Down Under - Men @ Work

The main contrast in the weather today from previous days was the sky, completely covered by dark and threatening looking clouds but otherwise the wind remained in the NE quarter still making for a chill. Deciding to 'lash out' on a bus fare and heading directly to Portland, there were two minor happenings of note as a Common Tern flew over the cemetery, 'calling' loudly, while on Westham Bridge (partly build up area) a Lesser Whitethroat was 'reeling' from within a small isolated bush.

The walk through both Barleycrates & Reap Lanes, along the West Cliff across the Slopes and onward to the Bill passed without result, the full list reading just 5 Common Whitethroat, 3 Stonechat, 5 Wheatear plus a single Swallow. It seemed as if the day was to be more about what was ON the sea rather than what was flying over it as the

Scallop Dredger 'Boy Michael' (port of registry Colchester CK) steamed past Pulpit Rock on her way into Lyme Bay.

There were also a fair number of largish yachts

obviously taking advantage of the brisk breeze.

The military were also represented by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Small Tanker 'Gold Rover' which I though had been decommissioned years ago. I say that because the last time I saw her was in Simons Town, South Africa about 8 years ago, and even then she looked a little worn out.

Also out there was HMS Ocean, described as a Landing Platform, Helicopter (LPH) the 'sixth' Royal Naval vessel to bare the name. Hoping not to be to disparaging, her ungainly proportions make her look more like a British Rail Platform!

As I walked across the Common towards the Observatory, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were settled right up until the moment I raised the camera when 2 of them took to the wing. At the Obs there were a number of trainee bird 'ringers' taking advantage of the trickle of migrants, and after processing allowed me to take the following shots.

Lesser Whitethroat

and although these two look quite different they are in fact the same species Willow Warbler from different regions. The 'greyer' individual would be from a more Northern European ancestry, while the more yellow one, which we are more used to, hails from the south.

This male Common Redstart was the one shown via these pages last week, here again for comparison to a

female which was caught today.

and to end today, a few shots from others. The first four, which when I saw them last night on the Portland Bird Observatory Website, were immediately considered worthy of a wider audience and are © Martin Cade, Warden PBO.

The Bird Observatory was alerted to the presence of this Red-rumped Swallow (top right hand corner) by a group of observers looking for passing sea-birds at the base of the lighthouse.

With what could only be described as 'lightning reaction,

these fantastic images were captured

which, with kind permission, I now have the pleasure of passing on to you.

and from A 'Land Down-Under:-

This is The Family 'York', my son in law Bernard holding holding the rapidly growing Frederick (the III) David, and my beautiful youngest daughter Lisa with new arrival Alexander (the I) James.

Mum & youngest Son

Mum & both Sons

Frederick (soon to be the find of a cure for the Common Cold and Australian or England Test Cricket Captain, or who knows just for novelty value BOTH!).

Kites - Simon Dupree & the Big Sound

For the dozen or so people in the country who, for whatever reason, missed the BBC2 programme Nature Watch from Portland Bird Observatory (PBO) last night, here are a few stills.

PBO Warden Martin Cade hands the programme presenter a Willow Warbler caught moments earlier in one of the 'mist nets'.

From the Obs garden this tiny little bird, that has likely travelled from South East Africa, is gently placed in a cloth bag to be transported to the 'ringing hut'.

Here, among several short procedures of measuring, sexing etc, a small metal ring bearing a return address is placed around the birds leg

before finally being popped into a pot

and weighed.

All that is left to do then is to release it in the hope that one way or another the ring is returned with full details of bird, location found and any other relevant details.

As for the rest of the programme, well these days I seem to be controversial enough so I'll keep my own council, but it was fantastic to see

The Portland Bird Observatory deservedly get 'Top Credit'.

Did I hear someone say "sad ol' git sat by his TV with a camera"?

As for this morning, the north easterly chill remained as a result of a fresh breeze, but there was no cloud, plenty of sun and the potential of another fine day. The cemetery was quiet, but once again I was met at the Radipole gate by Steve Morris who tells me that at least one of the young Robins is now on the wing, and the 2 Lesser Whitethroats are still singing at the top of their voices.

At the top of the reserve a pair of Marsh Harriers were quartering the reeds, but keeping their distance,

while one or two Cetti's Warbler were showing quite well.

