Sunday was always going to be a difficult choice, did I slake my addiction and get to Ferry Bridge at dawn or stay up late to watch a lifetime classic featuring The Heat, Arlo, Airplane, Havens, Alvin Lee et al. The later stole it by a mile, as a 'one off' occasion, swamping myself with nostalgia from 40 years ago. It was well worth it, even if only to relive the genius of the much underrated Marty Balin. With a quality of blues vocal, usually only assiciated with 'black men', he knocked out his signature Uncle Sam's Blues, while Grace Slick looked on in awe from the wings. In addition, I felt sure the legendary Les Paul will settle comfortably next week when they lay him to rest, in the knowledge that Balin honoured his lifetimes work having mastered that 'trademark' Gibson. I have always held Woodstock in high regard, mainly because I wasn't there, but in the same year (1969) I was to experience, at least as far as musical content was concerned, a far more important event. Just 6 weeks earlier had seen the first, of what was to become an annual 'happening' , the Bath Festival of Blues. With the likes of Zeppelin (playing their first 'outdoor' concert, having already turned down the invite to Woodstock), Mayall, Taste, Fleetwood Mac, Nice (later to become E.L.P.), Hiseman's Colleseum, Keef Hartley Band, Chicken Shack, 10 Years After, Blodwin Pig etc, etc I was surely on the right side of 'the Pond'. However, on the music theme and with the strains of Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) still ringing in my ears from last night, only a year later I was to suffer one of only 3 real regrets of my life. On the 26th August 1970 accompanied by 2 submariner mates we boarded the Isle of Wight ferry to experience what attendance wise would put both Woodstock and Live Aid in the shade. Again, this was programmed to be a feast of live acts, but as the legend tells, if you can remember it, you weren't there. One thing I do remember clearly, as we wandered through the 'purple haze' of early Sunday morning, our boat, HM Submarine Alcide, was sailing for patrol at 04-00 the next morning. With more than a second thought we climbed aboard the Red Funnel back to Pompey, and almost at the same time as we walked through the gates of HMS Dolphin, Jimi landed on the island to, as the press reported later, blow every other band attending out of the water. My all time hero, as much for the attitude as the music, returned from Sweden mid-September, played an impromptue jam at Ronnie Scott's and died in still unexplained circumstances early morning 18th September 1970 - I never did see my man!
Great Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Herring Gull of the sub-species L.a argenteus 
Iceland Gull
Ruddy Turnstone
Silver Gull - Australia
Pacific Gull - Australia
Black-billed Gull - New Zealand
Red-billed Gull - New Zealand
For you fellow Gull lovers out there, this is a small, personal indulgence to illustrate my long-time dream to record all the Gull species in the world. The determined search began at the turn of the millennium, when it became apparent to me that such an ambition could be fulfilled, so with several species already in the log much more effort was dedicated to the chase. Some 'grey areas' still exist between world authorities regarding 'full species status', so a bench mark had to be set as to the number I would consider acceptable on my own world list, this totals 54. Of these 51 have now been recorded, with 44 committed to photograph, the reality being if my back-pack, containing 18 spools of film, had not been stolen in La Paz, Bolivia 3 more, Swallow-tailed, Lava and Andean Gulls would also be included in that total. The 3 outstanding are Yellow-footed Gull (dipped twice), Relict Gull (not seen on 3 possible occasions) and Red-legged Kittiwake which is a prospect for the summer of 2010. However, if during my travels I encounter any sub-species they are certainly not ignored, as for instance within the Herring Gull Complex (dependant on your point of view) L. a argenteus, L. a vegae and L. heuglini have all been seen and photographed. As a precursor to the impending series of photographs, Kelp Gull has been singled out due to its wide distribution across the Southern Oceans, covering 3 continents. The top photograph was taken in Antarctic waters, the next down on South Island, New Zealand, the one directly below this text in South Africa and the final image in Ushuaia, Argentina. You just never know when an 'armchair' might crop up. In my desire for more knowledge I would not be in the least offended if any mistakes or misidentifications were highlighted, so look forward to any comment and observations, which applies to any or all of my postings.
