Anyone For Tennis - Cream

Firstly today I can bring what is regarded as 'sensational; news from the Buchan Alpha Floating Oil Production Platform stationed 120 miles north east of Aberdeen, Scotland in the North Sea. The dates, during May, are unclear but reports from my ex-colleague and birding friend Dave Penney tell of day one when he paid his morning visit to the upper-deck to find what would be likely contender for 'Bird of the Decade'

this ICTERINE WARBLER. Not only an addition to the Buchan List but also new to the North Sea Bird Club List. Dave told me of his adulation and that his find may well of expired his luck for the rest of the year?

Not quite, as next morning he woke to find this

 RED-BACKED SHRIKE flitting around the pipework.

I did find one myself back in August '96 which was my only record - another rare bird out there. What happened on the third day was revealed by Jim the Medic via e-mail. He too had caught the bug (birding) and on his way to the deli-deck he called in to see Dave to find out what was about. Not a lot Dave replied and on leaving Jim quipped "OK, I'll go and find a Golden Oriole"!

By a billion to one chance he did just that finding this GOLDEN ORIOLE perched on a box-girder. In my view if your going to score a 'hat trick' this is the way to do it, and I send my hearty congratulations to both of them.

For me, the day started with something far less exotic but arguably equally rewarding as I visited the Chicken Coup to release the birds to the pen.

 After that it was a bit of 'bird nesting', and 10 minutes later these 2 beauties were sizzling in a pan.

Equestrian pursuits play a huge part in the day to day business at Parley Court, but for the Lady of the House, Janet (right) and riding companion Jen, they were already saddled up and ready to hit the trail for their own pleasure.

For me, after the E's for B, it was another stroll along the picturesque STOUR where the riverside meadows were alive with

BANDED DEMOISELLES, this one a male.

By no means an authority on the subject, I'll stick my neck out and describe this as a female of the above. The Field Guide points to greenish wings plus the tiny white patch at the end of the fore wing (pseudo pterostigma) as defining marks?

Recently emerged BANDED DEMOISELLE. Plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers along this stretch again this morning, but thus far none surrendering to the lens. Time for a stop at Tudor Cottage and a cup of coffee with Mrs Dampney Snr, to exchange tails of the world at large, before heading for the

PARLEY LAKES looking splendid in the early morning sunshine.

Angling here is permitted to the Ringwood Club only with the only fisherman on site today having caught 3 x Crusian Carp plus a Common Carp, not a bad haul for the first hour. Unfortunately (for me), all had been returned to the lake immediately not allowing me a first sight of the former, or a photograph of either.

A little CLAUDE MONET and a lone

male MALLARD to end the visit as I wandered off towards the heath at the north end of the property.

No Dartford Warblers unfortunately, but there was this single YELLOW SHELL MOTH

along with about half a dozen COMMON HEATH MOTHs

and an array of FOXGLOVEs, so all was not in vain. As usual there were plenty of common birds on the way back, including

a coy ROBIN, one of only 2 seen today,

HOUSE MARTINs continuing to capitalise on the muddy conditions around the wash down area in the stables yard,

Mummy BLACKBIRD feeding young

along with a SWALLOW first posing then building

and a fat, juicy FLY that may supplement one of their diets later in the day?

 My arrival back at Harbins, at precisely 'PIMMS o' CLOCK', coincided with a GREEN WOODPECKER feeding from the garden path and the men of the house,

father Hugh (left) and son and heir Daryl all square at 1 set each.

This blistering 'ace' from Daz was probably the shot of the game but no match for

Hugh who walked away Victor Ludorum 6-2, 4-6, 6-love! Over to you Mister (Barbecue) Starter.

Fire Brigade - The Move

Banksy and Bagsy 

Seems we beat the press to finding the latest Banksy offering which appeared in Lyme Regis, Dorset early February and through these pages as described in this e-mail.

Hi Bagsy,

Highlighted by yourself back on Sunday 12th February 2012 - it has now made the BBC news.

as sent to me by
Dave McCune (aka fishydave1)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18252064

After a terrific sleep, I woke at 04:30 and didn't even have to leave the comfort of one of my favourite beds to get the next Year Tick. There was a serious 'dawn chorus' already underway but intermittently and above all others a CUCKOO was hard at it trying to attract a partner.

When at Parley Court I do like a drive down to LONGHAM LAKES which these days feature regularly and often as part of the Dorset Birding Scene.

Details of the 'man-made' watercourse.

Looking from the main entrance more or less North

and more or less South.

Lots of PIED WAGTAIL were showing this morning, as were

REED BUNTING (male) mostly feeding young. However, one was not enjoying quite good fortune

 

as I caught some movement from within the netting covering these 'floating islands' secured to the jetty.

