A Bit More Going On Today

Weather conditions were a carbon copy of yesterday, even to the point where 'grey' was replaced by 'bright' almost on the stroke of noon. In the cemetery too things were more or less bird-less similar to Saturday except there was a small movement of Corvides with as many as 30+ Rooks and well over 50 Jackdaws all heading south.

With high water throughout most of the forenoon, Barleycrates and the Bill were again the obvious choice and immediately there were signs of more birds than previous days. Plenty of

Wheatear, which over the course of my walk

must have amounted to three figures. Also in that division were Swallow, Meadow Pipit and Linnet while Stonechats were represented by 6 individuals.

This single Kestrel was just too close to miss the opportunity of a photo, while

House Sparrows, in decline over the past few years, seem to be doing OK in the county now?

Greenfinch, this one at Culverwell, I understand are not doing quite so well as they seem to have been susceptible to a virus that is killing them. Also in this vicinity, chattering from above brought to my attention the first c2 autumnalFieldfare, in the bushes a single male Blackcap and walking down the path Dr George Green. Author of The Birds of Dorset and co writer (along with Martin Cade ) of Where to Watch Birds in Hampshire & Dorset, it must be at least 5 years since I have seen George. Good to see you if you're reading this!

Along the way there had been reports of 'a few' Ring Ouzel and among the Elders at Culverwell I was to get mine. Unfortunately a little obscured so the photo is from the archive.

Also there was this Small White Butterfly along with c3 Red Admirals and this

Chiffchaff one of several along with more Goldcrests. A coffee at the Observatory and I was soon on my way to the bus as c2 Lapwing flew into the Top Fields joining a veritable 'cloud' of Linnets.

A strange occurrence at Ferry Bridge where c42 Mediterranean Gulls were busily feeding with a few Black-headed Gulls. Not on marine life as you might expect, the food source being 'on the wing'. As the tide ebbed at a great rate through the Small Mouth the Gulls were content to sit on the surface picking off flying insects until they reached the span of the bridge, at which point they would fly 200 yards back up tide to continue the circuit. I have not witnessed this before.

Mediterranean Gull feeding as a party of

Brent Geese flew in.

a couple of aerial

shots, and

one perched.

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
Hammer of the Gods will drive our ships to new land,
To fight the horde, sing and cry: "Valhalla, I am coming"!

On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore.

Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin OK, the song was written with the northern hemisphere in mind, but apart from Valhalla it seemed to fit very nicely with Antarctica as well. A few more photos from the vaults.

Adelie Penguins on a 'Bergy Bit' (the name given to small Icebergs), Antarctica.

Hope Bay, Antarctica.

The Arktowski Research Station (Polish) on King George Island, Antarctica the largest of the South Shetland Islands. The lighthouse is the most southerly in the world.

Perched on the Trinity Peninsula, Mainland Antarctica with Adelie Penguins.

Passing Point Wild, Elephant Island, Antarctica. This is where Earnest Shackleton left 22 of the crew of the stricken Endurance while he and 5 others sailed in an open boat, during winter conditions, to South Georgia to effect the rescue of his men.


and finally we are pleased to welcome the latest (101) country to our readership, Libya. Thanks for logging on, we hope you enjoy the site and if so maybe you will pass on the link to others in Libya Arab Jamahiriya. There has been a slight adjustment to the countries list as Jamaica featured twice on the definitive list.

Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll , Too Young to Die - Jethro Tull

Well, I think we can safely say last nights dinner with Bowie & Sheila was a great success, and generated a couple of recommendations. Firstly, the wine drunk with Spanish Chicken (recipe donated by Jim the Medic & Liz) was the first bottle of a recently purchased case of vintage 1998 Feytit Clinet. A Pomerol reputed to be a neighbouring chateau of the 'millionaire's row' Petrus and Le Pin, regardless it was unanimously agreed the best 'red' any of us had drunk for a long time. If indeed there is any interest, let me direct you to the Antiques Wine Company owned by our friend Stephen Williams.

Secondly, long time friend Andy Lindsay had suggested I take a chance on the Rolling Stones DVD Shine A Light, which was saved for this occasion. Not proclaiming to be Jagger & Co's most ardent fan, I did first see them play the now defunct Gaumont Cinema, Weymouth in 1964 and have been fairly satisfied with their output ever since. Once asked if I thought Keith Richards was the best guitarist in the world, my answer was I don't believe he's even the best guitarist in the Stones, but last night my opinion did alter slightly in his favour. With the total age of the 4 remaining members totaling 250 at the time of recording (2006) there would have been reason for a little puffing and panting, but apart from Charlie Watts (65 then) showing a little fatigue after the third number Brown Sugar all were strutting the stage like 18 year olds. Watts did get his second wind soon after. As for highlights, my all time Stone's favourite is the cleverly penned Sympathy For The Devil which was performed immaculately, but this paled when they introduced Buddy Guy to help them with Champagne & Refer. One of the real Blues legends and one of my personal inspiration, his composition First Time I Met The Blues was the second track of the genre I ever heard. After hearing that soon after Howlin' Wolf's Spoonful that was me sold and in addition having been born on 30th July 1936 he looked the youngest dude on the stage.

