One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make - Aristotle

Another decent day on which it was au revoir, once again, to Portland and Weymouth. A lunch date with Lesley at midday so chance to take a final look around Weston and Easton which, to maximise time, I caught the bus to Tout Quarry and walked back to Barleycrates. Passing the unique

SAINT GEORGE'S CHURCH
there perched on a gravestone close to the road was a 

 WHEATEAR
(the photograph, adult male, is from the archive as a
representation of exactly what was seen)
So sure that this was not an illusion I got off the bus at the next stop,

the GEORGE PUBLIC HOUSE
and 'ran' back to the burial ground but it was not relocated.

Regarded as the harbinger of the Spring migrants this species is rarely recorded in February, Green -The Birds of Dorset notes just 7, showing 21/02 to be a particularly early date. A minor mechanical fault with the car allowed time to wander 

RADIPOLE NATURE RESERVE
where the Visitor's Centre continues to deteriorate into complete shabbiness.

I expect the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will have some cock-and-bull excuse, such as the weather, while 'thatching' continues elsewhere in the County, and it most certainly cannot be due to lack of funds why we have to suffer this eye-sore. They are mandate by the terms of the 99 year lease and £1.00 annual 'peppercorn rent' to keep such things in good order which doesn't only reflect badly on themselves, but also on the town of Weymouth! The length of seeming 'abandonment' (months) may be judged by the extent of green growth on the reed. A far brighter sight was this

MEDITERRANEAN GULL

among the largish flock of mixed Gulls on the Car Park.

Despite the time of year it is already in full
Adult Breeding Plumage.

similarly
BLACK-HEADED GULL

HERRING GULL

and a 'second winter' (still a year short of adulthood)
MEDITERRANEAN GULL

BLACK-HEADED GULL

and couldn't resist Posting a couple more shots of this
extremely handsome creature!

COOT
with the largest 'shield' I have ever seen.
Is this a 'breeding' thing - comments please.

male TUFTED DUCK

female TUFTED DUCK
and no sign of the Hooded Merganser.

A very active

LITTLE GREBE
I did try scratching my nape with my foot?

Roll Preening

and a view from astern.

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Gypsy Moth - Steve Hackett

After the Spring-like day in Lyme Regis on Tuesday, the following day was spent on a little less sunny Portland but none the worse for that. It was high tide on arrival so little point in stopping at Ferry Bridge, so straight on to Portland Castle to take yet another look at the 'over-wintering'

 BLACK GUILLEMOT

(no closer and no better picture)

Since my last visit a second has arrived but unfortunately only the one was seen, but by way of a bonus Great Northern Diver and Black-necked Grebe were also present there.

As ever during such prolonged and tempestuous weather the tiny village of Chiswell, at the foot of Portland's north facing cliffs, and nuzzled close to the world famous Chesil Beach, has taken a mighty battering and along with it many sea birds. Most of the casualties have been Guillemots but among them has been the odd, unseasonable, Puffin carcass with others seeking shelter including Kittiwake, Little Gull and Great Skua. Best then to make a stop at the sea wall overlooking Chesil Cove where all to be seen were c2 Guillemot (alive) and what looks like the Army augmenting the Local Council in repairing damaged sea defences.

A few familiar faces and time to catch up at the

 PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY (Link)

before heading towards the Bill Common where in recent days a Great Skua had been seen. Again no luck with that but one of the resident  

 LITTLE OWL

 was perched in a favoured spot, but not for long!

 PEREGRINE,

one of two on the day, was seen before reaching the sea where just one

of a report 4

 PURPLE SANDPIPER

was on view but unusually flighty. Close by were c7

 TURNSTONE

plenty of

 SHAG

and

 ROCK PIPIT

and how good to hear

SKYLARK

singing again.

Another small stroke of luck on leaving the Observatory, the

Warden pointed out a passing

 

RED-THROATED DIVER (archive)

No visit to Portland can be complete for me without paying a visit to my Ol' Shipmate the Secret Lemonado Scupperer who had a mighty surprise awaiting me. There, flying around his garage was this

HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH

undoubtedly induced by the spell of slightly warmer and sometimes sunnier weather to forsake its period of hibernation. From there it was lunch with my friends Lesley, Wendy and Mike, a GREAT time being had by all. Yesterday will take very little reporting as the morning was marred once again by heavy rain, slowly clearing to milky sunshine all accompanied by fairly high winds. However, there is always a 'bright side' and again lunch with friends including Lesley, John Gifford (mentor and informant) and his sister Maggie. Good to see you as ever and here's to the next time!

