The Chapel of Love - The Dixie Cups

A day of few birds and even fewer 'birders', in fact there were none of the latter until I met Geoff & Sheila Barlow at the gates of the Portland Bird Observatory. The weather again was sunny with a little cloud at times, and the wind had dropped away to almost nothing but that was not to last.

In the cemetery 3 or 4 Willow Warblers were in full song as were Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Blackcap which was in sharp contrast to Radipole, where there was an eerie silence and lack of birds. The water level there is now so high that even the Grey Herons seem to have departed in search of more shallow margins, while Gulls and Ducks were almost absent and it would be an exaggeration to say I saw a total of 50 individual birds.

Of these there were a couple of Greenfinch,

a couple of clumps of this Fungi

while this Blackbird was one of the few birds in song.

There was little change in this deficit all along Barleycrates Lane, and it wasn't until reaching the cliff that the first migrant was seen as a

House Martin flew quickly to the north and disappeared. This was the first addition to the GB Year List since this time last week.

Further along there were a pair of Dunnock, but it was only later that one of the c4 Stonechats remained close enough for a shot. There were also c2 Blackcap, c6 Wheatear and a single Raven.

In the absence of the Snail Man John, who I believe has now returned home, this is my own attempt at identifying this species Large 'Black Slug Arion ater

Arriving at the PBO, about 40 Wood Pigeons look as though they had just arrived from seaward, while within once again Peter Morgan was busily tending the series of

Mist Nets strategically placed around the garden. It's not known what will be caught by these fine mesh nets, but surely sooner or later there will be something to cause great excitement. However, for now we'll have to be content with more common fare.

Often just overlooked as too common this picture highlights the beauty of what some may consider 'the humble' House Sparrow.

Probably highly placed on every one's favorite British Bird List

this beautiful Goldfinch

is given the 'once over' by the Warden allowing him to determine it was from one of last years broods.

Down by the coast Rock Pipits are now in full display, while in the Bill Quarry there was a

Pied Wagtail plus yet another

Black Redstart.

Yesterday a total of 10 were counted from a number of Island locations.

This is the Stonechat promised earlier. On the subject of The Warden of the PBO, it is often he that finds the 'bird of the day' at Portland, but today he was upstaged by his wife Sharron. Her visit to the Grove area of the Island this morning she turned up the second Hoopoe of the year.

and finally another conundrum for me from Paul Harris. Simply titled 'Dorset Quiz', his question was "do you know where this place is". For the second time this week I cracked it! For those who would like a go at answering the same question, I'll reveal the answer at the foot of this post.

There is a second reason for posting these images, as my 2 lovely daughters Julie and Lisa will remember with delight the days we would visit this place, especially when the Bluebells are in flower.

The ruin of St Luke's Chapel - Ashley Chase, South West Dorset.

Ode To A Skylark - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Little remains secret for long on the Isle of Portland, but it is only now information about the fortunes of the Portland Bird Observatory Committee is reaching my ears. Seems that in line with Bankers they have awarded themselves a secret multi-million pounds annual bonus, as highlighted by the appearance of this top of the range Merc in the Obs car park today. I had agreed to keep my mouth shut on this development, if they afforded me my own personal registration plate (BAG 5 Y), but that hasn't been forthcoming.

Before kicking off today, I'd like to add Lesley Godfrey's web-link so you can all enjoy the Art of this extremely talented lady:-

http://lesleygodfrey.co.uk/lesleygodfrey.co.uk/The_Elements_Photoart.html

Another early start for the Bill today, but with only this 'letter box' of sun showing through and a strengthening wind, backed even further to the north, thoughts turned to dragging the Antarctic jacket back out of the cupboard. Apart from Skylarks and a few Meadow Pipits passing overhead, Barleycrates was devoid of bird life and by the time I reached the West Cliff this

Garden Snail was a welcome sight. At the Observatory a few birds were being caught, but having thus far only seen a few Wheatears and a single Grey Wagtail I made an early exit to search for more. In the Top Fields the now resident 'murder' of Carrion Crows seems to increase daily my count being 85, but there were c2

Rooks among them

making for some light relief.

Further along a few more Wheatears also lingered briefly, while

this Rabbit looked quite content sat on top of a hedge taking in what little sun there was.

