Argentinian Avifauna

With little more to report today than the weather conditions, which were about the same as yesterday, we once again have to rely on the archive for a pictorial post. Even the favoured fruit tree of recent days had been forsaken by all but a couple of Blackbird, but on Radipole I noted c3 Mallard, another mechanical Digger, a Hedge Sparrow, a posted Planning Application and c2 Birdwatchers. Continuing the almost relentless 'building programme', there is now intent to construct a pond and dipping platform with boardwalk access, yet more unnecessary concrete and wood this postage stamp size area should not be subjected to? In addition whatever happened to 'free-range' kids who used to carry out these simple pursuits without an RSPB platform?

On to some birds of South America:-

Green-barred Woodpecker

Bay-winged Cowbird

Chestnut-capped Blackbird

Coscoroba

Double-collared Seedeater

Giant Wood Rail

Eared Dove

Guira Cuckoo

Striated (Green) Heron, one of my favourite images as inadvertently captured the bird and polystyrene cup for size comparison.

Hooded Siskin

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Snowy Egret

Red-crested Cardinal

White-winged Coot

Monk Parakeet

Speckled Teal

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Whistling Heron

Would The Real Peter Green Please Take A Bow

When I appear on Mastermind (an upmarket television quiz programme here in UK) my 'specialized subject' will be Brit Rock Trivia but I sometimes wonder just how long my own TV will last. Personal viewing time against licence fee makes it an expensive luxury, but every so often the viewing is such that I would happily pay double. Last nights Peter Green documentary, followed by a further 2 hours of Fleetwood Mac, after his departure, were fuel to my ever burning lust to further my knowledge.

Focusing on just the lyrics of this much under rated British Blues Guitar Giant, my own interpretation of the seminal Green Manalishi (with the Two-Prong Crown) was blown asunder when he explained this was his own struggle with money (the Green-backed Dollar).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lYdlukPtA&feature=fvw

Like the documentary, the start for me was when I saw Green play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm in 1970 soon after completing the Hard Road album. Prior to that Eric Clapton had filled the position of lead guitar and there was NO doubt in anyones mind that the vacancy couldn't possibly be filled by a mere mortal. How wrong we all were! Personally, it was the 'eleventh' track on the album that did it for me, just half a dozen bars of The Super-Natural and it was hook, line and sinker. Remember this was barely the 70's!

Referring to this album there was quite a big mistake on the film as each time Mayall drummer Aynsley Dunbar was mentioned the screen turned to a still photograph of Hughie Flint, who along with Clapton departed the Bluesbreakers before this recording. As a matter of 'trivia' it might be of interest that Flint went on to hook up with Tom McGuinness (later Manfred Mann, Blues Band et al) to form McGuinness Flint (chart single When I'm Dead & Gone). Dunbar on the other hand saw a far more bizarre furtherance of his career when he along with Mitch Mitchell were the final 2 short listed to become drummer with The Jimi Hendrix Experience. With not a gnats whisker between their playing prowess the decision was decided by the toss of a coin leaving Mitchell to be immortalised!

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=video&cd=3&ved=0CD0QtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYoasUjXBkm8&rct=j&q=peter%20green&ei=lGRNTdHmJYSAhAfAwYHbDg&usg=AFQjCNHFk-lxK1poWIbAOZxwYliV0tFCCQ&sig2=qQhO3VwLpOX5HN4tuNA6Vw&cad=rja

It was after Peter conquered his long struggle with a mental problem, and hit the road again, that I started to be stopped and asked if I was Peter Green which on a couple of occasions caused some mild embarrassment.

Bagsy

Peter Green

I once asked my close friend Andy Lindsay if he could tell the difference between us, and his reply was yes,

"one of you is a fat, ugly, lazy git whilst

the other plays guitar and is called Peter". Here endeth the similarity.

However, there have been times when this has gone in my favour, most notably at the Guitar Safari Blues Club in Tallinn, Estonia.

There, in one of the best Blues venues I know, for 2 nights running no one would believe I was not the man,

and started buying me drinks. I got very used to this very quickly, despite protestation

the beer just kept coming.

The company wasn't bad either!

and so to today, with the only notable feature being the inclement weather. A near gale from the south west,

a continuous threat of rain and high seas made for some dramatic scenes from the Trinity House Obelisk.

Looking over the cliff at the Bill,

and to the east where the sea was crashing

over the boat crane while

Gannets, Gulls, Fulmar and a mixture of Auks streamed through our part of the English Channel.

Walking back to Southwell village, I came across what could be called the harbinger of spring, as these Crocus poke their blooms from the grass verges.

An opportunist shot as the bus continued along the Chesil Beach Road with these wind surfers almost able to keep up with our speed.

and having received a 'Poison Pen Letter' this morning threatening a visitation by Jim the Medic next week, unless I pay the ransom, my thought wandered to our trip through Southern Africa some years ago. A few 'bird shots' to complete this post.