Get out and buy them both!

So on to today, which to say the least started 'grey' and barely improved until late afternoon. The wind had backed a couple of points, today showing directly east and was definitely at the lower end of the 'gale force' vector. However, while looking threatening the rain held off and with a total blank in the cemetery I headed directly to Portland. At Barleycrates Song Thrushes were in evidence with a count of 11, while among them was my first

Redwing of the autumn. This photograph was taken last year at the Portland Bird Observatory.

Reaching the crest of the hill at Culverwell, this was the picture and while the waves can and do get far more furious, it has been a while since I've seen this. In the bushes there was another Redwing and a Whitethroat which was an example of those leaving meeting the new (winter) arrivals. The only other 'movement' of note was

Goldcrest, with c5 at Langley Close, a couple in the Obs garden and

c2, of which this was one, at Top Fields.

While there was a single Knot again at Ferry Bridge, the rest of the day was more about people especially when I bumped into a few of the Hampshire Ornithology Group, what a jolly bunch of people! At the foreshore I had the pleasure of meeting Val McCormack who is the lady credited with proving and photographing the first

Long-tailed Blue Butterfly for the Island. She has kindly allowed me to reproduce her photograph here, and I thank you Val for the chat this afternoon.

and finally the remaining Storks

Black Stork - Bulgaria

Asian Openbill - India

Black-necked Stork seen in both

Australia & Sri Lanka

Black-necked Stork juvenile - Australia

Jabiru - Belize

Take off

At the nest.

High Tide, Green Grass - The Rolling Stones

Another bright and breezy start to the day although there seemed to be an extra knot or two in the wind speed. Not surprisingly, it was the cemetery first where things were much the same as yesterday save to say a considered 'high' count of 10

Collared Doves with a few Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

There was also this rather nice plant growing out of a grave, but as yet there has been no time to identify it. On the way to the bus Swallows, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were in evidence, all flying over, while at Ferry Bridge the full force of the south-easterly wind could be felt which must have been close to a gale?

This was the scene looking to the east and under the bridge, while a 180 degree turn opened up

a view of the full spring tide pushing close up to the Fleet Visitor's Centre, Portland looking shrouded in a fine mist in the background. As the tide turned first to arrive from the west were 2

Lapwing

that did land a couple of times, but seemingly not keen on the terrain, or was it me, they flew off back down the Fleet.

Next, between small flurries of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, came a skein / gaggle of c30 Brent Geese which may have been the same as last Sunday, unless the count was simply coincidence. Maybe I should have looked at them a little harder as later in the day Paul Harristexted to report 2 Black Brant about a mile further up the watercourse. With the water rushing into Portland Harbour at a great rate, it wasn't long before the foreshore was fully exposed and two fairly heavy squalls arrived. This was just the precursor to the morepersistent stuff so a retreat was hastily beaten.

On the way to the bridge this Knot was found among the smaller Waders not allowing too closer an approach.

However, this second shot, with a Dunlin on the right was possible before they all relocated.

As I stood pressed to the sea wall trying to shelter from the second batch of rain, these 2

Bar-tailed Godwit arrived in company with 2 Oystercatchers (centre)

and fed for a short time before also clearing off.

It's Bowie & Sheila round for dinner this evening so best go and knock up a few Marmite sarnies and a jug of Wincarnis, I will probable post the remaining Stork photographs tomorrow.

Storks of the World

One small point omitted yesterday, Val Prince seemed highly amused at the numerous spelling mistakes throughout this Blog which she informs me "make her laugh". She is not alone in this as Sheila Edwards also ridicules me mercilessly about my least favourite subject. It's great to know your making somebody happy, but ah yes, can either of them tie a bowline? I'll just run the 'spell check'.

Razorbill

The good thing about 'spring tides' hereabouts is that high water, give or take an hour coincides with the free bus pass kicking in at 09-30. Spending a little more time in the cemetery this morning than usual, to no avail, saw me arrive at Ferry Bridge just as the rate of the water at Small Mouth was speeding up. Almost immediately the Razorbill above hove into view and while not even an uncommon bird at Portland (including the harbour) they don't often stray into the Fleet. There was some evidence of migration as numerous Swallows passed overhead, while from the same direction came the calls of Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Skylark. A count of the latter reached 32, while Linnet numbers were in the hundreds with the others not even counted. Disappointing were the number of Waders with Dunlin (6), Ringed Plover (4), Turnstone (5) and a single Oystercatcher putting the totals in the abysmal category . Saving the day for me at least were the Mediterranean Gulls which only numbered c9, most being adult now in 'winter plumage and minus their dark hoods, along with one younger bird.

The 'first winter' Mediterranean Gull

which is not intended to bore readers, only

I just love the things and think everyone else should.

Skylark,

one or two did land to feed for a while, but soon continued their journey towards the south east.

and finally, having 'dipped' the White Stork both yesterday and the day before, I had a quick look through the photos archive and came up with a few exotics:-

Marabou - Mozambique

Lesser Adjutant - Cambodia

Painted Stork - Sri Lanka

Woolly-necked Stork - South Africa

Yellow-billed Stork - The Gambia

The final 4 tomorrow.