The Bagsy Blog

Thursday, 17 February 2011

All Along the Backwater, Through the Rushes Tall

Ducks are a'dabbling up tails all.
Duck's tails Drake's tails yellow feet a'quiver
Yellow bills all out of sight busy in the river

A second fine morning on the trot, and under a half covered sky with sun peeping through and little in the way of wind, it was going to be another hard day in the office for me. First visit of the day, not unusually, was the cemetery where all birds were singing not least a small party of Greenfinch absent for most of the winter. Given the past severe conditions and the fact that some sort of virus has reduced the local population it was fantastic to see them back on my 'patch' and next I'll be hoping to see them displaying.

Vocals were the highlight at Radipole as both Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting were busily trying to attract a mate, but for them a positive hindrance must have been the Song Thrush that was drowning them out! There were c3 Bullfinches at the 'kissing gate' and c2 mates at the bridge, fellow birder Ian Stanley and long time ex-diving mate Roger (Chippy) Chippendale - good to see you both gents!

Teal, especially males such as this, are a sure fire target for the camera

and while the female is much less colourful she holds no less charm.

Like most duck species they are ever alert and timid, but there is always an exception to the rule as I approached this 'lady' to within 6 feet - sweet dreams.

The Coot was also obliging, so 'click'!

Featured on this Blog before, I think there is a certain charm about this mutant duck which to me looks like a Mallard/Gadwall hybrid?

With no hurry I took a walk around the Inner Harbour looking over the armada of small boats ranging from rowing boats to 'gin palaces', and of course the ever present charter fishing boat that in the past I've enjoyed so much. Must get out and catch a Bass or two later in the year.Ferrybridge produced nothing out of the usual, except for former 'shipmate' John Kirby who I hadn't seen for many a year, so off to Portland and a walk from Southwell along the East Cliff to the Bill. Along the way there was a single

Turnstone on the ledges while just a little further on I came across

c4 Purple Sandpiper.

As regular readers will know they are resident on the rocks here during the winter months,

but doubtless it will be long before they

'take to the wing'

and head for their breeding grounds in Iceland and other northerly sites (no not Dorchester).

This shot was a case of 'the Snapper taking a Snap of the Snappers', as this group of trainee photographers honed their skills close to the fishing boat crane.

I had noted this coach earlier in the day as 'white van moron' overtook it on the Ferrybridge, blasting his horn and nearly causing an accident. The driver had just dropped off a party of tourists from Nottinghamshire a few of which I had already bade good morning, with one lady I spoke to living on the very estate where I lived as a child. They and the driver seemed interested in a little local knowledge and even more as I pointed out some of the birds above. After our chat the driver offered me a proposition, to do a short talk for his passengers on forthcoming trips. Well, he said he would only be able to pay me £120K per annum and not wanting to drop to those sort of wages said I would do it for free. When you read this 'drive' I was deadly serious and would love to share our Magic Island with you on your next visit.

By this time I had already received intelligence of the presence of c2

Black Redstart in the Bill Quarry

and it was a lovely couple from the tour who located them for me.

We all enjoyed these splendid little birds together along with c2 Pied wagtail and a few Rock Pipits. Lovely to have met you all, and thanks for your company!

At the Observatory (where new 'anti-aircraft' artillery is rapidly being deployed) I was met by this Wood Pigeon looking picturesque on the wall, but the Warden was just leaving so no time for a coffee and a chat. However,PBO Chairman Edwin Welland had just arrived and quick as a flash he invited me to join him for lunch. A little treat we afford ourselves when Ed pays his occasional visits, so it was off to see our mates Danny Fox (Landlord) and Andy (the Barman) at The Pulpit Inn, called The Devenish these days, but for my money far better named as formally The Pulpit as being just across the way from the famous Portland rock of the same name.

So here I am, full of 'fine' Dorset pâté, fish & chips and orange juice writing today's epistle. Best Wishes to you all and Spread the Word!

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Haven't We Damaged Enough Of Our Planet?

We start with a little mirth, sent to me by my mate Harry Challenor, as this male House Sparrow seems to have had enough of Her Indoors' chattering?