Skylark numbers today must have topped 50, with one party of c16 flushing

from the edge of one field alone. Mostly distant, this

individual did oblige and allow for a sequence of flight shots.

Higher still and higher, from the earth thou springest,
Like a cloud of fire, through the blue deep thou wingest,

And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

Otherwise it was left to this Dandelion to provide a little more sunshine! Arriving home at midday, there was a text alerting me to an Osprey flying north which must have been viewable from my house. Unfortunately, I missed this as well, but a little later c3 Common Buzzards were seen heading in the same direction.

Some of you may like to know that Joe Bonamassa has released another album, Dust Bowl, this time with a few guest singers and players, but thus far I haven't had chance to appraise it fully.

All I've heard is the title track, via this link, which sounds a little like Duane Eddie, but one review did describe it as his best effort since Sloe Gin. If it's half the quality of that fine performance I'll be buying 2 copies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B07mTSIbcxE&feature=related

Quote of the Week surely has to go to the Budget Protester who, relating to

Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clark's little snooze in Parliament during the Budget Speech, observed that the whole Cabinet is made up of

'40 WINKERS' (or something like that!).

PS:- © for the Mercedes photograph belongs to the ever vigilant and observant Paul Harris who spotted this machine in Wareham yesterday - Thanks Paul.

and finally, yes the strange looking machine contained in yesterday's post was indeed a 'Tree Uprooter / Transplanter'.

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

Finally, late yesterday afternoon I got to meet Simon Godfrey whose wife Lesley it has been my pleasure to enjoy the company of over the last couple of days. Having been hard at work in London for those days,

Simon was surely deserving of a 'shot' of one of his favourite tipples, 'Jeremiah Weed'. I just loved the bespoke 'jam-jar' glass and already have my feelers out to obtain one. If like me you have never heard of this Devilish brew, here is the SP:-

Jeremiah Weed is a brand of several bourbon whiskey based products, including a 90 proof blended whiskey distilled in Kentucky and a bourbon based liqueur manufactured in Connecticut and sold in limited quantities in the United States, mostly at and around Air Force installations. The alcohol content of the liqueur by volume is 50% (100 proof). Jeremiah Weed is a product of Diageo.

Jeremiah Weed has earned notoriety and has become a favorite drink of the American fighter pilot, especially in the United States Air Force. It is so popular among this demographic that it has gained a cult following. Jeremiah Weed is a very significant element of American fighter pilot culture; how it came to be the drink of the fighter pilot is a matter of legend.

Once again the JD Wetherspoon house William Henry was devoid of Lesley's favourite Jameson's Irish whisky so she, and I had to settle for a large Glenmorangie, single (Scottish) malt whisky - life's hell isn't it?

Sharing a meal together, all too soon it was time to leave, and I for one could happily have stayed all night. Having enjoyed the fantastic company of 2 of the nicest people I've met for many a day, the lyrics of Metallica's classic love song stayed with me all the way home, which describes my new 'friends' perfectly.

Trust I seek and I find in you
every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters

So to today and with no restrictions on the 'bus pass' plus good weather conditions it was directly to the Bill. There was a singing Blackcap on the way there and at Barleycrates

the full chill of the wind, still in the east, could be felt. All I could find there were double figures of both Dunnock and Great Tit (11 and 13 respectively) but it was later reveled that the main prize had slipped my grip. c2 Ring Ouzels had been seen earlier at the cliff end of the path, bringing my total to 3 of these dark Thrushes with contrasting white bib missed so far this season. There were good numbers of Meadow Pipit and Linnet flying down the western edge of the Island, with just one or two Wheatear and Sand Martin among them for good measure.

Reaching the lower fields, one of the Wheatears struck a distant pose, and close to the Obs quarry c2 Firecrests, several Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler were seen. In the garden a slow trickle of migrants had been caught in the mist nets including

this Goldcrest

with this Firecrest (caught during the week) published just for comparison.

There was also a Robin which, so I was told,

has its origins in Continental Europe, as shown by its greyer plumage.

The ringing over for the day, The Prof (Peter Morgan) furls one of the mist nets.

On the way home I witnessed the handiwork of a 'ringer' somewhere as this photograph shows a ringed Goldfinch (right of picture),

while on the same wire was a Collared Dove.

