The Bagsy Blog

Friday, 15 June 2012

Night Owl - Gerry Rafferty

Having had a very good lunch along with a couple of glasses of wine with Lesley, John and Maggie yesterday I was just about set for the evening and posted the Blog. Then the phone rang with Bowie and Sheila advising me that Howard and Cheryl Lewis had arrived back from Croatia and were staying the night before flying home to Australia today. Did I want to share a farewell drink over a bit of supper, I arrived in minutes 10. It's always a good evening round at the Edward;s but last night just seemed to have that extra sparkle which turned into more than A drink!

Bowie sinks a can while Sheila, Howard and Cheryl slave over a hot stove.

Much of my day was spent in the lee of the Trinity House Obelisk at Portland Bill looking for 'seabirds' in what I had expected to be a Force 8 or so, but unfortunately that did not materialise. What was a 30 knot blow from the SS West under a mostly cloudy sky did produce a continuous stream of birds but not the much hoped for Great and Arctic Skuas.

NORTHERN GANNET was likely the most numerous

with good numbers of adult birds

and the occasional juvenile in much darker plumage.

A juvenile follows an adult up channel.

only c2 NORTHERN FULMAR were seen

with this one close enough to the rocks to allow at least a half decent picture.

GUILLEMOT were also numerous

while their close cousin the Razorbill remained in single figures.

Walking across the Common to the Bird Observatory, it was notice that a large amount of Fungi is now emerging and at the Obs Quarry

a LITTLE OWL was showing well. It would be safe to say that anyone would be pleased to see any Owl at any time but these birds, but while they are often seen in the quarry they usually remain fairly static.

Not so today, as on arrival this unusually 'dark' individual turned its head as if it had spot prey on the quarry floor. Hoping for a flight shot or two, it didn't take to the wing

but did start a routine of jigging around firstly from one foot to the other,

wing stretching

preening

while all the time keeping a watchful eye all around.

Still, only for a short time, it then continued the display

by drooping one of its wings

before taking up this most strange pose. A coffee and chat at the Obs before starting the tramp home where I came across this

WHITETHROAT at Culverwell

and a HOLLY bush sporting both red

and green berries at the same time and later

this splendid looking DOG ROSE.

Before closing, I should say a word about the Famous Spa Public House on Dorchester Road, Weymouth. We all opted for the Gammon, Fried Egg, Chips and Pineapple at £10 for 2 and doubt there is anywhere in the Borough that can equal this for value, including JD Wetherspoon. Coupled with competent and friendly service The Spa is a well kept house which I would recommend to anyone - see you there!

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Snap, Crackle & Bop - John Cooper Clarke

What's That Got To Do With Anything?

Nothing! The Headline simply relates to the disc I have in the machine at the moment (thoroughly recommended).

A nice change to find no rain beating against the windows aided by high winds, so a chance to spring out of bed early and follow some well beaten tracks. Its been a few days since there was a 'dawn chorus' so following the sounds I headed straight for the cemetery where,

with the aid of a little 'pishing' a whole bunch of GREAT TITS appeared from the shelter of the pines, along with several new born Goldcrests suggesting a successful breading season despite the atrocious weather.

STARLINGs too where gathering food for young, but ever onward to Radipole (short-cut you understand), immediately coming across

a couple of stands of BEE ORCHID - how delicately beautiful can it get?

In addition CETTI'S WARBLERs were as vocal and visible as I've ever seen them.

In just a 10 minute walk across the Theme Park no fewer than 9 distinct and separate birds showed themselves on prominent perches - don't they know it's not April?

At the bridge a family of COOT were feeding on the recently watered grass, but now time to move on to Ferry Bridge. Expecting little, and finding it as far as Terns were concerned with a total absence, the distant medium size Wader on the low tide line was worth investigation.

A COMMON REDSHANK? not a bad record considering the time of year

and retaining much of that lovely 'summer plumage', I was already content, but there was more.

A KNOT was totally unexpected, but nonetheless there.

They cavorted together for some long time

although not as close as I would have liked (where have we heard that before?)

but joined by a 'summer plumage' DUNLIN made for a bonny picture.

A small number of ROOKs have been here for a number of years now, so no surprise but always good to record on Portland.

A distant OYSTERCATCHER was also expected

and given the small number of Butterflies around at the moment, this COMMON BLUE was a first of the year for me!

The 'pink carpet' of Thrift has now gone over for another year, but adequately replaced by a shock of yellow BIRD's-FOOT TREFOIL,

over which a male KESTREL was successfully hunting.

Nearing the Sailing Academy again, there is always time to linger and take in the view at the north end of Portland, including the Arch Entrance to the Verne Prison.

Here, LINNETs were feeding along with

ROCK PIPIT while this

MEADOW PIPIT must have thought it had escaped the lens, you'll have to be quicker than that son!

Time to take a look at the Research Vessel CEFAS ENDEAVOUR from various angles, secured at Queen's Pier - to find out more visit http://cefas.defra.gov.uk/about-us/facilities/research-vessel.aspx

and to view the Tanker IERAX entering Portland Harbour (unusually) via the North Ship Channel!

Otherwise, there was only a CARRION CROW at Portland Castle to observe, but to watch them deftly

remove the last remains of a Slipper Limpet from its shell is a technique to behold. It was now time for a bite to eat and a pre-arranged lunch

at The Famous Old Spa on Dorchester Road where I met up with my friend Lesley along with John Gifford and his sister Maggie. Good to see these people again after my absence and an extended thanks the the young man who obliged by taking the photograph - I feel sure you will have tuned in!

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Picture of You - Joe Brown & the Bruvvers

Much, much more of the wet stuff this morning confined me to barracks once again, the second day on the trot, and I feel the onset of 'cabin fever' creeping on already. However, it gives a chance to catch up on the more mundane such as editing 7,000+ photographs that still lay ideal in the Trip Photo File. So again I am relying sole on Marc Bulte to pull me out of the mire and do hope you enjoy this selection from his catalogue.