Africa V - Toto V

The cider was prelude to the Chinese Nosh which was rapidly followed by a gin & tonic or two, with the evening ending amid clinking glasses of Black Russians. My final dinner before departure with Bowie and Sheila which was adequately accompanied by Frankie Valley, Dusty Springfield, Joe Bonamassa and David Bowie - Thank You both! I have yet another at 16:00, hence the early post, but looks every bit like I'll be in for a soaking en route, the rain hasn't stopped all day, so it's reliant on Africa again.

HADADA IBIS

ORANGE-BREASTED SUNBIRD

male PINTAILED WHYDAH

female PINTAILED WHYDAH what a difference between the sexes?

RED-KNOBBED COOT

SACRED IBIS

THREE-BANDED PLOVER

WHITE-BROWED SCRUB-ROBIN

WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK

YELLOW-BILLED DUCK

A Little Something for Lovers of the Late, Great Jimi Hendrix 
Thanks go to Andy Lindsay and Paul Harris for keeping me informed.

When Will I See You Again - Three Degrees

With days before my next trip getting fewer and given the weather forecast for tomorrow, today was thought ideal for paying my final visit to Portland Bill until after my return. Gone were the rain and gale force winds of yesterday so altogether a very pleasant stroll first down to

PULPIT ROCK, where just a couple of Pied Wagtails, Cormorants and Gulls were seen before continuing

on to the ACTIVE LIGHTHOUSE and Bill Point.

There I found c5 TURNSTONE

and a few ROCK PIPITs

along with a preening

PURPLE SANDPIPER

Not the first of what could be an 'over-wintering' bird,

but seemingly the first photograph of one at this end of the year.

PURPLE SANDPIPER with TURNSTONE

PURPLE SANDPIPER

Continuing along the EAST CLIFF there was little other bird-life to add, but diverting across the Common there came the 'wispy trill' of what was recognised as that of a

SERIN the smallest of the European Finches.

 I didn't clap eyes on this bird, nor did I remember there had been one caught at the Bird Observatory on the 18th of this month (told you John I should have had a little more water with that Jamison's) so quite likely that individual is hanging around?

All Serin photographs are, with kind permission, © Martin Cade who tells me that November is a favoured month for such visits.

An occasional visitor to our shores, the Serin is more at home Green = all year round, Orange = summer and Blue = winter.

Heading towards the LOWER LIGHT which is the Portland Bird Observatory there was time to snap some of the local flock of

HOUSE SPARROWs

pus a couple of HERRING GULLs

stamping their feet in the Hut Field in an attempt to attract invertebrates to the surface as a food source.

The OBS QUARRY produced naught but a single Dunnock, but it was now time to see who was at the Obs. Only 5 people there, one I didn't know but otherwise Martin the Warden, John Lucas, Hugo Wood-Homer along with Alison the Cleaner. Very nice to see each and wish an au revoir!

On the walk back along Bill Road there was a low flying, juvenile HERRING GULL and a Water Rail squealing from the depths of the Culverwell bushes, otherwise a coffee with Secret, Jane and Robert (on week-end leave from university) White along with an added bonus of fellow shipmate Martin (Mego) Powell. It's been a good day!

Africa IV - Toto IV

Soon to be departing and by definition some socialising to be done, I didn't baulk at the fact that there was a chance to meet John Gifford and his sister Maggie for a pint at lunch time at the Coach & Horses in Winterbourne Abbas. Walking to town to get the bus, I was amazed at the number of small birds in attendance given the overnight 'storm force' wind and torrential rain, as even the humans were waterlogged!

Goldcrests still abound in the cemetery while on Pottery Lane a pair of STONECHAT, absent hereabouts for a couple of ;years now, were showing well along with a good number of Log-tailed Tits.

A close encounter with a CORMORANT at the Westham Bridge sluices

made for good copy before boarding the bus for Broadwey.

There I met Leslie and John Gifford then headed off to meet his sister at the afore mentioned pub. Before galloping off on the 4th African visit, I can recommend to the readership this pub where service is paramount, beverages are 'kept' at their very best and the food is gastronomic - pay a visit soon!

"I bless the rains down in AFRICA"

GREY-HEADED BUSH-SHRIKE

JACKASS PENGUIN

NORTHERN BLACK KORAN

adult OSTRICH

juvenile OSTRICH

RED-BILLED TEAL (with Black-winged Stilt)

SPECKLED PIGEON

WATER DIKKOP

adult HARTLAUB'S GULL

second winter HARTLAUB'S GULL

There you are John, posted before 18:00 as predicted - see you soon!