A Better Day At The Office

A most convivial evening as I treated my neighbours Shelagh, Roy & Joy to a Chinese meal which we enjoyed at Shelagh's house on account of mine remaining un-heated. I'd had a pint or two before I arrived to celebrate England's humiliation at the hands of the Irish rugby team - To Be Sure, To Be Sure!

It was quite a late affair and on leaving it seemed like there was 'trouble at' Mill' with a Police car stationed at the end of our cul de sac. The officer in charge did approach us to ask if we were alright, but wouldn't be persuaded to reveal what was going on - we'll have to wait and see what the Dorset Echo has to say.

With the sun already burning off the light mist it was set to be a fine day and it wasn't until I got to the Bill that the southerly breeze manifested itself making things just a little colder. Barely out of the door the sound of a

Great Spotted Woodpecker could once again be heard from the cemetery, while at the main entrance c3 individuals flew purposefully to the north in what could be described as a mini 'ariel dog-fight'. As if 3 were not enough, the excavating bird continued hammering high in one of the giant ornamental trees and I was able to get a few shots off before c3 Woodpeckers flew out in the same direction. I didn't see any of the original birds return, but that is not to say they didn't, so there were a definite c4 but a possibility of 6 leaving a good deal of scarring on the tree just below the bird pictured. In addition a Willow Warbler sang briefly from an adjacent garden but was not seen.

Almost the first bird to come into view on Radipole was this Aythya (Genus name for one group of the 'diving ducks')Duck which was initially thought to be a Greater Scaup,

but, given last weeks Gull mix up, have recruited the help of others more well versed than I in this subject. Here's hoping for a positive outcome later.

It's impossible for me to walk past a male Teal at any time, but this little beauty just catching the right light was a must for a few shots. It was immediately after this that another vocal Willow Warbler was located but this time seen through a dense Blackthorn bush, in addition there were also a number of Chiffchaffs (some vocal) and c2 Sand Martins.

At both ends of the lake there was an increase in the number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with my total reaching c35 today,

while this 'first winter' Great Black-backed Gull, sporting rings. was perched in full view outside the Visitor's Centre. Maybe someone can help us with a ring return?

On my way to catch the bus to Portland this shot of the continuing road works at Kings Street, that have plagued Weymouth for almost a year now, was taken to include the scaffold around the soon to be refurbished Jubilee Clock. Not before time as this ancient time-piece, dating back to 1887 and marking Queen Victoria's 50th year as sovereign, is looking well past its 'sell by date'. I hope to bring you pictures of the finished article in what is estimated to be a 7 weeks refurb.

The news on Portland, from 3 visiting birders, was of a Ring Ouzel last seen close to the spot where I was then stood. A long search was made but the bird wasn't found, however during this time I heard the distinctive call of Yellow Wagtail and looked up to see c3 birds fly above me and quickly out of sight. Although not the first to be seen in Dorset this year, this is still quite an early date so it was important I search for these also to get a photograph. This was not to be either but, along with the Willow Warbler was another addition to the GB Year List.

This Pheasant was far more obliging and looked rather good I thought under the arch of an Elder bush.

This dainty and pretty little plant was in flower just opposite the Bird Observatory and I think I've narrowed it down to one of the Speedwells (Blue Ivy-leaved maybe) one of you Botanists out there should be able to put me right?

All the hard work undertaken by Richard Newton in recent months afford me some return this morning, finding c2 Yellowhammers in the new ploughed field running up the hill at Culverwell,

and while these are only distant shots, the records remain.

My first Peacock Butterfly of the year as well.

In a final effort to locate the Ring Ouzel, I predicted it may have flown further up the Island so made a stop at Barleycrates. No sign of it, or any other birds for that matter but the Ivy banks

were seen to be still full of fruit so maybe next time?

Finally, there was a bird, as yet not described to science, which I will call the Terracotta Tanager. I've past this house on Weston Road a thousand times but never noticed until today this nifty chimney adornment.

A Quiet Day At The Office

A quick update on the readership map to date, which is filling rapidly. If you know anybody in Greenland, Central Africa, any of the Asian 'Stans' or Papua New Guinea, perhaps you should drop them an e-mail?

While on the first morning after the Weymouth relief road was opened, this was the scene on Dorchester Road earlier today. OK, it is Saturday but even then this section of road would be bumper to bumper, but as you can see not a vehicle in sight!

Dorchester Road at Nottington Corner looking north.

Dorchester Road at Nottington Corner looking south. I have to thank Paul Harris for these images.

Perhaps all drivers were staying at home early morning because of the heavy frost that developed overnight, leaving everything coated white this morning, but that was short lived.

It certainly didn't deter this Grey Squirrel that met me at the cemetery gate, nor the dozens of birds that were singing within.

It did look a little bleak across Radipole Lake due to a shallow mist but by 07:00 that too had burnt off revealing what must qualify as this years warmest and best day so far?

Reed Buntings now seem to be settling in well here and are also vocal, while there was even a call or two from at least one Water Rail and plenty of Cetti's Warblers.

Otherwise very quiet, I quickly boarded an early bus to Portland (no bus pass restrictions at the week-end) where yesterday's rain had turned the footpath over Top Fields into a mud bath.

