Another Good Day At The Office

Glossy Ibis, Radipole Lake, September 2006

Under a more or less blue sky and sunny conditions, the plan today was to skip the cemetery and head straight for the 'turn of the tide' at Ferry Bridge. On the way to the Rodwell Trail there seemed to be an inordinate number of Wood Pigeons which my herald the onset of the huge migrations of this species we have witnessed in recent years. There had obviously been a 'fall' of migrants in the night as the trees and bushes along the trail had more than the usual number of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, but apart from these the only other sighting of note was a pair of Mallard flying across Portland Harbour. Almost reaching my goal at the southern end of the pathway, there was a phone call from Daragh who had just discovered a Glossy Ibis on Lodmoor which spurred a snap decision to go for a diversion. There have been a number of records in Dorset but this is by no means even an annual bird, the last I saw in the county was the one posted above.

Rarely, if ever, do I berate the local bus service as it serves me so well and, after 09-30 on a week day (no restrictions at week-ends), is free. However, this morning I have to admit to getting an immediate 'twitch' at the prospect of the Ibis and even though I was adjacent to the bus stop it was a full 25 minutes before one arrived. Reaching Weymouth, there was then a short walk of about quarter of a mile and another 20 minute wait for the ongoing bus. All of this is a walk I do on almost a daily basis, but it takes on a whole different aspect when there is a good bird in the frame. On arrival, the news from the local birders in attendance was not good and the upshot was that it had flown away. I did consider returning immediately to FB but having heard of several Waders on the reserve decided to suss them out.

It was a Warbler that first put in an appearance by way of this

Whitethroat which was most obliging, and as it lingered c2 Bearded Tits flew across my line of sight landing in the reeds close by. Staying on this theme, one of several

Sedge Warblers was next and although I did also get a shot of a Reed Warbler it was no good for publication. Beachdown Way, a footpath, intersects the moor and at its south western root is a pile of spoil locally referred to as 'The Hump'. Here, in the margins, were quiet a good number of Waders with Dunlin being most numerous and in company with c4 Greenshank,

this, one of c3 Ruff,

a single Spotted Redshank, which

unlike their close relative the Common Redshank seem to favour deeper water to feed in. There was also a single Curlew Sandpiper, c5 Common Sandpipers, about a dozen Lapwing and probably as many as 8 Ringed Plover. Unfortunately, all of the latter were at some distance and with just binoculars as a visual aid I was unable to decide if any were Little Ringed Plover. Turning to leave, the sky was suddenly filled with many Sand Martin, while there was a real bonus in the shape of a

Kingfisher, the first I have seen in Dorset this year. Add to that c7 Sandwich Terns, a single Common Buzzard plus

c9 Little Egrets it could already be called a decent days birding!

I did return to FB where there was little more than a last hour of the ebb, but worth the journey nonetheless.

The number of Bar-tailed Godwit had increased from the single of the past few days to c4 which

in between bouts of feeding found time for a little high jinx and

aerial displays. There were of course the usual contenders with

Ringed Plover outnumbering

Dunlin by about two to one, along with

c25 Turnstone. Finally, just as I was about to leave another small flock of Dunlin arrived, with a much whiter Wader among them.

A Sanderling, fed for about 20 minutes

during which time it was a bit flighty and elusive

but then settled to

rest and

preen. With the arrival of an Oystercatcher, that took the Wader tally to 12 for the day.

The last 'bird' of the day took a much larger form than those seen previously,

The 'Pelican of London' is a regular visitor to the port of Weymouth, and complete with her compliment of young 'sail trainers' always makes for a great harbour-side attraction.

Alright Mi Duck

Today, the wind had 'backed' into the south making for a much warmer airstream but the chance of rain seemed far more likely. The cemetery was by and large the same as in recent days with most species vocal, while along the Rodwell Trail all of note was a single Whitethroat.

This male Blackbird however was so close, engrossed in leaf flipping, that a shot was all too tempting. From that point the whole of Portland Harbour opens up to view, with the only new arrival being

the Finnish registered Ocean Tug / Supply Vessel Nordica, recently involved with the Wave Power Hub in and around the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall. I did see her in Lyme Bay yesterday, but only able to view her from Wyke Regis and over the top of the Chesil Beach a photograph was not possible. However, what I did notice was her 'tow deck' stowed with all manner of large navigation buoys such asIsolated Danger & Special Marks plus Cardinal (directional) Buoys. My assumption was that she had been chartered by Trinity House the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, The Channel Islands and Gibraltar who are responsible for a range of aids to navigation, to augment their own fleet in changing out these buoys. This morning she was secured alongside the Outer Coaling Pier in Portland Dockyard, seemingly mobbing orde-mobbing with her huge crane in action. Now that's what you call a Tug!

The tides are once again entering their 'springs' phase, with the New Moon occurring this Saturday, which I always consider a fine time to be on the foreshore one hour after 'high water' to watch the ebb for feeding Waders. Today there was the reward of the Bar-tailedGodwit once again, plus a

small group of Dunlin plus a single Turnstone also waiting for 'the turn' and this fine

Curlew Sandpiper

which could well be the one that has also been around for a few days?

Having initially and inadvertently labelled yesterday's Mandarins as Harlequins, I would attempt to redress the balance by publishing this today.

A male Harlequin Duck photographed a few years ago off the sea wall at Wakkanai, the most northerly city in Japan, and for accompaniment these shots of

Long-tailed Duck

in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Barrow, Alaska

a claimant as the most northerly town in the world.

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?