Dicky Bird Hop - Gracie Fields

After a sumptuous dinner of braised Pheasant followed by plum crumble and 'home made' custard we watched a none too convincing performance by the Team GB Olympic Football Team, who lost 0 - 2 against Brazil. With Hugh and Janet safely tucked in I opted for a night cap before bed

only to find they had laid on a fireworks display for me. They were in fact the start of a season of pyrotechnics, much the same as Weymouth on a Monday evening, in Bournemouth, a great finale to another good day.Spoilt for choice this morning, I could either have gone bombing around the south of England with Hugh (on business) or on my usual wander around the farm to check out the bird life, I went for the latter.

It will come as no great surprise to regular readers to know just how much I love being at

farmhouse, a little bit of paradise as far as I'm concerned. The greatest thrill today were the numbers of 'young birds' that have survived the continuous heavy rainfall over the past few weeks and I did set out with the intention of seeing how many species could be captured on camera. 

Oh, the chirruping of the birdies on the Sycamore tree. 

They're lucky to be so happy and free.

 I know that the chirruping sounds a little different to me.

 I hear them saying early ev'ry morn, "Get up! Get up! Get up!"

 

 

What better place to start than around the multitude of bird feeders, where it became immediately apparent how successful the humble, yet ubiquitous, HOUSE SPARROW has been.

 

GOLDFINCH too continue to feed young, and themselves, both in the nest and fledged juveniles,

while the CHAFFINCH on the face of it seem to have fared less well, this was the only one seen all day!

COLLARED DOVE are still all over the place despite not having recorded any juveniles,

while this lone GREAT TIT brought extra interest in that it was a 'ringed' bird.

WOOD PIGEON also feed here with probably 100's more throughout the property. From there it was always going to be worth a look at Parley Pond and the much smaller subsidiary pool where I immediately found a Sedge Warbler feeding young - Yes a bit too quick for me!

No young COOT were found,

unlike MOORHEN which also seem to have had a prolific season,

 

along with Mister and

Mrs MUTE SWAN

which have brought off c5 CYGNETs.

 

Along the banks of the RIVER STOUR Grey Heron, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warbler were all in good voice but no sign of a Kingfisher likely washed out by the flood that almost reached the bungalow.

MALLARD seem to have done well too judging by the number of broods still tended by parent birds,

and CORMORANTs thrive on both pond and river without there being a breeding site hereabouts. While other Insect numbers remained low (only c2 Butterfly species recorded Small White and Meadow Brown)

BANDED DOMICILE male and

BANDED DEMOISELLE female were hugging the river bank in almost plague proportions - hundreds.

 

 The Equestrian Centre was the starting point for an almost continuous chatter throughout the rest of the walk of both GREENFINCH and

STARLING even though each species has taken a serious tumble in numbers nationally in recent years.

Ever present PIED WAGTAIL also seem to have dodged the soggy conditions and bred well,

while the second most numerous species on the property BARN SWALLOW

occupy just about every nook in all of the dozens of stables and other outbuildings.

Young and adults alike cling to power cables and other perches. as do

their 'close cousins' the HOUSE MARTIN albeit in fewer numbers.

These nifty little Hirundines have found perfect nest sites under the eves of the Manor House where success is again very much in evidence.

Maybe not all together a bad thing, MAGPIE numbers seem to be diminished with only c3 seen all day, this being the nearest to the camera.

Several ROBINs were heard but this juvenile, moulting into a red breast, was the only one seen

and the usually numerous BLUE TIT were also thin on the ground.

BLACKBIRD were plentiful but totally unobliging, ans again surprisingly only

c2 PHEASANT were seen. This poor showing was more than made up for by the appearance of a covey of 8 to 10 Red-legged Partridge, these days an uncommon species on the farm. The 'highlight' for me as I have never recorded one during the month of July anywhere in Dorset.

On the way back to base and in quick succession an obliging and

probably 'cream crackered' - yawwwwwn - BARN SWALLOW was followed by distant

KESTREL,

COMMON BUZZARD,

CARRION CROW and a

young PIED WAGTAIL.

Finishing where I had started, there was a fine looking

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was swinging on the nut feeder, an ideal end to a worthwhile day.

 26 species in total were photographed!

The chirruping of the birdies on the Sycamore tree.
It's lovely to see them having a spree.
A cheeky one this morning popped up on the sill and said.
(Whistle) "Get out of bed!"

and finally, we extend an apology to Ms Mullins of Team GB Women's Beach Volleyball Pairs for yesterday's 'typo'. Her name, as I guess most of you know, is Shauna and not 'Sauna' although with the prospect of a 'Gold Medal' looming on the horizon in the near future she would be forgiven for getting a little steamed up.

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!