That didn't seem to be bothering a 'murder' of about 50 Carrion Crows there,

some even remaining at perch while I clicked away.

There was also plenty of Meadow Pipit activity with a number of birds migrating in off the sea,

while this individual had already taken to frantic display flights an singing, occasionally resting on a prominent perch. There was little else to get excited about, and that seemed to be the view of the few 'birders' encountered on the way. However, just as you think it's going to be all dull Martin Cade (Warden at the Bird Observatory)

plucks this little beauty out of one of the mist nets.

Firecrest, along with close cousin the Goldcrest is Great Britain's smallest resident bird, and for my money probably the most eye-catching!

Quite a few people on the hoof as I made an early return to Weymouth, including this young lady rock climber who already had her pitons hammered in.

After issuing yesterday's post, it dawned on me that a far more appropriate headline might have been White Bird by the San Francisco rock band It's A Beautiful Day, formed in 1967 by violinist Dave LaFlamme. This inspired me to play Marrying Maiden by the first outfit in Rock that I remember having a solo violinist as leader. After this I played the album Flock by US band of the same name. Another fiddle player of extraordinary proportions, Jerry Goodman's violin intro on their most memorable version of the Kinks classic Tired of Waiting for You has to stand as 'a moment int time'! To make up the hat trick post Brian Eno Roxy Music hit the turn table with incredible violin and keyboard riffs by Edwin Jobson - those were the days.

Nobody's Fault But Mine - Led Zeppelin

Leucistic Herring Gull?

There's a question mark against yesterday's White-winged Gull at Charmouth Beach as someone has suggested it might be as stated above. Looks like I've made a 'cock up' (but N'sFBM) so have changed the captions on all of my postings and made the appropriate apologies. Anyway, I'll make best efforts not to let this happen again.

So swiftly on, and what a blessing that at long last we've had a day of continuous rain it felt like the homework would never get done! Great progress has been made in this direction, with the ironing completed before 08:00 after which I settled down to booking the next trip away after Scotland and sorting the logistics. Another trans-Atlantic adventure for June and July, much of which will be over familiar territory as I always promised myself that one day I would return to the

Alaska Highway. I also decided before the turn of the year that 2011 would be a chance to further a few ambitions and complete some travel ideals. The main thrust of this trip will hopefully be to find 2 of the 3 outstanding Gull species I have yet to see in the world (notwithstanding the above, I may be able to correctly identify these) and to visit the final 3 US States not yet seen. The Gulls are Yellow-footed and Red-legged Kittiwake each at the far extremities of this venture, the first being in Baja California, Mexico while the other will take me to the Pribilof Islands in the Bearing Sea.

Thus far the 4 day Pribilof trip is booked and finalised as is the return flight (Heathrow - Los Angeles LAX and flying back from Anchorage, Alaska to LHR) and the coach from Weymouth to the airport return. Next I need to book a 30 day Greyhound Coach Discovery Pass, which will take me through the 2 unvisited States, Utah and Idaho and as far north as Whitehorse in the Canadian Yukon. Unfortunately there is no coach service to the first of the States, Hawaii, but I'll think about the logistics of that when I get to LAX,

My start point, as before, will be El Segundo Beach which will present more Gull identification problems as hybridisation between the species is rife. Anyway, it'll give me something to do! From there as afore mentioned it is hoped to make it to Hawaii, anywhere will do, followed by a run down to Baja. The 2 remaining of the Lower 48 will be next before cutting back west to pay my respects to Jimi Hendrix in

Seattle, Washington skyline

where there might be a Western Tanager en-route?

will be by-passed this time as will a number of other excellent little stop-offs such as Newport, Oregon, where this

Northern Flicker was seen, and Merced in the same State.

Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia is an absolute 'must' as it holds just about all the American ducks at one time or another, not to mention close up views of Bald Eagle.

The start of the Alaska Highway proper is Dawson Creek, known as Mile Zero, then it's a long way to go through the

to Toad River where we stayed in the little hut left of picture. The tap water was like neat sulphur, but the small lake at the back produced no fewer than 21 species of Wildfowl during a 3 days stay.

This is also the highest point on the Alaska Highway, a few miles south of Toad River, which was clear of snow when we arrived but a 'white out' before we left.

Here I am hoping to meet the Leake family again, so will have to make some contact before then. Heather left and Colin with family and friends - what a place!

Others I will be most anxious to see again will be back-woodsman David Cartier and his Japanese wife Toshia who drove us, via

the 300 miles to

just inside Alaska, effectively the end Highway, from there it's a mere 200 miles to Anchorage, the largest city in the State but not the State Capital. There should be time to visit a couple of reserves before flying to

St George in the Pribilof's and then on to St Paul Island.

Returning a few days later, the intent is to take the train once again to Fairbanks cutting through some of the most fantastic scenery in the world, plus a 'must do' visit to

Creamer's Field Dairy. No longer anything to do with milk, the aptly named farmer gave the whole place over to the nation on his retirement, to be kept as a 'wild-life refuge' and 'bird ringing station'. The speciality here are the

Sandhill Cranes which often occur in the 'hundreds'.