It's My Party - Lesley Gore

Another sparkling sun-shiny day, but another spent at home for me. With less than a week to go until the flight to Incheon, South Korea it suddenly dawned on me that there are things to do. Even with a minimum amount of baggage and no visa applications there are still a multitude of strings to pull together so that is all I have been doing today.

It was also a 'slack hammock' day as I didn't get up until 08:00, partly as the decision had already been made not to go out, but mostly down to the lateness of the hour getting to bed this morning, An evening spent with long-time friends of

Lesley, we paid a visit to the home of Colin and Pat Shaw with whom, who some readers will remember, we celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the back end of 2011. One of the most convivial evenings I have enjoyed in quiet a while

Pat & Lesley soon got the photographs out for an All Our Yesterdays session.

Unfortunately there was little time at the 50th to get to know one another but we certainly made up for that last night. Plenty to eat, more than enough to drink (for me at least), rib splitting laughter and just to put a dampener on things there were a couple of well known songs sung!

It's GREAT to have the medium of the Blog to once again THANK my New Found Friends and Lesley for the Very Best of Company and hopes of a rematch on my return. I have to confess to turning in at 03:00 after a little more music and wine at home.

As for today, plus possibly a couple more before my departure, I return to the archive for a few photographs, all having been taken in the South Korea during my last visit in 2007.

Rustic Bunting

Daurian Redstart

Great White Egret

Black-tailed Gull

Dusky Thrush

Jungle Crow

Red-flanked Bluetail

Stat Counter Detail

Num	Perc.	Country Name
	33396	75.31%	United Kingdom
	2791	6.29%	United States
	610	1.38%	Canada
	478	1.08%	Estonia
	468	1.06%	Germany
	424	0.96%	Australia
	396	0.89%	France
	314	0.71%	Italy
	303	0.68%	Netherlands
	293	0.66%	India
	292	0.66%	New Zealand
	276	0.62%	Spain
	263	0.59%	Brazil
	214	0.48%	Poland
	212	0.48%	Japan
	169	0.38%	Belgium
	165	0.37%	Sweden
	145	0.33%	Russian Federation
	107	0.24%	Ireland
	101	0.23%	Switzerland
	100	0.23%	Mexico
	98	0.22%	Taiwan
	90	0.20%	Korea, Republic Of

At last Switzerland have squeezed into the Three Figures Zone, particularly satisfying as they were the second to last country to join my Countries Visited List, along with Mexico also visited last year. While some advertising of the Blog was undertaken during those visits the same cannot be said for the next 2 likely candidates, However, with the Republic of Korea being the destination in a weeks time and Taiwan being highly considered as part of the tour, don't be surprised if they reach 3 figures sooner rather than later!

Stone the Crows - Maggie Bell & Co

A raucous hubbub could be heard even before turning the key in the front door this morning, and needing investigation. Another grey day of overcast sky, some signs of frost but little wind making for a reasonably comfortable temperature.

The noise was getting louder as I approached the cemetery where c31 Carrion Crows were congregated in a single tree. While not considered to be a gregarious species, it used to be a 'rule of thumb' that if there were one or 2 large black birds they would be Crows, otherwise they were Rooks. Now it is not unusual to see this number and more on Weymouth Beach while the Bill is now infested with them.

This is the largest count I have ever made here and feel sure if a wander had been taken to the other side of the graveyard

the count would have increased?

Not at all a pleasant sight to start the day, the passing of a Leviathan, as one of the ornamental Redwoods has been chopped down. The intent was to approach the Council workers to find out WHY, but that was unnecessary taking one look at the rotting heart of the trunk.

We are not short of large trees here, affording great cover and feed to a multitude of bird and insect life,

nonetheless it is sad to loose one.

My particular favourite is this tall Monkey Puzzle Tree despite it having been daubed in blue paint by some mindless vandal. All else amounted to an unknown number of Redwings which haven't been here for too long now - the first record for February.

