If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher

It was a bit of a slog yesterday but well worth it for the 
Silver Lining
that is just about to visit us. The day report shows the addition of a second

 COOT
on the Irrigation Pond, which was the sum total, but sure to send
The Bagsy Blog
VIRAL

 so perhaps no need to send the Link to yer Pals?

Not only a seemingly apt Headline but the video also jiggled the Memory Bank

of our most extensive Twitch ever, all 23,000 miles of it and maybe 

coming to a Blog near you soon!

You need to watch the video first!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKbwR7WXN4

Which in turn triggers yet another ‘sea story’ as the Royal Navy home fleet was steaming at full speed ahead to rendezvous mid-Atlantic with the United States equivalent. As the flagships passed abeam of each other and in opposite directions the American Admiral took to the radio and requested to speak “Admiral to Admiral”. In a jaunty voice he complimented the British Fleet on looking so spick and span and seaworthy and completed the transmission by asking “and how is the second largest navy in the world today”? The British Admiral then took to the air and thanked him for his kindness, echoed the same sentiment and may I end by  ask “how the second BEST navy is doing this fine day”?

But we digress! 

To turn back time to our next addition to the RA List we revisit 16/03/2017 which was when traffic volume in and out of the Eco Recycling Plant was much reduced by comparison to what it is today. A Sunday, so no workings at all found me face to face with this

 GREAT WHITE EGRET

 as yet not settled and in company with a Grey Heron which departed on my arrival.

 Now looking far more comfortable it went through a few functions such as gapping

 Most welcome but not surprising as c3 had spent 

most of the winter at Longham Lakes, just a couple of miles away,

and maybe this was part of the disperal?

 It is thought from the slow-mo

 that the prey species were most likely

 NEWTS

Island in the Sun - Harry Belafonte

With very little of note in our own locale today it was inspiration from one of my favourite places on the face of planet earth and 2 of my favourite people. On their first visit to Galapagos avid world wanderers Jean Francois and Roong Ozoux sent me these images of a 

Woodpecker Finch 

one of the Darwin Finch complex which played a key part in his proving the Science of Evolution. Lucky to have seen the species myself, my images come nowhere close to portraying one of very few birds to use a ‘tool’ to capture their prey.

 CHARLES DARWIN

To compliment these, a few of my own Island Snaps are posted today to be followed by a brief account of my first meeting with these ‘beautiful people’ at a later date! The first trip was a great success and quite an eye opener but of just one week duration far, far too short. The return in 2010 was twice the number of days and a solo venture having left MyQue's, my former boss, to his own devices. Both trips were as freelance travellers with no complications and at less than half the price of an organised tour which may be of some help to the reader. 

As is usual we landed on an old US Airbase on the island of

Baltra

and obtaining a mandatory 15 dollar permit allowing access to the

 which is the whole of the archipeligo.

 Taking the $1 US bus ride to the ferry, being swarmed by

AUDUBON'S SHEARWATERS

before a second and longer bus ride before reaching the main town  of

Once there it was check-in to the same hotel as last time, The Castro,

dumping the backpack then treading familiar territory.

 GALAPAGOS (LAVA) HERON

 GALAPAGOS DOVE

GALAPAGOS LAND IGUANA

Each day the first port of call (excuse pun) was the tiny pier in the centre of town

at the end of which stood one of the

Pleasure Boat Captains
It was certain there was mutual respect here, despite the language barrier
but seemingly, like myself, a firm handshake seemed to say all!

LAVA GULL

 GREAT FRIGATEBIRD

LARGE GROUND FINCH

MOI

MEDIUM CACTUS FINCH

Back to town where there is but one Main Drag and where stands the

FISH MARKET

 where you can buy 7 Crayfish for less than £2.00..
Always best to buy more than you are likeley to eat as once inside the

TINY CAFE

to the left, where they will cook them for you, you never know who you may bump into to share the feast!
The final bird to join the list here may well have been

 SMALL GROUND FINCH
had not fate lent a hand while observing a magical moment of wildlife.
While watching a Whimbrel (presumed Hudsonian) in pursuit of a

 SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB
which had sought shelter under a rock with pure stealth the bird caught it,
first shook off the clump claw, followed by the secondary and legs before swallowing the
hapless creature whole. Comparing windpipe with shell size it seemed impossible
but down it went without a struggle and just as my new found friend arrived.

With broken English and gesticulation he seemed to be inviting me out in his Cruiser for the day, which was confirmed by his paying passengers 2 young Finnish couples who were intent on swimming with the Sealions. Through them, he also said he had very much enjoyed my company and the fact that we were both Seafarers made it that little bit more special. Looking at the chart, we seemed bound for a tiny unnamed island some 20 miles away and with the anchor dropped he caught some fish and served then for breakfast. There were no expectations as to what we might see, in fact anything would be a bonus, but first off in the caves and crags

 SWALLOW-TAILED GULL'S
were nesting!

juvenile

While they do visit the shores of Ecuador this is a rare sight and like the first trip my hopes of such a beauty had already faded - YES!

Additionally during the day, a lone

 GALAPAGOS HAWK
circled the vessel for a full 30 minutes as a 'raft' of

 GALAPAGOS PENGUINS
jumped one after the other onto the nearby headland forming a

WADDLE

There are no prizes for guessing where the Captain and I ended up that evening
but for a little respect and firm handshake there was a new shipmate and 3 new and most unexpected Bird species added to the World List!

Another Day - Paul McCartney

With the wind having moderated somewhat it was thought worthwhile popping into Bournemouth International Airport to see if the 

ROOKS

had made a start on nest building. The trees were still swinging like pendulums

so it was no surprise to find that they had not.

In this area there is usually something of interest outside of the Wild World

which on the day manifested itself as 

 freshly sprey painted

LIGHT AIRCRAFT

However, we did find that Storm Ciara may have done the business as we reached the Irrigation Pond (IP)

to find the first arrival for the year of a lone

COOT

and as previously reported the c4

LITTLE GREBE's

remain in attendance but this time captured in their entirety

With nothing to hold our attention at the Gravel Pit (GP) it was

onward to the Moors River where there are still far too few Teal while the 

CORMORANT's

still hold station

It was also encouraging to find another

First for Year pair of 

GADWALL

already in part 'displaying' mode.

Male

Female

all our yesterday's continued

as on 16/09/2016 while wandering the Heath a slight movememt caught my eye amid the dense growth of Bracken. Breaking cover it was seen to be, almost unbelievably, a

WRYNECK

which flew into a gorse bush and within 30 seconds had vanished for good

(or BAD as the case may be)

However, not before securing these 3 images, and then making up the

156th

species for our Recording Area.