Chasing a Big List

It was up at 06-00 and out an hour later for our first day of the 'bird chase' and hoping to get P & T a couple of 'lifers'. Radipole, compared to in the week, was poor by comparison and dreams of 40 species before Portland were dashed. The only redeeming factor was the Hooded Merganser was in view, and like many hundreds of visiting birders before them, they'll leave Dorset with it in their log, regardless of provenance. Thinking things were bad there, worse was to follow as we didn't see a single Wader at Ferry Bridge, with just Little Egret, Linnet and Meadow Pipit being new on the day list. Precious little was happening at the Obs so the short walk to the quarry was thought to add Little Owl, but that too was absent. Surely things would change, and fortunately we didn't have to wait long. Our arrival at the Obs gate coincided with Ian Dodd who had just tended the mist nets in the field opposite, and he had bagged a Yellow-browed Warbler. My guests were completely awstruck by the size and pattern of this little gem, and maybe needless to say this was a welcome addition to their World List. The Ruddy Shelduck were on show at the North Hide, when we returned to Radipole, with the only other additions being Long-tailed Tit, Whinchat, Water Rail and an overflying Siskin. With the day total standing at 64 and seemingly few birds we decided to take a break for a well deserved snack and cup of tea.

Yellow-browed Warbler - also a Year Tick for me

bringing my annual total to 247

Brimstone Butterfly - this seems a little late, but I'll have to check

Batteries recharged, we continued the quest and headed for Lodmoor. Armed with Daragh's morning report we were prepared to chase the 6 outstanding species he had reported and hit straight into Reed Bunting. Both Godwit, Wigeon, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, Pochard, Lapwing and Stock Dove followed in fairly quick succession, with a look over the sea wall netting a lone Common Scoter. Arriving at the Marlborough for haddock, chips and mushy peas the list stood at 75, then we attended Joy next doors 70 birthday party, followed by an earlyish night. We're all looking forward to tomorrow!

Willow Warbler - annual in good numbers both migrations

Siskin - on occasions large falls both ends

Linnets, Brambling and what I have never been happy with as Song Thrush?? Comments please!

Greenfinch - annual at both migrations

Song Thrush - scarce, like buses, but when one arrived so did a few others

Migrants & Rolling Stones

The Strolling Bones - anyone for a spoon of 'Brown Sugar?'

The Liftons arrived at 19-30 and we immediately got down to discussing strategy for tomorrow over a slice of pizza and a cup of tea. Two days of local birding, when us 3 get together we usually have a side bet as to how many species we may see during the time allowed. Tess decided on 86, Paul (my Winger) thought 90 while I went for 96, obviously I'll let you know the score after the week-end. With that out of the way, we headed for Pete Smith's No6 on King Street for an evening of Rock 'n' Roll. Robbie McIntosh, who never leave a 'tern unstones', was at it again after the blistering performance of 9 Stones (Polygenes) on Sunday, this time with a Rolling Stones set. Part of this combo was Marco Rossi of Gothic Chicken fame and leading 'gig' scribe with the Dorset Echo. Multi skilling is one thing, but among all his talents I had never seen him behind a drum kit, but he fitted the bill beautifully. As the evening wore on and the classics rang out, a few faces from the past turned up, with the combination of both taking me back a few years, in fact to 1964. That was the year the Stones themselves played the Gaumont, Weymouth, (where the Old Rectory now stands) my eldest sister queueing all night to get tickets. I also remember no hearing one chord above the then craze of girls screaming, but nonetheless a night to remember. As people came over to say hello, I decided to ask if any of them had been at that gig, and it turned out 2 others as well as myself had been there!

Unknown, Margret, Mole and Russel Edwards, Bowie's brother recently returned from 3 months in Zambia, getting 'Satisfaction'

Barbra Perry - who's name is synonymous with that top Weymouth restaurant, a real 'Honky Tonk Woman' (one of the three of us at the '64 gig)

Roger Davis - Councilor of this Parish, no 'Sympathy for the Devil'

Sooty Stockley - he knows 'em all, 'Paint It Black' (also at the '64 Stones gig)

This really was a night to remember, as much for the characters as the music, great to see all those faces again.

and a few more migrants from Buchan Alpha



Sand Martin - not at all common off-shore

House Martin - a little more frequent than the above, but still scarce

Swallow - by far the most common and frequent of the Hirundines

Pied Flycatcher - sparodic, with a couple of good years reaching double figures

Collared Dove - common and regular at both seasons

You've gotta larf ain't ya? - Quote of the Week had to be that from the BBC 's Washington correspondent who, reporting on President Obama controversially being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and NASA's search for water on the Moon. He suggested "the American people must be waking this morning , bewildered, to find Obama has the Peace Prize, and America have attacked the moon". It could only happen over there!

Introducing Frederick the Fantastic

It's now later in the day!