A female REED BUNTING had seemingly found a ready supply of food for her chicks

but had not considered the way OUT!

Obviously distressed, having dropped a beak full of groceries, it was time for the Emergency Services to step in. Dismissing the No Entry sign and having to resort to a little damage to the net the hapless bird was finally freed.

No more than 100 paces from there, this juvenile COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY seemed to have opted for an early bath, and what might have been certain death, if once again the Rescue Services were not at hand.

Plucking a long Sedge from the bank, I was able to coax it to climb aboard and it was saved, left to dry off in the warming sun! A few common waterbirds were also seen including

COOT,

COMMON TERN,

BLACK-HEADED GULL,

a pair of frisky

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

and a proud parent CANADA GOOSE with Goslings (like 'em or not).

RYANAIR were keeping the staff at Bournemouth International Airport busy,

while all else on the ground were good numbers of Adult Common Blue Damselflies and

the shallows around the lake alive with young Fish.
Also added to the Year List today were SEDGE WARBLER, REED WARBLER, WILLOW WARBLER and GARDEN WARBLER.

Oh To Be In England Now That Spring Is Here

I know during my 100 days out of the UK there has been an awful lot of controversy reference the UK Border Agency, some entering the country having to queue for 2 to 4 hours to get a stamp in the passport or others to simply re-gain entry. 

Regular readers will remember the transit from Vientiane, Laos to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia then onward to Perth on a series of 4 flight 2 of which were aboard Malaysian Airways. So impressed was I on those final 2 legs with the in-flight service that I promised to use that airline again wherever possible. The 5.5 hour flight Perth to KL was the same, without delay, a good drink, tasty food and 4 large packets of peanuts, a gift from cabin staff, to take with me. It's 13 hours 10 minutes from there to London Heathrow during which time there was exactly the same impressive service and again no delays. In fact 30 minutes before landing the Captain announce that due to a strong tail-wind we would land at Terminal 4 just under an hour early, touch down timed at 05:11 BST. One of the benefits of travelling light with 'hand baggage' only is there is no wait at the carousel and a lesson I learnt back in the 60's when the British Overseas Air Corporation (BOAC) were still in operation. Flying some of the earliest jet airliners, the company had erected a huge hording in the middle of Piccadilly Circus sporting a picture of a shinning BOAC Comet, cutting through a clear blue sky, with the words "Breakfast in London, Dinner in New York". Some wag had written in large letters below all of this "Baggage in Barbados", I have only consigned my kit to the hold twice since, both time under sufferance. The wheels touch the tarmac at precisely 05:11 and at exactly 05:25, having cleared Customs and Border Control plus purchasing a ticket from a machine (not a thing I usually do well), boarded the Underground Train for Central London which departed 2 minutes later right on schedule.

As Hugh and I drove back toward Dorset, there was chance to reflect that my GB Year List has remained at 202 since adding Glossy Ibis at Radipole on 15th February just before leaving home. During the journey south there was sure to be at least one addition, but that simply didn't happen. Hugh had briefed me en-route on the breeding activity on the farm, while on arrival Janet was quick to show me the nests of both Kestrel and Great Spotted Woodpecker, rest would have to come later, for now it was game on!

 COMMON KESTREL

GREY HERON on the River Stour where I would walk the full 'beat' which flows along the eastern perimeter of the property.

adult MUTE SWAN

 

 ROE DEER

6 LAPWING were seen occupying one of a number of broad strips of Maze Stubble left deliberately to attract 'ground nesting birds', with 2 'sitting' and another feigning injury (Plover tactic for distracting predators) so good signs that breeding is taking place????

 7-SPOTTED LADYBIRD

 A PHEASANT egg looking every bit Crow-pecked?

 HERRING GULL

COMMON WHITETHROAT a first Year Tick.

COMMON KESTREL hunting and catching a small Mammal, feeding a brood at a second nest site.

COLLARED DOVE

SWALLOW nesting at the traditional site, the car garage.

HOUSE MARTIN

collecting mud, sticks and some straw from around the Equestrian Centre

to continue building under the eves of the Manor House.

This area is benefiting a number of species, not least SONG THRUSH

which were c8 strong when I arrived.

I monitored this one, as the nearest, to see it collect a large number of mainly Earth Worms

which eventually it dropped to the ground, picked up one by one and swallowed before presumably transporting to the nest.

Lots and lots of GREENFICH, a good sign given the disease some have suffered.

GREY HERON as usual numerous, and at coffee time the Mountain came to Mohamed as

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER paid one of frequent visits to the nut feeder. COMMON SWIFT was also added to the list.

Dinner and Wine followed simultaneously, and bed shortly after  

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz