New Zealand (North Island)

Having slipped under the radar over the past few days, it has finally dawned on me that Morocco has now joined the legion of World Readers bringing the total to 125 countries. For me this historic and interesting country is synonymous with my 'all time hero 'Jimi Hendrix, my journey to follow in his footsteps through Morocco is well documented in this Blog (find Essaouira via 'search engine' on Home page). A warm welcome to you all, and hope you pass on the link to all your friends and families. I'll endeavour to dig out more photos from there!

The plan today had been to return to Sherford Bridge and continue the search for Red Kite, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Crossbill, but the weather put paid to that. Waking at 05-30 to the roar of a gale and heavy rain my first move was to text fellow birder Dave Tissington and call off the 07-00 rendezvous. He agreed that we should make an attempt tomorrow, allowing me to award myself a Guard & Steerage. In Royal Navy (RN) parlance this would be a small reward to non-watch-keepers who, because of an emergency, defect etc were require to work after midnight, of an extra 'half hour' in bed. Not to be confused with Slack Hammock where a 'lie in' was unofficial and usually met with some form of punishment for being lazy, I did indeed have permission albeit my own! Having completed my communications with Dave I once again assumed 'diving stations' and woke up at the crack of 09-45. Had I still been in the RN there was little chance anyone, except the navy's prison officers, would have seen me for a very long time.

So, once again my day has been taken up by catching up on much of the stuff that falls by the wayside when birding is in full swing. I was able to punctuate this with a coffee break at Joy's house and another, later in the day, at Bowie & Sheila's. Otherwise I can continue to show the final selection of photographs from New Zealand after redressing another omission of yesterday, in welcoming Malcolm & Angela Passells plus Pete Vincent to the readership and say how nice it was to meet you all.

Red-crowned Parakeet (endemic)

Saddleback (endemic)

New Zealand Pigeon (endemic)

Banded Rail

Rifleman (arguably the most difficult of the endemics to find or photograph)

Blue-wattled Crow (endemic)

Barbary Dove (introduced feral population)

New Zealand Kingfisher

Australasian Quail

Kaka (endemic)

Kelp Gull

Stitchbird (endemic)

New Zealand Dotterel adult (endemic)

New Zealand Dotterel chick (endemic)

Pied Shag

Takahe (endemic)

Tui (endemic)

Variable Oystercatcher (endemic)

White-faced Heron

Whitehead (endemic)

Wrybill (endemic)

Wrybill (endemic)

Wandering Albatross Pictorial

Today, in sharp contrast to yesterday's persistent rain and blustery wind, was generally sunny and windless with the exception of 3 light showers. In the cemetery, a Chiffchaff was just about the first bird seen, while c16 Redwing were still feeding from the favoured fruit tree. At Radipole the birdsong continued with Reed Buntings singing from most of the reed beds as single Sparrowhawk and Great Spotted Woodpecker both made a show.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes were seen in breeding plumage, then

set about some serious courtship rituals.

A couple of vocal Song Thrush were also logged

as were a good count of 35 Carrion Crows in distant trees.

The walk along the seafront to Lodmoor would have drawn a blank except for the appearance of the resident Greenhill Turnstones but on the Moor

Lapwing and Dunlin seemed to have been disturbed by something.

This Mallard with head shining in the sun was though worthy of a photograph just before

c3 Black-tailed Godwit were found feeding in the margins.

Of these one was seen to be 'colour ringed',

while a second did a little wing stretching,

and the best news of the day was to find a pair of Oystercatchers have returned, hopefully to breed.

At Ferrybridge there was little more than a small group of mixed Gulls (these being Lesser Black-backed) and a small skein of Brent Geese flying down the Fleet.

On the way back from a fruitless search of Newton's Cove for a Black Redstart I took this photograph of Brewers Quay. Formally an exciting music pub, a small but interesting mall of shops and a Museum it is now destined to be refurbished and turned into a hotel.

This afternoon I was invited by Bob Ford to join his small group of keen wildlife watchers and visit Sherford Bridge some 15 miles from Weymouth. There and across

we had hopes of seeing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Grey Shrike, Crossbill and Red Kite. In the event we saw none of these but my first experience of

this dainty and colourful Lichen called Cladonia was alone worth the trip. Thanks to Bob and his Merry Band.

and finally what I think are an exciting series of Wandering Albatross photographs, taken at Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand - ENJOY!

New Zealand (South Island)

On a day of very blustery conditions and continuous rain, there's little for it except to get the laundry and ironing done and once again lean heavily on the photo library. New Zealand is certainly one of the most picturesque countries in the world (check out Lord of the Rings movie) with its mountains, fjords, dramatic coastlines etc but it also hold an interesting selection of avifauna. Due to human introductions, not always advantageous to the birds, it is not unusual to see the likes of Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll and Yellowhammer (to name but a few) but the endemics are well worth the effort to find.

All of these shots were taken on South Island

Banded Dotterel

Banded Dotterel (chick)

New Zealand Bellbird

Black-billed Gull

Black-billed Gull

California Quail another of the feral species which thrives here.

Grey Warbler

New Zealand Fantail

Paradise Shelduck (male)

Paradise Shelduck (female)

Red-billed Gull

Silvereye