Well, here is the wee man, the third in line to bear this most popular 'Baker' name. The lineage runs, Frederick the First (my father), (Paul) Frederick the Incomparable (me) and Frederick (David) the Younger.

For the extremely impatient (which includes me) here are the first photos of my second grandson. Captions will follow later in the day.

Frederick, straight in at the 'deep end', love the gaiters

I've never seen my little girl glowing quite so much, motherhood suiting you love?

Yes, I can see why dad looks so puffed out, I feel the same when I watch someone working hard

Goldcrest - annual during both migrations, with many dead

Garden Warbler - it may be noted that an amendment has been made to last Monday's post, where I stated the picture was a Chiffchaff. Paul Harris kindly put me right, and guess this is an ideal opportunity to reiterate, correction to any mistakes or misidentifications will always be gratefully received

Chaffinch - again numerous at both ends

Brambling - this was another bird that caused a sensation when first sighted, because of the partial albinism

Starling - often many thousands move through

Jackdaw - rarely alone, when a number do arrive they usually stayed for days, if not weeks

Hooded Crow - seen during both migrations more or less annually, and in similar numbers to their all black cousins

Only did Radipole today for a meagre Common Buzzard, Hooded Merganser, 3 Ruddy Shelduck and a small movement of Meadow Pipits.

View of the Heli-Deck

Reflections of Little Grebe (again)

After an encounter with 'white van man' deliberately driving the wrong way down Cromwell Road to save himself 10 seconds, it was on to Longcroft Cemetery for a 'no bird' experience! Walking along the quay opposite Debenhams I did find the most obliging Little Grebe ever. So close was it, that the photographs showed the refection of my bright red jacket in the water. The bus ride to Portland was curtailed as we reached Foord's Corner and the rain became torrential, so once again I was beaten by the weather. Anyroadup, this gave me an opportunity to get a few things for an up coming party and for the arrival of my protegees. It was to have been a full week-end with my 'trainees' (tongue in cheek expression), but unfortunately Dave Penney had to call off due to unforeseen circumstances. On the up side Paul & Tess from Emsworth should arrive Friday evening for what will undoubted be an excellent couple of days, particularly if the weather holds.

My visit to Asda too was with a huge up side as I bumped into ex colleague and good friend Jack Fancy who is now 85 and looks not a second different to the last time we met. One of my fondest memories of Jack was the time he spent building a 16' long fireplace for me in my first house in Reforne Close on Portland. Apart from having much time to get to know each other better, it was an eye-opener to see at first hand this master craftsman's skill. He hewed ever block of that natural stone right there in my lounge, fashioning compartments for my discs, tapes, stereo and TV equipment, like a child moulding plasticine.

White Van Man - after the ordeal

Finally today, I can report my first glimpse of Frederick David, at least photographs. While dad & mum have been a bit busy, to say the least, and enterprising company in Sydney visited the hospital and took some early images. First impression? Better looking than his POME grandad and not quite as wrinkly, bless his cotton socks!

Jack Snipe - an annual visitor to Buchan, which for some reason unknown seemed to like flying into windows. A number were nursed to recovery from an unconscious state over the years

Ruff - more or less annual

Knot - ditto

Golden Plover - ditto, with one causing a near disaster as a casualty of an air-strike with one of our crew change 'choppers

Migrants Various - can you see what any of them are yet?

Greylag Goose - annual passage bird, given to regular landings on both rig and sea

Barnacle Goose - one of the great avian delights to see dozens flying by or landing

Buchan Birds in the Hand

Despite the rain and 30 knot wind I ventured to Ferry Bridge for this mornings ebb, but there was little to report. Of the 53 medium size Gulls 23 were Mediterranean, along with 51 Ringed Plover, 103 Dunlin and 19 Turnstone.

So, on that note back to Buchan Alpha

With such massive migrations on some occasions, it was inevitable that some birds were going to be easily caught due to exhaustion. North Sea Bird Club policy on such matters was in general to leave them to their own devices. However, in making our own judgments at the time many birds were thought to have been saved. With cooperation from our helicopter carriers (Bond, Bristow and British International) we were able to send many individuals ashore for release - see Peregrine Falcon of yesterday. In addition, corpses were of great value and after biometrics had been taken by the NSBC, selected skins were sent to Aberdeen University and skeletons to the Edinburgh Natural History Museum. This latter practice was cut short by the spread of Bird Flu with several valuable specimens lost to science.

Lapland Bunting - early (01-00) one October morning I noted what I thought, through the gloom, to be a bedraggled medium sized Wader roosting among the manila rope anti skid netting on the heli-deck. On close approach there was no movement, so I gently cupped it in both hands and returned to the Marine Control room. There, to my surprise, It was seen to be 2 Skylarks and the individual pictured above. The next day all 3 were fit to fly, so were released to make their own way home.

Garden Warbler - when caught, this little fella was seen to have what looked like a small hair projecting from its gape. With a little teasing a 9" length of thin natural fibre cord was removed from its throat. Another grateful patient for St Francis!