I met up with Dave Tissington at 07-00 this morning and with more or less clear sky, little in the way of wind plus no sign of rain things were set fair for a wander around the

at Sherford Bridge. As we approached Wareham town the picture changed as the eastern sky was filled with very dark towering cumulus clouds, and surely heralding some rain. As we travelled I told Dave of my plan to search for Red-legged Partridge along the Fleet later in the week, an addition to my 'ongoing' February list (yes, I know but bare with me), and also not seen in Dorset so far this year. Arriving at our destination, Dave looked across the road saying he had just seen a large bird land in the bushes. At first glance all I could see was a Robin, but he said it was definitely much bigger as I locked on to a

Red-legged Partridge (that'll save a walk) the first I ever remember seeing at this location. Within minutes of starting our walk we had logged both

Great Spotted Woodpecker and

Green Woodpecker but one of our targets here was Lesser Spotted Woodpecker altogether a much more difficult to find member of the family. Dave had also received information that the Red Kite of the previous days had been seen on a few occasions on the field we were now traversing. Third on the list of hoped for birds was

Common Crossbill (this one, for illustration purposes only, was photographed 'for sale' along with cages full of Siberian Rubythroats, Mongolian Larks etc in a Chinese street market) which dutifully obliged as c6 flew overhead alerting us to their presence by 'calling'. This was the first 'year tick' since the first day of the month!

On our way we noticed how the hedgerows are now starting to sprout, especially these Hazel catkins. Unlike Monday, when I trod this same path with Bob Ford and his group, today the forest was full of bird song, and in very quick time we recorded c3 Fieldfare, probably as many as 30 Redwing, Song & Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Siskin in varying numbers plus at least a dozen Goldcrest, with the continuous song of Skylark in the background. Next to enter the list was one of probably 4 individual

Nuthatch and after photographing this

Bracket Fungi (possibly Razor Strop?)

Treecreeper started to appear, with at least 3 showing well. From time to time we took up station on a hillock viewing a big sky and farmland beyond in the hope of the Kite, but this was not to be. However, by way of a small bonus we did see c2 Common Buzzards, the same number of Raven and by way of a HUGE bonus a male Hen Harrier as it lopped off to the west. Having spent a little over 4 hours with still no sign of the Lesser Spot our attention was drawn to the singing of more than one

Woodlark, which we found, along with Dave & Anne Raishley, at the traditional site close to the power cables. Finally at 13-00 we gave up the ghost on both Kite and Woodpecker but one or two boxes had been ticked with the Partridge plus Crossbill in addition to which we also c2 Hare which extends the Mammal Year List.

GB Bird Year List = 178 GB Mammal Year List = 15

and finally, this is the photograph I've been waiting for from the 'Land Down Under'!

Proud father Bernard and my lovely daughter Lisa hold on to Frederick III left, and new arrival Alexander (The Great) - Bless 'em!

I know I said 'finally', but this most important note from The Portland Bird Observatory web-site has only just reached my attention. The PBO, an immediate neighbour to the site of the proposed flights, is one of a few National Bird Observatories along the coast of Great Britain and elsewhere. The location of these establishments is such that each is at the heart of not only bird migration but also Butterfly, Moth other insects et al. The vital and essential work carried out here is on the whole overlooked by much of the general public, but it should be noted that it is of 'World Wide Value', thousands of pounds and man hours (almost all voluntary) have been invested here to improve habitat, protect our wild creatures especially nesting birds. These include Peregrine Falcons and Ravens (not so long ago almost lost to the Island) plus Fulmar, Razorbill, Guillemot and Puffin which is almost on its last legs as a breeding species in the County. Of the latter, these flight will have to ply back and forth directly (or very close to) this colony which is now reduced to a maximum of 2 to 3 pairs, if that.

Whilst we hesitate to get involved in the usually messy business of local politics, we feel we ought to alert visitors to a proposal to operate helicopter pleasure flights over the Bill (up to 22 flights a day between April and September). As visitors to the area during the thankfully now defunct Portland Steam Fair will be well aware, the racket from flights of this nature verges on the intolerable and certainly has the most detrimental effect on birding activity (quite apart from being potentially damaging should the flights take place, as proposed, during the breeding season). Click here for further details of this planning application.

Write, Phone, E-Mail or personally approach your Councilor, but please do not delay or 'pussyfoot. I'll undoubtedly see you there!

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

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.