Ferry Bridge there was nothing in addition to what has been reported over the past few days, so for a while I resorted to ship watching.

The 'bulk carrier' Stena Perros lay at anchor in Portland Harbour which was of great interest to me having work for Stena Line for 5 years. On the fore-shore Waders predominated but the best of these was the

Bar-tailed Godwit which has been there for a few days now.

Venturing on to the Bill early news (for me anyway) was the presence of a Wryneck (a small mottled brown Woodpecker) in the Observatory quarry. A half hour wait for it to show itself was enough, but then lightning struck for a second time as news of another (or maybe the same one?) came from Barleycrates Lane. A similar amount of time was spent there without success so I headed back to Weymouth where I had arranged to have a lunch time pint with a few friends, that being the highlight of my day.

Just to keep the interest stimulated here are a few photographs of Ducks from the archive - enjoy!

Eider (male)

Eider (female)

Mandarin (male)

Mandarin (female)

and a pair of Wigeon (male fore-ground)

Born To Be Wild

Returning to yesterday evening before we commence today's events and the Ferry Bridge Festival. A chance to 'showcase' a number of younger (and at least one not quite fitting that category, sorry Nick) local bands, Producer 'Fuzzy' Coombs not only arranges and organises the whole gig but lends his equipment to these up and coming talents. Not on quite the same scale as the Quayside bash of last week-end, but the landlord of the

Ferry Bridge Inn had arranged the stage (on a lorry trailer), an outside bar and eats by way of roast pork rolls and a bowl of Crackling (rendered pig skin) me being first in the queue for the latter! Things were underway by the time I arrived, with the

weather looking fair set, half a decent sunset while

Desert Rose, name derived from the U2 track 'In God's Country',

Desert rose
Dreamed I saw a desert rose
Dress torn in ribbons and in bows
Like a siren, she calls to me

were giving it big licks with the Steppenwolf classic Born to be Wild. As a point of 'rock trivia', the lyric of this song is where the term 'Heavy Metal' was derived, with the second verse reading:-

I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Next up were

The Skint Imperials (Rob Ryan guitars, Barbara Stanley vocals and her partner Nick Gomer harp ably assisted by Fuzzy trying to get the 'balance' right) who kicked off with yet another legendary number, the Dylan/Danko penned 'This Wheels on Fire' originally written for inclusion on the 1967 seminal album The Basement Tapes - Bob Dylan & The Band, then covered by The Byrds, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Leslie West, Golden Earring and The Hollies to name but a few. In '68 the cover by Brian Auger and the Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll reached No 5 in the UK Top Twenty, all of this not doing Mr Zimmerman any harm in the process.

and so to today, the weather looking a little threatening with rain baring clouds overhead and the wind a little more towards the south east at least made it a little warmer than of late. Going anywhere seemed a little risky, but with a low tide Ferry Bridge was always going to be worth a look. Walking over the bridge this

juvenile Sandwich Tern crossed my path and before reaching the fore-shore, there were c2 more, what must have been yesterday's Bar-tailed Godwit all in company with a

Greenshank

Without disturbance, most things seemed 'flighty' this morning with both

Oystercatchers (flying over 2 Black-headed Gulls) seeming most nervy as c2

Little Egrets also arrived

demonstrating their flying skills. In addition there were several Dunlin and what must have been 4 times more Ringed Plover, while Turnstone were represented by c21 individuals plus singles of Curlew Sandpiper and Curlew.

Finally, and as half promised yesterday, a few more shots from the archives:-

'Manning' (or Boying in this case) the Mast, HMS St Vincent 1961. Unlike HMS Ganges, the other 'Boys Training Establishment at Shotley, Suffolk, there was no 'button' at the top of this mast. A one foot square platform would be where the most promising Junior Seaman on course would balance at take the salute during ceremonial occasions. However, no one was excused undertaking ALL the routes to the top, including the Devil's Elbow running at a 45 degree angle from the lower yardarm to the first platform. Tree climbers always had the advantage here!

Crater City, Aden, The Yemen 1966 on-board Tribal Class Frigate HMS Eskimo. Car bombs were a daily occurrence during the British withdrawal, so armed patrols (Enfield Rifle or Lanchester sub-machine gun, clip of bullets and 2 hand grenades) were crucial to a safe exit. I for one was always a little perturbed wearing blue combats and a white hat under such circumstances. In the background, just the lower reaches of a range of Jebals (small mountains) can be seen and what better place for snipers to operate. Even better, what a target aim one inch below the white and one inch above the blue and you 'bag' yourself a matelot!

Me and Mick (Huck) Hutley in Mitsiwa (Massawa), Ethiopia (now Eritrea) 1967, for the 'passing out' celebrations of Haile Selassie I's grandson as a Naval Officer. This was a grand affair with dignitaries from many of the world's nations in attendance, and the man himself inspecting the Guard of Honour of which Huck and I were part. Great Britain was represented by HMS Eskimo, while the USA sent the destroyer USS Charles H Roan and the Russians a Kotlin Sam (Surface to Air Missile) Destroyer, visible in the background, all of whom plus the Ethiopian Navy took part in a series of sporting events, Eskimo coming a creditable second after the Yanks.

and a 'brand new' Second Mate, straight out of the box.

I hope the readership enjoyed this little bit of personal nostalgia!