Crossbill (female/juvenile) - by no means annual, but in true Crossbill style once one arrived so did a number of its pals.

Crossbill (adult male) - making one of my early morning weather observation, and chatting to a mate, and said to him "did you hear that Crossbill"? Almost immediately this individual landed on the heli-deck and any birder would understand the feeling when I noted that patch of white! In a cocky manner I said to my company, " hang on a sec, I'll just catch that". As you can see I did, but disappointment followed as the 'white' turned out to be paint.

Blackcap (male) - annual, usually in double figures both ends

Blackcap (male & female) - OK, not 'in the hand' but I always considered this a lovely depiction of a little avian soixante neuf

Rock Pipit - usual for at least one to be seen annually, but maybe strangely never A p littoralis

Arctic Tern - one of the Roughnecks manning the 'mist nets', only joking. However, every member of the rig crew had been trained to report, or catch, any wildlife that happened their way

Short-toed Lark - one of our finest moments, this bird was found by, then, up and coming birder Dave Penney the Buchan Operations Coordinator. By the time darkness fell we had a good idea of what it was, but overnight I managed to catch it. Having taken a sufficient number of photographs I returned it to the place it was found, under a deck light. I kept an eye on it until daybreak, at which point it had disappeared. Unfortunately, there was also a Hooded Crow on the rig, and I could swear I saw it 'lick its lips'. Much to the chagrin of those ashore, the next helicopter was 3 days away so not a period we were prepared to keep it captive. Another 'first' North Sea record

Ditto - the same bird when it was first found

The day ended at JD Weatherspoon's pub The William Henry. Daragh Croxson and I started sharing an occasional steak and a pint together some months ago, now our numbers have swollen to 5. Paul Harris, Peter Coe and John Down joined us last evening, a great laugh and time was enjoyed by all.

After an excellent spell of 'dry weather' the rain had to come sometime and confine me to home. Not a bad idea though as there are a thousand things I need to catch up with, but with nothing to report I'll have to rely on Buchan Alpha once again to keep you entertained.

Yellow-browed Warbler - during the heavy 'fall' of birds in Oct 2005, Dave Penney simply picked this individual up off the pipework. If my memory serves me we caught a total of 4 over the years

Ditto - you'll have to click on the image and squint your eye to discern this one!

Pallas's Warbler - it would be fair to say the 'crown stripe' clinches this one. The day after this photo was taken, with the camera safely left in my cabin, no fewer than 7 Yellow-brows plus a single Pallas's were on the heli-net all in the same frame - what a miss

Peregrine with Herring Gull - on the 16th July 2007 what was thought to be a juvenile Peregrine landed on the rig then immediately attacked and caught an adult Great Black-backed Gull. We watched as it struggled to gain height, but the weight was simply too much and both birds fell into the sea. Undeterred, the falcon tried to secure its prey, but surface tension won the day. Flying back to the sanctuary of the barge the other attendant Gulls enjoyed an opportunistic free meal. Early next morning it was seen again patrolling the skies forward of the rig, when it made contact with an adult herring Gull forcing it onto the heli-deck netting, depicted in the photo. With a prey item of this size, it couldn't be imagined that hunger force it to take yet another adult Great Black-backed Gull the following day. The hapless Gull was taken mid air, and as if the Peregrine had learned from the previous encounter carried it, still flapping, into the moon-pool. The void area at the center of the rig, gives access to the sea where the production pipes and riser system run to the seabed and is notoriously dirty with oil and mud residue. Not surprisingly then that both birds got contaminated making them easy to catch. Enter Ricky (The Hammer) Grant who captured both, but by then the Gull was DoA ,the Peregrine being cleaned up and a makeshift cage being constructed. Next day it was sent to the beach on the crew change 'chopper none the worse for wear.

Peregrine - 'banged up' and ready for transportation

Storm Petrel - returning to yesterday's Twix Box Twins the Petrel was much less fortunate than its traveling companion. During my conversation with the Captain of the Standby Vessel he noted that this bird was waterlogged and would, quite rightly, be best off in the hands of an 'expert'. Gently wrapping it in paper towel I return with it to the warmth of the Marine Control Room. There it dried well, took some fish oil and a little tinned mackerel flesh plus enjoying a continuous stream of visitors and well wishers. By the turn of the watch, 18-00, it was considered strong enough to be returned to its own environment, so accompanied by a number of so called 'hard nut rig rats' we transported it to the lee of Delta Leg ready for release. Under cover of dark it was gently teased from the sanctuary of the tissue cocoon, offered up for a final goodbye from those present and released to the sea. It fluttered to the surface, started to preen, fluttered and flapped its tiny wings and was then 'taken' by a pherkin grit Black-backed Gull. Looking round at the drooping jaws and looks of bewilderment, I thought to myself "Yes, on such occasions it's always best to have an 'EXPERT' in attendance!!