Radipole too had little on offer except c3 Long-tailed Tits

always a delight to watch, along with a Reed Bunting, several vocal Water Rail & Cetti's Warbler, c8 Black-tailed Godwit plus singles of Mediterranean Gull and Grey Wagtail.

Walking the harbour-side to catch the Portland bus, this Little Grebe photographed from the Town Bridge was seen to be best way to 'summer plumage' but that was all.

It was distinctly cooler at the Bill as the full force of the north easterly breeze was felt, and this extremely long distance shot was more out of desperation than anything else.

The saving grace was once again the pair of Little Owls in the Observatory Quarry

where one obliged

with a half pirouette

showing it's spotted wings and back

while the other kept a much lower profile among the boulders and vegetation.

and finally, the date has been set for my departure which will be a week tomorrow Tuesday 21st February 2012. As previously mentioned the trip will be through a number of countries and hopefully will end in Sydney, Australia on a still undetermined date. I hope you all 'tune in' and THANKS!

Slàinte Mhath - Marillion

A bit of a grey start to the day, brightening as the day wore on, but it was mild enough and dry so a good day to return to Lyme Regis. There have been no reports of the Spotted Sandpiper in recent days, but thinking the town is under-watched as a birding site, that doesn't mean it is no longer in residence. Given the X53 passes close to my house and the journey is 'free' what better way to spend a winter Sunday?

From the lofty perch of the upper-deck dozens of Pheasants and Rabbits were seen, with one of the latter makings a substantial breakfast for a Common Buzzard.

Approaching the tiny village of Burton Bradstock to seaward a couple of Racing Gigs were spotted seemingly well out in Lyme Bay. At Lyme Regis it took no time at all to find a single

Purple Sandpiper, a good omen as the

Spotted Sandpiper was associating with them

on my last visit in January. Unfortunately, this was the only Wader found, but the was another chance to view the

Gig Rebel crewed by the Ladies Team and

Gig Revenge propelled by the Men's Team. What was amazing, they had arrived there about the same time as the bus which understandable had covered more distance and made a few stops, but nonetheless the rowers must have covered about 9 miles, seems they're shaping up quite nicely.

Quite a time was spent searching among the rocks and groynes of the eastern seashore, but it was now time to head in a different direction. A wander along the course of the River Lim in search of the Dipper (s) was also fruitless

but this Grey Wagtail reveled its presence on 'call' flying from the grass verge

to feed along the riverbed

where it looked far more at home.

A second bird was heard but not seen.

The luck had to come good sooner or later and did when this Great White Egret was found, easily identified as not being on the Year List thus far! However, there was some concern about the Goldfish which I can only think are being released by the locals.

The last bird to be seen here was totally expected but its location was a little unusual as Rock Pipits, in my experience, rarely move far from the seashore.

This one had obviously found rich pickings on the upper window ledge of the Lloyd's Bank Building in the heart of the town, pecking away at the moss growing there.

Time for a quick look at the Landslips above the rooftops before catching the return bus.

On that journey lots (probably as many as 300) Lapwing had started gathering in a number of fields we passed by,

with a Curlew also present in one of them.

Arriving at home this insect was awaiting me, which may well be a Cluster Fly but I'm well out of my depth with Diptera.

The Spotted Sandpiper is a very rare visitor to Dorset and the rest of the UK for that matter, so quiet surprising there should be 'another' at Mudeford near Christchurch the other side of the county. There was of course some thought that it may be the same bird having moved location, but that was disproved on closer inspection. The Lyme Regis individual (above) has the left toe of its left foot missing while, I am told, the Mudeford bird is intact.

and finally, it's pork fillet with roast vegetables for dinner, along with a bottle of 2009 Stellenbosch Shiraz, a very nice gift from the Secret Lemonade Drinker. Having removed the cork before leaving home this morning and half an hour by the heater (there will be those surprised to hear I have it switched on) just to attain room temperature, the bottle has already been broached by way of an aperitif. I can report a unctuous, fruity red with light tannins and taking the first sip raise the glass to Gary, Jane, Lizzy and Robert (now safely in the Big Apple)

Slainte Mhath