Swan Song - Led Zeppelin

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If any of you have E-mailed me since 14 October 2011, this is the reason that I have not replied.
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Apologies to the Teifi Ringing Group who I refered to a the Pembroke Ringing Group yesterday this is http://www.teifimarshbirds.blogspot.com/
their Link.

Long before daylight the storm clouds were gathering, indicated by their movement across a rapidly waning moon, and a near gale force wind could also be estimated. Rain looked inevitable as I took a wander around the cemetery noting the number of Blue & Great Tits that have now arrived joining an already healthy population of Chaffinch and Goldcrest.

Robins are also well represented, and seeing this one surrounded by Holly Berries I almost burst into a chorus of We Wish You A Merry Chr...... must be time to book a long holiday!

Over the road at Radipole, this low flying Mute Swan nearly knocked my hat off,

but felt quite chuffed that I got the camera up in time. Once again it was mostly about Waterfowl, but single Reed Bunting and Sparrowhawk did put in brief appearances as did Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler.

Shelduck have now started to return after a short absence,

as male Teal moult into their fine and bright winter plumage.

Long-tailed Tits are also forming feeding flocks, at least 3 separate ones of these on the reserve this morning,

while yesterday we had Blue Tit in the hand, today we had one in 'the bush'!

These 3 Carrion Crows were capitalising on last nights 'litter louts' discarded take away rubbish,

as a passing Great Crested Grebe was, as ever, able to find its own natural food. Throughout the water level is still low and 8 Black-tailed Godwit continue to take advantage, as 3 Mediterranean Gulls, including one 'ringed' individual, were content to rest on the waterside rails.

The Hooded Merganser is also still present, today down by Westham Bridge, and 4 Siskins flew over before I caught the bus to Portland.

Very quiet on the Island today, although both Song Thrush (my first for quite a while) and Blackcap entered the log almost immediately, as this 'one legged' Jackdaw also stopped to pose. Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails are still very much in evidence as were 2 of the resident Common Buzzards,

but all else was this lovely, Ricky Lambert caught Feathered Thorn Moth.

Departing via the Privet Hedge path there was time for a shot of the notorious Portland Race at almost high tide.

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	18007	72.03%	United Kingdom
	1799	7.20%	United States
	558	2.23%	Taiwan
	479	1.92%	Canada
	407	1.63%	Netherlands
	314	1.26%	Estonia
	306	1.22%	Australia
	277	1.11%	Germany
	229	0.92%	France
	210	0.84%	New Zealand
	141	0.56%	Brazil
	126	0.50%	Italy
	123	0.49%	Japan
	115	0.46%	Spain
	107	0.43%	India
	104	0.42%	Belgium
	68	0.27%	Sweden

and finally, it is noteworthy that Belgium have become the 16th country to reach a 3 figure total on the Stat Counter. Sweden are some way behind but may reach there soon.

The best way would be to send the Blog Link to all your friends - here's hoping!

The Eagle Hasn't Landed - Or Has It?

NOTICE TO ALL READERS

My Waitrose E-mail account has now been closed and my new address can be found by clicking 'About Me' on 'This Page', then go to 'View My Complete Profile', or
captbagsy@btinternet.com
If any of you have E-mailed me since 14 October 2011, this is the reason that I have not replied.
THANK YOU

A few threatening looking clouds about first thing, which fortunately came to nought but the wind continues brisk with prolonged periods of sunshine, so quite a good day weather wise. With a Yellow-browed Warbler having been seen at Avalanche Road yesterday, it was thought best to head straight there but despite a thorough search it was not found.

Plenty of movement overhead again today with an unknown number of Siskins, lots of Alba Wagtails, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 13 Chiffchaff, 3 Stonechats plus a single Grey Wagtail at Barleycrates Lane alone.

Further on, at the bottom of Culverwell, the Welsh contingent of the Pembroke Ringing Group were hard at work catching good numbers of routine species but nothing of great note. Wendy, Richard & Dawn are all English despite their collective name, and are here just over the week-end helping with 'ringing' duties.

They were kind enough to let me photograph some of the catch, which was just as well considering what else was on offer.

This Blue Tit was first out of the bag and I don't know if anyone had mentioned about biting the hand that catches you!

Nonetheless, a most handsome bird easily dismissed.

Next came a Dunnock followed in quick time

by one of the most stunning little gems on the list, a Goldfinch. This I was told is a male as the red on its face extends slightly behind the eye.

This too was happy to peck its captor, but soon released back to the wild.

Otherwise, it was left to Duncan Walbridge to provide the only scarce species of my day, a Flame Brocade caught in his garden at Weston.

The PS today involves a Short-toed Eagle, reported from the River Exe in Devon. As we go to press an Eagle Species has just been reported as flying off of Portland towards Weymouth, there are now a few of us with noses pressed against bedroom windows in hope!

Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

Only a short time after first light Weymouth was shrouded by a halo of sunshine from a cloudless sky with a gentle breeze. Having encountered a few Goldcrest, Blackbirds and Chaffinch in the cemetery, plus 13 Black-tailed Godwit at Radipole I walked the Inner Harbour just in time to see the fleet of charter angling boats putting to sea. Pictured left is 'Wild Frontier II' skippered by Clem Carter, while to the right is 'Flamer IV' with Colin Penny in command, both good friends of mine.

While none of these vessels are big enough to need the Town Bridge to be raised, there were a number of tall masted yachts waiting to come in as the small armada continued to leave. It being high tide at this time of day, there was little point stopping at Ferry Bridge

so I continued on to Barley Crates Lane where a single Crossbill was heard flying over and 15 Siskins were seen. In addition there were a few Swallows, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits but most numerous were Red Admiral Butterflies which numbered 27 before reaching Reap Lane.

There, this Kestrel obligingly hovered directly in front of me while in pursuit of a meal but with little else I hurried on to the Top Fields.

Only one Wheatear was seen this morning but the size of the

local 'murder' of Carrion Crows seems to grow daily. These 2 are perched on all that remains of an old barn. Before reaching the Portland Bird Observatory there were also a small number of Robins and a single Small Copper Butterfly on the wing,

while soon after arrival the Warden plucked this 'first winter' male Blackbird from one of the mist nets. As others started arriving, there were reports that the too long absent

Little Owl was showing well in the nearby quarry. Like most birders, I get completely overtaken by the sight of any

Owl, so how lucky was it that after taking these shots I turned around to see Bob Ford directing me to a Short-eared Owl quartering the fields opposite. It was turning into a decent day despite the clouds now gathering and probably the rarest bird thus far, a Ring Ouzel, falling prey to a Sparrowhawk, so I continued on to Ferry Bridge via a lift from my mate Ian Dodd.

Already the water had dropped right back, but there were a good number of Gulls at the low tide line, well worth investigating, but not before snapping this Common Starling, don't let anyone tell you they are an 'ugly' bird.

As well as about 50 each of both Dunlin and Ringed Plover, there were singles of Turnstone and Arctic Tern, and there were a total of 79 Mediterranean Gulls. Enough for one day, I boarded the bus home which coincided with the arrival of a text from the afore mentioned Bob Ford alerting me to a Honey Buzzard now flying over the exact spot I had left just 10 minutes ago. No good getting dejected over spilt milk, I continued into Weymouth only to see, presumable, another Honey Buzzard flying very high overhead. It continued flying towards Portland Harbour before disappearing behind the houses, this bringing my UK species total to 258 for the year.

Coincidentally, the Town Bridge was open again as I reached the final leg of my journey home, so here it is from a different angle, bringing the whole town to a standstill.