Waders of the Lost Ark

I'm not a 'twitcher' - but as a new month dawned and with the prospect of another 'tick' on my Dorset / May list, at first light I was on the edge of Lodmoor looking for the Long-billed Dowitcher - OK I am! With a stiff breeze from the east cutting across the moor, a sky that looked decidedly as if it were going to open any minute and no sunshine I, and as far as is known everybody else, was to be disappointed. Maybe, after a fantastic stay since November 2010 the Dowitcher might just have succumbed to its migratory instincts and has headed north? That's as maybe so I'll be back for another look tomorrow.

A quick look around saw the pair of lingering Wigeon are still with us, but last weeks headlines had been with Waders as many thousands of

Bar-tailed Godwit (here just 19 were in company with about the same number of Dunlin left) have passed over the county with just a few, along with the odd,

Black-tailed Godwit stopping to refuel, but this was nothing compared to what would break later in the day.

A quick look at the Common Tern colony before heading to Portland where

one of the paddocks at Sweethill was carpeted with Buttercup, Clover & Daisies.

My arrival at the Bird Observatory coincided with the capture of a fine male Whinchat

which The Prof (Peter Morgan) kindly allowed a couple of us to photograph.

The other photographer was eminent company indeed as I embarked on the rest of the day with

author and naturalist Richard Crossley who I hadn't seen for a couple of years.

It was just by chance that his latest work (above) was only published this February and is indeed an excellent guide for novice and journeyman alike! Richard was most interested in obtaining more photographs for his up and coming work featuring the common birds of Great Britain along with some of the more regular 'vagrants', so recruited my help to direct him to some of the local hot-spots. Lodmoor was high on the agenda, but driving past Ferrybridge would have been foolhardy, especially what we found in store.

Firstly, a number of Little Terns were favouring the sandy fore-shore to carry out their

'courtship displays' and

flying skills.

On the west side of the shore 132 Bar-tailed Godwit had dropped in, sporting various plumage patterns including

Winter Plumage

a Transitional Plumage

and this stunning Summer coat!

All of these birds were extremely confiding and seemed untroubled by our presence. Closer inspection reveled

a single Red Knot, also in Summer plumage

which, when its legs cleared the water was seen to be 'ringed'.

It is hoped, in time, that some detail of where it was 'banded' and something of its history will be reveled.

Next to drop in was a party of 5 Turnstones, also in their Summer attire

which also set about a bit of 'displaying'

and generally jumping about.

28 more Red Knot joined the other birds

which were also quite approachable. There were also 6 Sandwich Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, 7 Dunlin and 22 Whimbrel, but it was now time to move on. On Lodmoor, between us we were able to photograph this

tiny female Shelduck with her ol' man,

2 Grey Plover, one of which was also in Summer plumage

and unusual for me to find this male Pochard out of the water

and the female close by.

Seems it wasn't just me that though the sight of this duck out of the water was strange as this male Gadwall was giving the Pochard some serious grief.

The Shape of Things to Come - HG Wells 1933

With the exception of a chance rain shower, all seemed set fair for a great party day with all the

right people in the right place at the right time, but what happened next was a huge 'BONUS' indeed.

One of my nieces, Leigh and her 2 children Isobel and Mia from Nottingham, paid us a chance visit. Mia, her oldest daughter, is now 9 years old and I had never met either of them so it was at least that long since we saw each other. The party went with a great swing, except I forgot to put the oven on to cook the sausages but Joy and Julie came to my rescue with the fastest frying pans in DT4.

The Frog Racing commenced mid-afternoon, but with only 4 of the elimination legs completed the rain started so we all headed for the house.

In between times Leigh's partner Frank turned up, the third of the quartet I had not met before and I can say it was a great pleasure to meet him!

I think it can be safely said a good time was had by all.

Regular readers will remember my message at New Year of an intent to fulfil a number of outstanding ambitions during 2011. In just one calender months time I fly to Los Angeles for my next adventure and hopefully achieve or get a little closer to a couple of these goals. Most of this 7 weeks journey will be over familiar territory, having travelled the full length of the Alaska Highway during 2008, but being such a magnificent part of the world there shouldn't be a dull moment.

