A Town Like Malice - The Jam

Another night of blustery and showery conditions resulted in another poor Showing from the Moth Traps, while the only item of any interest at all, a Grasshopper Sp, 'escaped my clutches' as I miss cued securing the pot. Another lunch date at 13:00, this time with my mentor John Gifford and his sister Maggie, saw to it that I carried out some other essential duties already consigned for too long to the back boiler. A visit to the bank, to make sure that £1.50 is still being looked after, new sock and shoes and then further on some new spectacles so my wallet was a little lighter as well!

Yesterday's most colourful Insect caused some head scratching and while it was unanimous, from all of those who were prepared to venture an opinion, that it is an

ICHNEUMAN WASP

many complication arose as further investigations were made. Seems this single species is also 'split' into a number of subspecies which can only be positively identified under the microscope so I am joining with those who have opted for 

Ichneumon ambulatorius

an American vagrant which I am unable to comment on further.

JUBILEE CLOCK

erected to celebrate the the Golden Anniversary  (50 years)

of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887. 

The rest of my day, punctuated by the most pleasant lunch, was spent wandering around Weymouth which has served as my 'home town' more than any other. This included meeting a number of people not seen for all too long so time to catch up as well.

From one Sovereign to another and the statue of

KING GEORGE the THIRD

A replica of one of his

BATHING MACHINES

which originally popularised the town as a Seaside Resort.

One of K.G. III's Hunting Lodges now Weymouth's premier hotel.

THE ROYAL HOTEL

ST MARY'S CHURCH

on the thoroughfare of the same name.

A very popular Public House in the same street.

Looking towards the TOWN BRIDGE

and from the bridge

THE INNER HARBOUR

THE OUTER HARBOUR

Should I ever be selected to compete in the famous TV programme

'Mastermind'

I would 'walk it' if I were allowed the 'Specialist Subject' of

Weymouth Public Houses

a once favoured watering hole THE SAILORS RETURN

and talking of having a drink, who should turn up none other than

my old mate Jim who, among many other things, keeps my

Beer Glass well filled at all of the towns Rock Concerts.

Yet another and a favourite for most members of the Royal Navy

who passed this way over the years.

THE KING'S ARMS

Finally, and nowhere near as good as it used to be in the days of

FRED DARRINGTON

Weymouth's World Famous Sand Sculptures.

During an extremely long life Fred sculpted everything from

Westminster Abbey to Jimi Hendrix (I'll look for the photo of the latter).

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Autumn Almanack - The Kinks

Dinner with Bowie, Sheila, Paul and Annie last night turned into
a late one, in fact this shot of the
KING GEORGE the THIRD STATUE in WEYMOUTH
was taken just before boarding the last bus to Portland at 23:15.

Overnight, the weather remained perfect for Moth catching so much so the first Insect out of the trap at Weston Street was the first specimen I have ever caught of

 CLANCY'S RUSTIC

 later followed by a further 2 in the Secret Garden.
Others caught between the 2 traps included

 LARGE WAINSCOT

 BLAIR'S SHOULDER-KNOT

 and GREEN-BRINDLED CRESCENT
the first I have caught since returning to Mothing.

 However, thought the best catch of the day was not a Moth at all

 but this beautifully coloured and patterned and as yet unidentified
Ichneumon Wasp 
click on this link to see how some of these creatures procreate!
If you can enlighten us please send to 
captbagsy@btinternet.com  
While attending to the trap at Secret's there were also good
numbers of birds passing overhead, mostly identified on 'call'.
 
 First was a lone
GOLDEN PLOVER

 followed by a few
MEADOW PIPIT,

 SISKIN,

 SKYLARK,

GREENFINCH
 plus a single

 SONG THRUSH
 
 At the Portland Bird Observatory we were met by a couple of
distant RAVEN and a

LITTLE OWL

in the neighbouring quarry. It seems to have been something of an Owl day as there were those who saw c2 each of Little and Barn Owl, while another observer saw c3 Short-eared Owls in the Top Fields. Finally, from our Temporary Representative in Cornwall these 3 fine and no too common species none of which I have ever seen.

AUTUMNAL RUSTIC

 BRINDLED OCHRE

FLOUNCED CHESTNUT

Thanks to the Pasty Yafflers!

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Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

Something of an ANNIVERSARY today as we publish our 1,500th Post! The Bagsy Blog has been running now for a total of 1531 days or 4 years, 2 months, 9 days and amazingly (to myself at least) only 31 days during this period passed without publication.

 This was our first simple offering

Welcome to My Blog - 14 August 2009

After a preliminary run I think this Blog is ready for 'launch'. It is intended to keep you up to date while on my travels, publish day to day happenings and show some of my archive photographs. This Wandering Albatross, at 'point blank range' was captured 2 miles off Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand late 2008. Watch this space!

Back to last night, but certainly not for long, as foul weather set in right from the start! Early evening had lulled me into a 'false sense of security' as the wind dropped and the setting sun shined brightly. On my way back from Weymouth, JD Wetherspoon's and another rack of pork ribs, it was decided to lay both Moth Traps one in the Secret Garden and one at Weston Street. At 04:00 I was woken by very heavy rain clattering against the window and a wind that could only 'guesstimated' at about Force 6 to 7 on the Beaufort Scale (30 to 35 knots). What chance of a Moth at all, but at first light the total from both traps was 25 with the most notable being  

FEATHERED RANUNCULUS

A quick drive to the Portland Bird Observatory

where things were equally dismal

but these 4 stalwart 'Sea Watcher' (looking for sea-birds)
were braving the elements. Not for me though, next port of call was

close to the PORTLAND COASTGUARD STATION

where the WINDSOCK was still at full stretch.

The HIGHER LIGHT
the first built of the Islands 3 Lighthouses was where a
Black Redstart had been seen yesterday, but not by me this morning.

A quick look along The WEST CLIFF

and then back down the hill to where the

ARMY were erecting a Mobile Communications Station.

A look back south from the Pulpit Inn before coffee with
The Secret Lemonade Drinker after which we visited Radipole.

Here a GARGANEY had been in residence for a few days

but yesterday we had been unable to spot it. We had left there mid-day yesterday and ironically it was relocated again at 17:00. No matter as we did catch distant views of it today but with no chance of a photograph. The Duck seen today is nowhere near as bright as the images which are from the 'archive' and for illustration purposes only. Onward to Weymouth Esplanade to see if we could find a Slavonian Grebe, also reported yesterday, but without success.

There were very few people about but some were enjoying

the trill of the
SEALIFE TOWER

3 connecting Panoramas of Weymouth's Georgian Sea Front.

2 disconnected 'dippers' of the Slav Grebe,
Moi and Secret. Dropping him at home I bought a sarnie

and headed for NEW GROUND at the top of Portland

where the views from left include West Bay (part of the English Channel), the world famous Chesil Beach, the village of Wyke Regis in the far distance, with Portland Harbour plus the National Sailing Academy (of 2012 Olympics fame) separating it from Fortuneswell in the foreground.

Also to my right is the VERNE CITADEL part of which is a
PRISON.

Archive photo of a 

BLACK REDSTART 

seen very briefly at Chisel Cove.

HERE'S HOPING YOU ARE WITH US FOR THE NEXT 1,500 POSTS!!

Final message for Hugh and Janet "Keep Enjoying It, See You Soon"

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