Finally, Paul Harris sent these images of a weird mechanical contraption, with the question, what do you think it is?

Well, with a little research I do believe I've cracked it.

It has to be a 'Tree Up-rooter', designed to move a tree, intact from one location to another - what do you say matey?

PS - hope you enjoyed driving the Ferrari?

A Hat Trick of Raptors

Corned Beef is one of my great loves and since visiting Uruguay, and more particularly the seaport town of Fray Bentos, (a name derived from the reclusive priest Friar Benedict) in 2005 I've rarely eaten any other brand. Today it's extremely pleasing to welcome readers from this fine country perched on the edge of the Rio del Plata. Colonia was another small town we visited, and remember well the parade of vintage cars through the town and onward to the seashore. We hope you enjoy the read as country number 133 and will pass the link on to friends and family.

Thank You.

Apart from less wind and slightly more mist over the Ridgeway, the weather today was once again 'springlike'. All of note in the cemetery was the increasing array of Primroses that are certainly making for a fine picture.

Bird-wise, the picture was similar at Radipole except for a dozen or so Sand Martins, a Sparrowhawk and a couple of Bullfinch, but even before I'd even reached the 'kissing gate' my 5th Columnist (the enemy within) had informed me that the Visitor's Centre had been burgled (remember where you heard it first!). With some swift 'Policing' the perpetrators had already been arrested, but given this building is out on a limb, and the amount of valuables within (all manner of expensive optics and books) it comes as no surprise!

I include this photograph of Queen Street in the heart of Weymouth as probably being unique? This has to be the most disgustingly litter strewn thoroughfare in the Borough, but today my arrival coincided with the mechanical road sweeper, so I quickly got this shot. It's now only a matter of months before the world arrives in our town (Olympic Games) but if the situation reference litter, dog muck etc prevails, I will sew a Ukrainian flag on my jacket and if anyone from another nation talks to me I'll pretend to be from elsewhere.

Swiftly on to Lodmoor, and after another look at the Long-billed Dowitcher, a single Wheatear, a distant Bar-tailed Godwit and c2 Dunlin, I spent a little time watching these

c2 Carrion Crows squabbling over this discarded apple. However, this was nothing by comparison to the Tussle that was going on right next door.

A third Oystercatcher had muscled in on the resident courting couple (preparing to breed close to the Hump we hope), while they were having none of it. Amid squeals, screeches, head bobbing with bills agape

they herded the intruder along a grassy knoll

before putting it to flight. By now in company with Daragh, the walk up Beachdown Way was fruitless, but reaching the end a phone call alerted us to

a Red Kite passing high overhead. This had been seen by fellow birders Geoff & (or) Sheila Barlow who had, as quick as lightning, called us. Another Thank You both!

Continuing today's pattern of hassle, it too was continually buzzed by Herring Gulls until it disappeared to the north east.

Daragh sporting a look of glee just moments after watching the Kite disappear. Yesterday while walking along this hedge, I watched both a female Chaffinch teasing Lichen from a branch and a Magpie carrying sticks then both flying off to a nest. Today the RSPB are 'pile-driving' fence posts into the same area, but I know having been branded the 'Local Nutter' it will be of little concern to anyone else (except the few).

Heading towards the bus stop, and Portland, there was this carcass of an Early Thorn moth, and also a chance to get just a little closer to the once distant

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Always a joy to watch, these youngsters are taking advantage of the £5.00 per day sailing lessons at PORTLAND's National Sailing Academy. When seeing this sight, I often wonder if there is a future 'Gold Medal' among those sails?

Portland still remained fairly quiet, but Nick Stantiford had recorded the first Common Redstart of the year and I got to see Ken Parker (recently returned from 'birding' Trinidad & Tobago), PBO Chairman Edwin Wheland (on one of his many short visits) and Peter Morgan (familiarly known as The Prof, freshly arrived from Wales and already hard at work in the 'ringing hut'). Great to see you all!

During my wanders across Top Fields, 2 species of Raptor were seen starting with a most obliging

Kestrel, while a little further on this

Sparrowhawk appeared overhead, before disappearing as quickly and silently as it had arrived. Just time now after this early post to get ready to meet up with Lesley Godfrey (of recent days) and husband Simon (recently arrived from London) for a Jameson's or Twa - Manana!