The first of these ambitions should be fairly straight forward as it entails visiting the final 3 of the 50 US States. Landing in LA at mid-night, I intend spending the rest of that night there and hope to be able to get a flight next morning to Honolulu, Hawaii the first of the 3. Idaho and Utah are the other 2 which will follow after a few days in Mexico 'twitching' Yellow-footed Gull, one of just 3 Gull species in the world I have not yet seen. After this there are no set plans except to reach Anchorage, Alaska by the 6th July to catch an already booked flight to the Pribilof Islands, just north of the Aleutians, in the Bearing Sea. The main trust of this mammoth trek is to see yet another Gull, this time Red-legged Kittiwake on their breeding cliffs, which would then just leave Relict Gull to achieve the full set. All else that is a MUST en-route is to visit my 'all time hero' Jimi Hendrix now laid to rest in the Greenwood Memorial Park, Seattle, Washington.

Here is just a taster from the last trip of what may be Things to Come on the next!

Bewick's Wren

California Sea Lion

Killdeer

Lesser Scaup

MacGillvray's Warbler

The work of a Beaver

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yosemite National Park, California

Rufous-sided Towhee

Surf Scoter

You Don't Get A 'Royal Wedding' Every Day

Don't forget where you saw it first!

I wouldn't describe myself as a 'royalist', but neither am I anti! However, just mention the word PARTY and there are many in this locale will tell you I'm your boy, so today it's forsake the great outdoors for the great Gin & Tonic. The weather is improving by the hour, but there is a forecast of possible showers - now that will put us off, I don't think. Anyroadup, by way of a simple tribute today's Blog consists of a few shots from the archive showing birds with a ROYAL connection.

With precious little else to do this evening I know Kate & Wills will be reading the Blog tonight, so girls and bots, here to you for a long, happy and fruitful life together.

Pop! oh a Champagne cork - must away.

Royal Albatross

Antarctica

Royal Spoonbill

Perth, Western Australia

Royal Tern

U.S.A.

Now, let's Party!

The Cuckoo (is a Pretty Bird) - Bob Dylan

Almost a carbon copy of both avian and weather activity as yesterday, except for a slightly more brisk wind, but as the morning progressed both improved. Another day of forsaking all areas for an early Portland visit, where at Barleycrates there was just a single

Whinchat while the walk along the West Cliff and Reap Lane saw just a scattering of

Wheatear while at Fancy's Farm what looked like 'new arrivals' were

these 2 Pigs. No idea of breed I'm afraid (unless they are Vietnamese 'Pot-bellies'?) but will ask John or Sue Ilsley when I see them. The walk to the Observatory drew just about a 'blank' the saving grace only being a trickle of Swallows and

half a dozen Whitethroats now mostly holding territories. Even for the 'ringers' things were a little slow, except that the very first bird trapped was a Spotted Flycatcher which I missed. After coffee news was received of a Cuckoo in the Top Fields so it was time to head in pursuit. Having missed this by seconds it was thought best to give it a little time hoping it would show again.

In the mean time this

Fox appeared out of the hedge

and took a steady prowl across the horse paddock.

Within a minute or two this Spotted Flycatcher turned up in the same field, and while always at distance it did put on a fine show of, yes, 'fly-catching'.

These 2 photos are taken from the archive

for illustration purposes, and then, there it was scrabbling through the hedge

a (the) Cuckoo which very quickly took to the wing

flying across the field

before disappearing into another hedge, not to be seen again. In addition the flow of Swallows continued while a single Swift flew overhead and a female Redstart foraged among the bushes.

The Cuckoo and Spotted Flycatcher were both new species for 2011 an brought the
GB Year List up to 236 and the Dorset List to a round 190.

It's the royal wedding tomorrow which my daughter Lisa reminded me of in an e-mail saying, "bet you can hardly wait to see Kate's dress tomorrow, can you Dad"? When your daughter is your 'soul mate' they know you too well - LOVE to you all my lovely girl!