Red, Red Wine - UB40

It was fantastic to have the Dampney's in my home once again, but in addition to Hugh & Janet there was a first visitation of their son Daryl and his lady Cath. I felt that the whole evening went swimmingly well, but for me the highlight of the whole proceedings was just how much we all LAUGHED!

It will also give me great pleasure to recommend a couple of wines which in everyone's opinion complimented the food to the full. Both were bought on a trial basis, with the first also being of novelty value. A label with a picture of a Southern Right Whale was always going to attract, but given the grape was Sauvignon Blanc thought to be a perfect tipple to serve with the Tuna Mediterranean Salad. No question, it was certainly the 2007 Charlie Herring Tau Syrah with the Beef Wellington a la Bagsy complete with Dorset course pate, shiitake mushrooms and shallots, but the pudding was the pièce de résistance.

The Cassata, which I have only attempted twice before, was greeted with a little bewilderment, and as I'd made a right royal hash of the Belgian Chocolate Sauce decoration it was total reliance on the taste. Chateau Jolys (2008) a completely new vineyard to me, not quite as unctuous and sweet as Sauternes, but nevertheless perfect with the soft ice cream and candied fruits within. Hugh also observed that it would be ideal with Foie Gras - unanimously agreed and due for trial very soon!

Not surprisingly, a little late to rise this morning it was 08:00 before I left the house for a direct ride to Portland Bill. The weather now seems to have broken for at least the next few days, with wind speed increasing to 'gale force', sky completely obscured and a continuous threat of rain.

At the Bill, almost immediately this Purple Sandpiper appeared from nowhere

and by the fact it was unsettled, kind of gave the feeling it may well have just arrived from an Icelandic breeding ground. My first of the Autumn.

Otherwise, there was precious little else except for a few Pied Wagtails on the ground and even fewer Swallows passing overhead.

At the Observatory there were 2 very interesting Moths on show, neither of which had I seen before, but then came my second cock up in as many days. Even with the assistance of those around me, I still managed to make a complete disaster of photographing each with my images being unprintable. Therefore, with permission. I have 'borrowed' those of The Warden, Martin Cade to illustrate these little beauties.

Golden Twin-spot

and Hymenia recurvalis a 'rare' Moth that comes from the Tropical climbs.

Finally, after exactly one full calender month, we can welcome our next and 153rd country to the readership, by way of Monaco. One of only 5 countries I have yet to visit in Europe, it is only a matter of time before this is rectified. However you came by the 'link', it would be greatly appreciated if you would pass it on to all and any of your county-folk.

WELCOME & THANK YOU!

	2	0.01%	Monaco
	2	0.01%	Malawi
	2	0.01%	Nepal
	2	0.01%	Gabon
	2	0.01%	Uganda
	2	0.01%	Luxembourg
	1	0.00%	Brunei Darussalam
	1	0.00%	Tanzania, United Republic Of
	1	0.00%	Macao
	1	0.00%	Bolivia
	1	0.00%	Maldives
	1	0.00%	Gibraltar
	1	0.00%	Ghana
	1	0.00%	Morocco
	1	0.00%	Isle Of Man
	1	0.00%	Cameroon
	1	0.00%	Albania

The (Dark Phase) Long-tailed Skua Saga

With this evenings dinner party rapidly approaching there was little time for gallivanting, with the first part of the morning given over to peeling and the second collecting a few last minute items. The day had started off rather dull but with frequent patches of sunshine not at all a bad day, I was lucky to catch one of the more prolonged spells of the warm stuff.

Some might say (Oasis) that we don't appreciate what we have close at hand, but I for one do not subscribe to the theory. Even a chore as mundane as shopping has a massive up-side when you live in Weymouth - just look at this. Exactly 8 minutes walk from my house we reach the Inner Harbour with its congregation of various small watercraft.

Looking towards the Town Bridge from the west, is where the Charter Sea Fishing Boys moor their boats,

while looking from the opposite direction the Outer Harbour caters for

larger craft such as this Weymouth registered (WY) Scallop Dredger probably the largest local fishing boat to berth here.

Looking towards the Harbour Entrance and seaward other vessels are secured such as

Pelican of London a regular visitor to the town

and the Sail Training Vessel Royalist.

(Dark Phase) Long-tailed Skua - The Story So Far

It's coming up 3 months since I was on St Paul one of the 2 Pribilof Islands in the Bearing Sea, off the coast of Alaska. Being skillfully guided by Forrest Rowland, then working for St Paul's Tours,

on the afternoon of the 14 July we had been delighted by the sight of what Forrest described as the largest 'day count' of this sleek seabird on the islands.

