And Where The Raven Flies There's Jeopardy - Genesis

My final day in the Portland/Weymouth area was given over totally to birding, starting with a wander along Barleycrates Lane where little more than good numbers of jeopardy

juvenile STARLING,

LINNET

and MEADOW PIPIT

were in evidence. The continued walk to the Bill and later the Observatory was blessed with nothing more than equally common fare so it was a hasty retreat along Bill Road to meet up with Secret at Sweethill.

A mob of c4 (one was an 'outrider')

RAVEN

added a little distraction, but the highlight of the day arrived in
human form.
 
ALWAYS a joy to meet up with, occasional visitors to the Obs,
DEBORAH TESSIER and SIMON EARWICKER.
First stop with Secret was
 

where first on view was

an adult LITTLE GREBE, first in Dorset this year,

feeding c4 young.

This COAL TIT almost came through the hide viewing port

as the Grebes also got a little closer.

We couldn't make out for sure what was being caught but they
looked like small worms?

Onward to Wareham Heath

where at one location we counted no fewer than 8
DARTFORD WARBLER
Arriving back on Portland were caught sight of a mutual
Shipmate and stopped for a yarn.

The Secret Lemonade Drinker with Kern (The Colonel) Forden.
 

Kern

was keen to show us a new acquisition, a gift from a grateful customer,

a copy in Portland Stone of the album cover
The Division Bell - Pink Floyd.

Before departing this
MERLIN HELICOPTER
hovered directly above us before landing at New Ground

a public view point overlooking Portland Harbour and Chesil Beach.
It took off moments later and disappeared from view.
Finally, a word about

where I have been delighted to stay over the past 5 days.

The address is Weston Street, Portland which is centrally placed on Top Hill affording good access to all locations on the Island. Proprietors Ken and Christine Hind run an excellent house which qualifies as the cleanest and best maintained hostelry I have ever had the pleasure of staying in. Add to that their warm, helpful and friendly service and a hearty (multi choice) breakfast, I doubt you could do any better if you are planning a stay hereabouts.

My THANKS go to the family who
added so much to my all too short stay!

An Open Mind For A Different View - Metallica

The birding situation on Portland remains mostly bleak, but one thing about this Island there is always an alternative of interest. More or less a continuation of yesterday's post aimless wandering was thought the best option.

play the major roll here with stone being shipped to many parts of the world, while 'at home' features in many of our historic buildings such as King's College Chapel, York Minster, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral and locally

the uniquely designed
St George's Church (after St Paul's Cathedral).

A redundant quarry at Pennsylvania.

Stone Crushing for hardcore.

I often wondered why these pillars had been left lying and unused.

Seens they were destined for the construction of a Bank in London, and even this example facard had been built close by to give an idea of the finished product. The project is said to have come to grief and this structure is named ELAND HOUSE. The plaque, top left corner, is inscribed ARMOUR and UNION HOUSE.

 
Most stone extraction these days goes on at this site

Great craters in the surface which when redundant are sometimes infilled or given over to nature. Many of the latter are scattered around the Island and support a fantastic array of wildlife.

Plant from the Past.

Looking south to Portland Bill Lighthouse.

EAST CLIFF

Views from Priory Corner
Chesil Beach, The Fleet and Fortuneswell.

EAST WEARES

A typical Portland Stone Cottage.

All manner of the Stone Mason's work can be found all over the Island.

Back to the East Side and the now redundant
track down which Portland Stone travelled
before shipping.

The old Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment at Sweethill
now a thriving Business Park.

GOLD POSTBOX
at Pound Piece in the name of Paralympic Sailor
Helena Lucas
Coincidentaly, this morning I met Olympic Silver Medallist
Simon Bithell

WEST CLIFF
and view from the Verne Prison.