Cape Sugarbird

Cape Francolin

Bokmakierie

Blue-billed Firefinch

Blue Waxbill

Blacksmith Plover

Dedicted To The Bustin Skins

Having spent most of yesterday birding with 'Iron Man' contender Adrian Baker, today we coincidentally came across a few others of the Weymouth team. They had already received the news that Ady and I had been out so I doubt this photo will come as a surprise to Adrian and his wife Tracey - the Jungle Drums will have been beating?

This is a link to what 'Iron Man' is all about - Good Luck to the Bustin' Skins!

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCMQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fironman.com%2Fevents%2Fironman%2Fuk&rct=j&q=iron%20man%20bolton&ei=9yFMTcfvHZGEhQfEt9CuDg&usg=AFQjCNHE8qTARCxPn7FU0449sE0spYLkSQ&sig2=XpBESwuuti2qNMx_32fZzQ&cad=rja

With close to a gale blowing, some light rain and cloudy sky Mark Hill and I made for Portland Bill where at the Bird Observatory we found a slightly dejected crew having only recorded a single Red-throated Diver. A quick coffee and we headed for the 'point' where

on the Common a few Great-Black-backed & Herring Gulls were keeping out of the wind, but

dozens of Gannets were not deterred by either high wind or sea! Arriving at the Obelisk, Mark immediately located a Black Redstart but the 2 short views we had of it were not long enough to secure a photograph.

However, once again resorting to the archive, this is what a male Black Redstart looks like in breeding plumage, while

This is a juvenile not long from the nest.

These images were taken in the Thodope Mountains, Bulgaria.

Moments later I picked up on c4 of the Purple Sandpipers

which have over wintered at the Bill. It was at this moment a text arrived announcing an adult Ring-billed Gull had be found at Radipole. Back to the Observatory to alert the others we made quick time to the reserve where Dave Chown (who predictably had found it) and Luke Phillips

had the bird in their telescopes. In true 'birders' fashion they were quick to let us take a look - can you see it yet? It's there somewhere.

There wasn't a chance of me getting a photo, so once again I returned to the archive and reproduce here the Gosport bird of 9th January inst.

and these 2 taken in Delaware, USA were added to the library some years ago. Apart from a couple of interesting Mediterranean Gulls on the car park, one of which Luke told us was 'ringed' in Belgium, that was the end of the 'birding; for the day. By complete contrast, I then gravitated from my favorite pursuit to my least favorite - shopping, but 'the hungry must be fed'!

This photograph © Mike Morse has caused some consternation among local birders over the past couple of days. Taken on Burton Bradstock Beach, Dorset, if you would like to share your identification thoughts, please send them via the 'Comments' section. PS the 'black blob' bottom left is a boot for some size comparison.

While this is the best I could do blagging a photo from Facebook, it shows our dear, dear friend Tess Lifton at her retirement party in London yesterday. Not surprisingly with glass in hand, it did dawn on me how young the new generation of retirees are these days - naught but a slip of a girl! Best Wishes Tess from your legion of friends in Dorset.

and finally, I return to yesterday's Wine'ing.

Another visit to Stephen Williams and his Antiques Wine Company Cellars, then in Staffordshire

we were privileged to view £1.5 million worth of wine including a vertical collection of 'every vintage' of Chateau d'Yquem considered the finest Sauternes in the world. Stephen had spent months traveling the world tracking down individual bottles to complete the collection which now holds pride of place in a Las Vegas Casino.

The 1973 vintage.

Château d'Yquem is a Premier Cru Supérieur ("Great First Growth") wine from the Sauternes, Gironde region in the southern part of the Bordeaux vineyards known as Graves. In the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, Château d'Yquem was the only Sauternes given this rating, indicating its perceived superiority and higher prices over all other wines of its type.Yquem's success stems largely from the site's susceptibility to attack by "noble rot" (Botrytis cinerea).

Château d'Yquem, in the summer of 2009 Jim the Medic and I made something of a pilgrimage to this, and other, hallowed turf in Bordeaux, France.

Château d'Yquem itself was acquired by Jacques de Sauvage in December of 1593. De Sauvage acquired the property from the French monarchy by exchanging other lands that he owned for what was then referred to as the 'House ofYquem'. The site has been home to a vineyard since at least 1711 when the estate became fully owned by Léon de Sauvage d'Yquem. In 1785 it passed to the Lur-Saluces family when Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d'Yquem married Count Louis-Amédée de Lur-Saluces, a godson of Louis XV and Lady Victoire de France. Monsieur Lur-Saluces died three years later, and his wife subsequently focused her energy on sustaining and improving the estate.

I have to admit to 'borrowing' a stone from this sacred 'terroir' as a keepsake,

and still get a huge kick from the memory.

Andy Lindsay and I

trying to conceal a Jeroboam or two about our person.

A fabulous and unforgettable experience! Look forward to seeing you again soon Steve.