Unfortunately never at point blank range we had observed many both in flight and at perch over a couple of hours period,

and breaking my personal day total of 7 into the bargain.

That's when this flew over the ridge and into view........

A form of Long-tailed Skua that most, if not all, authorities don't accept as existing! There has been much excitement and debate, especially on the other side of the Atlantic, since the photographs of this bird were published not only on this Blog but on a number of other websites worldwide. From those, many eminent, who have ventured an opinion it looks quite good that this could well be as claimed. If you would like to add your voice to the debate please do not hesitate to do so through these pages, or via the links below.

From Forrest Rowland
To Paul Guris

• Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:49:24 -0600
• Subject: Re: Forrest's Dark Jaeger (Summarized Info)

All,

I've CC'ed Bagsy on this. He was the client with me who also observed the bird, took some photos and kicked up quite a conversation on his side of the "pond" as well! He'll be interested to read some of the commentary running through the mill.

Fun stuff!!!

Best,

Forrest

On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 1:44 PM, Paul Guris <paulagics.com@gmail.com> wrote:

Gang:

We've been having a side conversation on this so I decided to summarize everything in one place. I also added Louis Bevier (since he's been in on the side chat), Todd McGrath,and Mary Gustafson.

Forrest's photos that kicked this all off:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24205189@N03/6192534817/in/photostream

Surfbirds discussion of the exact same bird photographed independently Jan. 14 (5 days after Forrest):
http://surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9252


The blog post by the original Jan. 14 photography mentioned in Surfbirds:
http://bagsy-thecaptainslog.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-four-on-st-paul-pribilof-islands.html


Comment in Surbirds thread by Alex Lees:

from Kjellen (1997)

No dark-phase bird was recorded among the 600 Long-tailed Skuas observed during the expedition*. Apparently, only two dark birds have ever been described. Both originated from western Greenland and are now in the collection at the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen. According to Boertmann (1994). both showed subadult characters, although the central tail feathers were fully grown. It is doubtful if these two skins really merit the claim of a dark phase in adult Long-tailed Skua but dark birds are not uncommon among juveniles (Cramp & Simmons 1983, N. Kjellen. pers. obs.).

*from the Kola Peninsula in the west to Wrangel Island in the east __________________
Dept. of Zoology, MCT/Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Brazil.

Dutch Birds article linked to by Brian S in Surfbirds thread which claims the Greenland birds are adults:
http://www.dutchbirding.nl/content/j...pdf/2000-5.pdf

And a follow-up from Louis:

I have Boertmann (1994) right here:

pg. 35, right column, under "Remarks" for longicaudus: "A dark morph seems to be very rare (e.g. Furness 1987). Recent reports from Greenland have been non-breeders (Kampp 1982; Dändliker 1988). The two dark morph skins in ZMUC (both from West Greenland) both show some immature plumage characters, although both have fully elongated tail streamers."

I can download the Kjellen paper from the Ibis later and send that to anyone who wants.

I think this is fascinating that you have a bird that fits these earlier descriptions. The barring may not be indicative of age in this case. It would be good, though maybe impossible now, to get as much on the bird as possible. Bill morphology would help, but maybe you need a bigger oar!

That should be enough to digest for now.

-PAG
Paul A. Guris
See Life Paulagics
PO Box 161
Green Lane, PA 18054
215-234-6805
paulagics.com@gmail.com
info@paulagics.com

Downtown - Petula Clark

It would have been another great day for walking and bird watching as the summer like weather continues, but as I have guests for dinner tomorrow evening it was probably best to get some food and wine. Where better than our County Town, Dorchester named Durnovaria by the Romans and Casterbridge in a number of novels by the counties favourite son Thomas Hardy, with also a chance to look around.

The Corn Exchange

Dorchester Museum

St Peter's Church stands on The Bow where the 4 'cardinal' streets meet in the town centre.

Outside of the church stands this fine bronze of one of the County's favourite sons Poet William Barnes.

Further along South Street stands a none to handsome house where once the poet lived.

The Nave of St Peter's Church containing

this beautiful stone carved plaque of The Last Supper, and

these 2 ancient monuments

of Knights in armour.

What was formally the Judge Jeffreys Restaurant and before that one of the circuit courtrooms (part of what were known a the Bloody Assizes) presided over by George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, (15 May 1645 – 18 April 1689), known as The Hanging Judge.

Time for a couple of beers in The Royal Oak before continuing my tour onward to

the Thomas Hardy Statue at Top 'o' Town. To save confusion, this Thomas is the (Bard) Playwright and Poet, as we do claim another Hardy in Dorset, this being Thomas Masterman, Sea Captain to Admiral Lord Nelson.

A quick look back along South Street before catching the bus back to Weymouth

along the New Bye-Pass.