Happy Anniversary (to me)

Today is the 49th anniversary of me joining the Royal Navy. At the tender age of 15 years and 50 days and having seen members of this fine service 'performing', on many occasions, in the pubs and on the streets of Weymouth I knew full well I could do that? Joining at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, Hants (above on Sunday Divisions) which was one of 2 'boys training establishments, where it took a full year to knock a boy into shape.

After just 3 of 6 weeks in the New Entries Division this is how each of us looked.

After the full 6 weeks we then went on to Main Course where the real work began. Have you spotted me yet

Part of the process was to learn the 'signals' on a Bosun's Call (whistle) and once the standard was achieved the white rope lanyard (seen above) was replaced by a gold chain onto which the 'call' was attached.

Among a minefield of skills that were required to become an Ordinary Seaman (not eligible until one year at sea had been fulfilled) Anchors & Cables was an important part. Not as easy to spot me here!

It was great looking through these photos again this evening, and there are one or two more which I may well publish tomorrow?

Murky would have to be the word to describe today's weather picture, as starting out at 06-30 the sky was completely covered, mist was rolling down the (River) Wey valley with a general gloom about the atmosphere. The wind had remained in the east, but increased to about 29 knots so given the conditions there had to be a few migrant birds on the move?

They certainly didn't show themselves in the cemetery, things there being much the same as the past few days with this (another) young

Robin being the only accompaniment to the singing Tits and Goldcrests. Walking via Westham Bridge to catch an early bus to Portland this

Little Grebe was so close as to warrant a shot, but that was the sum total before I reached the Observatory. Through Barleycrates, the West Cliff, Top Fields and the main road leading to the lighthouse the only migrants to show were Swallows accompanied by a few House Martins. Even there only a Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat had been caught in the mist nets, but on the up side this wind blown

Whinchat, the first I, and a few others, had ever seen 'in the hand'.

Head on view of the same bird.

The Birds & The Bees (or Flies)

The weather today could only be described as 'strange', and while bright sunshine prevailed as I left home, within minutes there was haze an a chill breeze. That was followed by fine mist rolling in from the east and then back to square one warm and sunny. The cirrus cloud of yesterday was replaced by pockets of cumulus while the wind remained in the eastern quarter.

There was one small change in the cemetery as well as a group of

Long-tailed Tits joined a seemingly increased number of Goldcrest and various other Tits. A second addition came by way of 2 or maybe 3, what looked to me like

Migrant Hawker Dragonflies but could stand corrected if I'm wrong, esspecially if they are the rare Southern Migrant Hawker. As there was a few things to do in town today, it was a bus to Ferry Bridge where there seemed to be an increase in the number of

Ringed Plover, while Dunlin were well down, Turntstone were represented by c6, there was a pair of Oystercatchers and this adult

Sandwich Tern that still has a juvenile in tow. There was a small surprise as this

Bar-tailed Godwit seemed more interested in preening and

feeding to pay too much attention to me.

Portland remained quiet with the counts of Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Swallows about the same as yesterday while the Whimbrel remained at the foot of the cliff. There were c3

Whinchats at Barleycrates Lane but that was about it.

It was about this time last year when I was put in the picture about the largest European 'Fly' by a 13 year old schoolboy. While the name (latin) now escapes me I do believe

this is it?

Only What Was Expected Today

With just high wispy cirrus cloud marring an otherwise clear blue sky and a gentle zephyr from the east, it was another good day for birding and starting, as usual, in the cemetery good to hear so many Goldcrest again. There seem to have been double figure there over the last couple of days, and if they are breeding birds they have kept a very low profile during the season. I don't remember the last time I 'saw' c2 Coal Tits there, but what may have been a pair lingered in a fir tree for a few seconds before flying off together. All else of note were a few Willow Warbler and a singing Blackcap.

This Wood Pigeon did look rather grand perched atop another fir and I do love the eyes of this

species so a detail is added here. Before leaving a large raptor flew into the sun allowing me to see there were a couple of feathers missing from the right wing, so simple noted Raptor Species. Checking the Portland Bird Observatory web site this afternoon, there had been a Marsh Harrier there this morning with a similar wing formulae, which may have been the same bird??

My arrival at the Rodwell Trail was met by the view of c5 Blackcap and a female Bullfinch all in the same Hawthorne bush, and the singing of at least 3

Robins. This one, a juvenile, looks well into its moult, and by the time I reached the end of the trail it was obvious they had outnumbered Wrens by at least 2 to 1. Overhead I had noted a large movement of hirundines, mainly Swallow but a few Sand Martin as well, with many lingering to take a final feed before reaching the coast.

Of these, I considered myself lucky to get this series of shots which start with this young Swallow awaiting the arrival of mum (or dad) with the groceries.

Catching sight of the parent it displayed its gape

and was duly fed before the adult

flew off to catch another beak full.

A search of the fully exposed sand at the fore-shore produced more or less a blank, but there I met Peter and Debbie Saunders who had seen, and photographed, both a Bar-tailed Godwit and c3 Curlew Sandpipers (the latter all in a single frame), good photies Pete!

Barleycrates was as bare as the shore line, but these 2 'flies' seemed to be glowing in the bright sunshine. I did search the Field Guide but won't even both with a calculated guess.

At the cliff edge this Raven was perched, surveying its domain while a

Whimbrel appeared at the base of the scree, flew a couple of hundred yards out to see before returning to the rocks.

and finally, what might be the last clip of video footage from the Buchan Alpha Oil Rig, this time featuring Long-tailed Duck.