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Mister Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Consulting the Weather App yesterday, it looked like a band of heavy rain was due at Christchurch about 08:00, would last just a hour or two to be followed by a dose of serious sunshine. This was yet to be seen, but on the strength of that information a drive to Weymouth commenced at 8 and before reaching Parley Cross the rain had set in - so far so accurate! It took 80 minutes to get there and already Mr Blue Sky was appearing from the west. By the time I boarded the X53 bus at 09:30 the "sun was shinin' in the sky, there ain't a cloud in sight, it's stopped raining and ev'rybodie's in a play and don't you know its a beautiful new day - hey, hey, hey". It's a most pleasant experience driving the Jurassic Coast Route under such welcome circumstance, certainly a lot better than my last visit to Lyme Regis in hope of seeing Dipper.

 Just in time for the Half Term School Holiday

Parents and Children alike were making the most of the beach.
(the view to The Cob)

The major roadworks here are almost completed as well so getting
around was a good deal easier.
Heading straight for the River Lim it was less than a mile before a

DIPPER

was located and then in view for no more than 2 minutes.

Seen dozens of times all over Great Britain, it never ceases to

amaze me that these Thrush size bird find their food by 'walking

underwater' on riverbeds to collect Insect Larvae.

A brief search was made of the promenade for Black Redstart

but as on the last visit there were none. There was evidence of

the recent storms as I don't remember this tree being here before.

That is when this Gull, smaller than most others here, flew along

the tide line.

Just one of what have been a great number seeking refuge or food

during the storms.

KITTIWAKE

On the way back there was time for a coffee with Bowie and Sheila

before the same with the Secret Lemonade Drinker, where the

STOCK DOVES
have returned to his garden.

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Out in the Fields - Gary Moore

If there is one luxury that will be missed when I eventually leave here, to take up residence in a Mongolian Yurt in a waterlogged field somewhere near Loughborough, it will be the 'open fire'! Keeping those winter chills at bay, the only down-side is having to stoke it every-so-often which last evening Janet was doing admirably. About to place another log on the remaining hot embers she called out "Bagsy, Moth" - I thought Manchester City had scored again. Never far from a specimen pot it was soon captured, photographed and putatively identified. 

 Most certainly one of the 'Snout' family (no other has a beak like that),

 with reference to the Field Guide the 2 larger members of the group

were quickly eliminated as where the 3 tiny ones.

That just left the 3 medium size ones, Beautiful Snout, Buttoned Snout and Bloxworth Snout. The latter, which takes its name from a nearby Dorset village, was first found there in 1884 so was thought to be the most likely candidate on balance of probabilities alone. However, the dark markings on the fore-wings were causing some consternation, so I needed outside help. Early this morning it was confirmed to be a 'worn' example of

BUTTONED SNOUT

A locally fairly common species in the south-east of England, it was formerly more widespread. Adults of this single-brooded species can be found in woodland fringes, hedgerows and similar places which fly between August and October. They then hibernate taking to the wing again between late April and early June. The caterpillar feeds on Hops (Humulus lupulus) in June and July causing Hugh and I to scratch our heads as to where we have seen that plant on the property. If indeed it exists there is a likelihood that this 'scarce' creature could, or maybe has, bred on the farm? Now that would be quite something!  

A beautifully sunny, still and warm day from the start any location would fit the bill for a bit of comfortable 'birding', but with the Avon Causeway still under flood water

 

LONGHAM LAKE

would fit the bill.

'Cast A Giant Shadow'

(Kirk Douglas and Senta Berger)

 There haven't been many of those (shadows that is) here lately,

nor have we seen the lake so serene for a good while. 

 Immediately noticeable were the songs of who knows how many

 REED BUNTING

 maybe as many as a dozen around the full 'Figure of 8'

perimeter of the 2 lakes.

 The

 BLACK-NECKED GREBE

is still in attendance

 while only an occasional visitor here a single

PINTAIL

was seen today.

Also 'showing', the first I have clapped eyes on at the lakes, a

 WATER RAIL

was one of at least c3 individuals the others 'heard' only.

 COMMON GULL

is also not as frequent as the name might suggest, while

 COMMON SNIPE

c5 seem to have been absent for months.

 In 2 distant trees a flock of about 20

FIELDFARE

were mustered, with much better images planned for a future Post,

 as MUTE SWANs (mostly juvenile), CANADA GEESE, MALLARD,

LITTLE EGRET and SHELDUCK sort sanctuary on a small island

in the flooded meadows.

 LITTLE EGRET

did get a little nearer before my departure but soon beat a retreat.

Nothing of a spectacular nature here today, but we were out and about in splendid weather conditions and along with those noted above Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaws (aplenty), Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Pochard, Little and Great Crested Grebe were also seen. Let's hope the fine weather lasts all week.

Finally, back at Harbins, the OWL BOX is ready for positioning.

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