Arriving at the main bridge at the optimum moment I watched first one

then a second Common Sandpipers drop into just about the only perch available to a small Wader on this reserve. With the water level 'still' high enough to float a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier)

they were soon gone, to more suitable habitat. All else of note here was a single Black-tailed Godwit, which had found just a narrow strip of mud, but there were NO Hirundines (Swallows & Martins) so I moved on to Lodmoor.

Things were a little more lively here as this passing Whimbrel greeted me with its rattling call, while one of 4

Lesser Whitethroats allowed me to do a little rattling of my own with the camera.

Stopping to photograph this Marestail, I looked up to check out the screaming from above to

see my first Common Swift of the year (6 to be precise).

For novelty value, the long staying escapee Bahama Pintail put in an appearance before I disappeared towards Ferrybridge. Lucky for me Angela Thomas, now 'second in command' at the Fleet Reserve spotted me waiting at the bus stop an offered a lift to her work place where it was my intention to photograph

the annual 'carpet of flowers' all the way along Beach Road (unfortunately not shown to best advantage in this shot) comprising mostly of

Thrift and

another flower I'm unsure of, is it one of the Campions?

These are Daisy. Onward to the Observatory where they were having a mini Purple Patch with the arrival of a Red-rumped Swallow and a Spotted Flycatcher but unfortunately not seen by me.

The best I could do there was this male Broad-bodied Chaser, so it was home for me and opening my e-mails there were a couple of very interesting photographs the first from Nick Stantiford who had captured these displaying

Red Kites, surely this species is due to breed in the county

so we live in hope!

Secondly, Peter and Debbie Saunders, always alert to a good photograph, this

Common Buzzard complete with Rabbit

flew over their house yesterday evening - what a shot!

Thank you both for the photographs and also to ALL our readers - Keep the Faith and pass on the LINK to your friends!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

The weather was a full jacket colder today with the wind still centred around north east, fresh and with the sun struggling to burn through the haze it was a chilly morning. None of this seemed to phase the holidaymakers who, even at 07-00, were positioning towels and driving in windbreaks on the 'sands'. It may have been the conditions that kept the birds away with little to log even as far as Ferrybidge, and even there just a dozen each of

Ringed Plover and

Dunlin, now in 'black bellied' summer plumage,

4 Shelduck (these 2 plus 2 fly-overs) and single Oystercatcher, Turnstone plus a very bright Yellow Wagtail were not enough to tempt me to linger.

The only minor milestone there was that Little Tern numbers.

for me at least,

reached double figures (11) my personal highest total thus far.

Between Barleycrates and Reap Lanes the situation was in sharp contrast to yesterday, when Wheatear were counted in their hundreds and other common migrants were well represented. Today my count of the afore mentioned was 9, with again just a few Swallows and singles of Blackcap and Tree Pipit to make up the day total.

Further on this small bush looked rather interesting but I cannot find what it is, while 'steaming' round the Bill you only had to be able to read to identify the

Sea Cadet Training Ship 'John Jerwood'.

In the Bird Observatory garden there was this Eyed Hawk-moth which is one of the more common Hawks,

and named thus because when attacked by a predator it spreads its fore-wings to reveal an eye-like pattern making it look far bigger that it is.

On my way back I stopped to view this Bittersweet (which has always been known to me as Woody Nightshade??) at which time there was a text alerting me to a Wood Warbler on the Rodwell Trail. Just half a mile or so from my house this was most convenient and after taking a look at this dozing

Grey Squirrel I herd the Warbler 'trilling' from high in the Sycamore Trees. Following its movements for a while, it suddenly shot off down the train (singing as it went) but the singing continued above me. 3 of us saw 2 separate birds, which was a real bonus. With this 'first for the year' under our belts, Dave Tissington and I then set off for Ringstead in search of Nightingale, and on the way encountered our first

Wall Butterfly and

Holly Blue

and even though Orange-tip was seen last week today there was chance of something of a photograph. In all we had 2 Nightingales, which was a 'Year Tick' for each of us, and after watching some emerging

Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars we headed home.

All else of note along the way were 2 Spear Fishermen, a sight not often seen around here these days. Back in my youth just about every young man had at least a go at the sport which I pursued for many years.

The 'Year List' now stands at 233, of which 186 have been recorded in Dorset.

PS - Of all things by neighbours Roy and Joy have just passed half a Christmas Pudding, complete with hot custard over the garden wall, so it just remains to say Yum Yum!