Introducing the Band - Suede

There was a Rock 'n' Roll treat in store for us all last night, but before setting off there was another as we sat and watched the local news channel. My next 'port of call' will be to visit the family Dampney at Parley Court, Christchurch which I am looking forward to with great delight.

Something of a surprise then when family member Zara appeared before us on the TV screen being interviewed

during a return visit to her first school near Bournemouth, Dorset. Zara is one half the Women's Olympic Beach Volleyball Team, and as I well know totally committed to the challenge that will soon be upon her. We all wish you and team mate Shauna Mullin the very best for a Golden Future! By 20:00 we had all mustered at the

 

Albert Road, Southsea a venue we are all most familiar with. Over the years we have seen many bands here including Wishbone Ash, Chicken Shack, Steve Hackett et al while our last visit together (some years ago now) was to witness the electrifying King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.

This was also the first time I have seen the family in its entirety for long enough including Paul, Tess, Jenny, Emma along with son and drummer Noel who tonight was to be the star of the show.

Within, the scene was set for a Battle of the Bands

while the girls waited in anxious anticipation for the gig to start and for me to get the drinks in. The latter could be a little late in arriving!

First up, the embryonic Escape the Race

with an adoring audience of Mum, Dad, Sisters and 'Uncle' Bagsy, are

Josh Britcher Lead Guitar,

composer, Guitar and Vocals Joe Miller,

 

on Bass Guitar Daniel Parham and the lad himself

Noel Lifton on drums.

Under the close scrutiny of the adjudicators

and audience, all of whom would had a vote, the band launched into a seven song set of original material all penned by 'front man' Joe

and careful balance from the Mixing Desk.

List of Saints were next up, but had much to follow,

while the Lifton's enjoyed a celebratory drink,

then joined by moi!

We left the 'boys in the band' to continue enjoying their evening

as the bands played on!

I arrived at Parley Court little more than an hour ago, and already slaving over a 'hot laptop, hoping for another adventure to unfold tomorrow either around the farm or elsewhere.

Those Were the Days - Mary Hopkin

An excellent start to the day as, after an absence of several months, we welcome The Falkland Islands back to the readership fold. On the strength of this, here are a couple of images from my one and only visit.

 

 PORT STANLEY

 

STEAMER DUCK (male).

STEAMER DUCK (female)

KELP GEESE (female and male)

It would be great if the reader could pass the Link around the Islands.

It has become something of a tradition during a visit to the Lifton's to have a mini bird-race, each of us trying to predict the number of species that may be recorded during a day out. With the threat of rain (again), blustery conditions and the time of year the tally was never going to be high but there was at least the chance of one rarity to spur us on. Tess decided upon 44, Paul 59 while I opted for 52 and the mutual agreement was to head straight for the potential goodie last seen at

 Not the only rare bird to be found here in recent months,

 

this tract of reed bed had held a Paddyfield Warbler for quite some time. Today it was hopefully the turn of Glossy Ibis, but as the search began so did the rain

as we sought shelter under the eves of the quaint little Visitor's Centre. Only moments later I clocked, at a distance, what at first appeared to be a Cormorant that very quickly turned into the

 

GLOSSY IBIS at altitude.

Too far away for a photo, we have had to rely on the archive for illustration.

 

As the rain got heavier we made a dash for the car and a quick glimpse at this beautiful little cottage, before heading once again to Pagham Nature Reserve to capitalise on species we had seen previously. All were still available including

 

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

COMMON SANDPIPER, Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet and Dunlin which had now been joined by a couple of

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER a 'year tick' for me! Ivy Lakes, Sidlesham Quay, Thorney Island and a return to

CHURCH NORTON strictly for this picture. No sign of the Osprey, which back at home we learnt had been seen by others during the day, so as the day was now getting long we decided on an aimless wander around looking at

more Cottages,

what might be a 'spotless' Fly Agaric or a 'pink tinged' other Fungi along with

this KESTREL perched on a Grey Heron. With 61 species in the bag Paul returned triumphant, just 2 short of the total, but we had all had a great day.

This evening we have tickets for a Rock 'n' Roll 'bash'  in Southsea, an old stomping ground of mine, which I am particularly looking forward to. In the 1960's I 'cut my teeth' on The Blues in this same area at the now defunct Kimbles Blues Club, Osbourne Road. From there I still hold fond memories of The Graham Bond Organisation (c Ginger Baker, Dick Heckstall Smith, Jack Bruce and John McLaughlin), John Mayall's Bluesbreakers who I first saw post Clapton, as Peter Green filled the gap for The Hard Road LP, and even The Rolling Stones early '67 when promoting their Between the Buttons album. Those were the days!

Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind

After an uneventful two and a quarter hours on the train I arrived at Havant in Hampshire to be met by my dear friend Tess Lifton. A short drive to her and Paul's home in Emsworth where after a light lunch there was a choice of things to do.

It was a case of either staying at home and help my Winger grass cutting, digging, hedge trimming and generally knocking my pan in or

accompanying Tess with her monthly 'Butterfly Survey' wandering the West Sussex countryside in about the best sunshine we have seen in weeks. It was a 'close call' but I eventually opted for the later and headed off with her to Church Norton. In the field for about 2 hours there were few to be seen, but most prolific at

c10 were GATEKEEPER followed by Meadow Brown and Red Admiral.

Large and Small White were both in evidence as were a couple of

RINGLET

a single HOLLY BLUE,

a couple of SMALL SKIPPERs and on the Moth front Silver Y along with The Magpie. With the designated part of the tetrad covered we decided to try for a few birds so headed for

There we found a small flock of Black-tailed Godwit, c5 Common Sandpiper, loads of Lapwing, Redshank and Dunlin

along with c5 Avocet.

During the walk back to Church Norton there were masses of FOXGLOVEs with good numbers of Curlew, c2 Whimbrel and Oystercatchers. The plan tomorrow is to undertake a mini bird race, so here's hoping the weather is as good or better than today.