Trains & Boats & Planes - Dionne Warwick

All in all a very quiet day today, but there was an upside that gave me the chance to return home early and start pulling a few strings together for the upcoming trip. Leaving home the sky was best part covered with rain baring cloud, while the wind remained in the westerly quarter but somewhat reduced in force from the past couple of days. In the cemetery most birds are now feeding young, with this female Blackbird looking a little worse for wear amid her toils.

It was worth stopping to look at these daisies which looked like Michaelmas but referring to the book that doesn't seem to fit. Expect John Gifford will soon be on the case?

Moving on to Radipole, and this one looks easy enough Yellow Iris plenty of this around the lake. With little more here than a bunch of Common Swifts, a Whimbrel flying over while calling

and quite a few pairs of Tufted Duck.

A pleasant enough walk along the sea-front and always a treat to see the Common Tern colony, complete with the single Arctic Tern, there was also a chance to watch the male Marsh Harrier flying above 2 Mile Copse.

A first Early Spotted Orchid along the southern pathway where yet again the RSPB have been cutting the grass. As predicted, there has been no reply from them as to why there is this compulsion, almost as if they think it's a garden and not a 'wild place', but you pay your membership so perhaps the questions would be best asked from that direction!

A further along on of 2 Common Buzzards, thought to be nesting close by, was receiving some

aggressive action from 2 Carrion Crows

which were dogged in their attack,

and at times looked to be making physical contact with the raptor.

Even though the morning was getting on time wise, the Savi's Warbler was still 'reeling' away

and while remaining at quite a distance some recognisable images were possible.

There were also a few Rabbits around as usual, this one seeming just a little more casual than the others, and all else before leaving was a single Ringed Plover in company with 7 Dunlin and a 'fly-by' Green Woodpecker.

The increasing rain clouds swayed me to an early return home, mentioned earlier, allowing me to get quite a bit done towards my travel preparations. Only 4 full days now before take off, I have included here a small sketch (which can be expanded twice with just a single right click for each increase in size) of some of the places it is intended to stop.

In addition some statistics which include 20,870 air miles (as John Down once said I'm taking care of the ozone-layer single handed) and probably more than 6,000 miles overland. There's got to be a story or two there surely?

An ideal opportunity I think for a PLUG!
It would be fantastic if every reader could pass on the link to Families and Friends in the hope that they can share the journey too!
THANK YOU

Are Friends Electric - Tubeway Army

John & Maggie are!

Another windy day even in the lee of Weymouth but the sky was by and large clear so, after a brief visit to the cemetery

where once again Goldcrests were making their presence known, I wandered along the Rodwell Trail (at least part of its course) where

Long-tailed Tits were by far the most vocal of the small birds there.

In addition Blackcap (male) were also very much in evidence

Blackcap (female)

but a lone Treecreeper was unexpected. This tiny bird with no more than a pseeet call, which alerted me to its presence, is undoubtedly here all year round but rarely seen - let's hope they are breeding!
From here it was a quick move to Portland where, given the wind direction and its strength, I was undecided as to which path to take. On the West Cliff it would be driving in hard on the starboard beam, while the East cliff in would be from ahead but the undulating path would give a little relief now and then. It was the latter I chose and still got a buffeting all the way to the Bill. Even east of the Common sea-spray was catching the air, while at my destination instead of a hoped for Storm Petrel there was little more than a few Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillimot, Razorbill and Gannet.

This light aircraft arrived from seaward, and hitting the coastal turbulence started rocking & rolling similar to Bill Haley & his Comets, the only place I didn't want to be was 'up there'.

Returning via a completely deserted Bird Observatory and the Top Fields there was nothing to report but the bus to Weymouth took me to the undoubted highlight of the day. Lunch and a few drinks with John Gifford and his sister Maggie Hayden was indeed a delight. John has become very much my 'botanical guide' being responsible for identifying many of the plants, published through these pages, I have no idea about. Our 3 hour conversation varied from Viper's Bugloss to the Mau Mau and the St Johnstone football team to Sydling St Nicholas. The plan is to enjoy a Sunday roast at the Coach & Horses at Winterboure Abass on the first week-end of my return. Make no mistake about it both of you, I'LL BE THERE as the Four Tops once said!

Damsels & Damselflies

The weather had turned very much for the better this morning, and walking through the cemetery listening to Goldcrests in the Pines, a text from the Observatory alerted me to a Golden Oriole that had been caught there at 05:50. The sun was already warm as I crossed on to Radipole and with the wind edging nearer to southerly

this Great Crested Grebe also seemed to be basking in the conditions.

There was also Bearded Tit activity in 3 of the reed-beds, but this presumed juvenile was the only one to show. At Lodmoor I met up with Daragh who had been waiting for the

Arctic Tern to appear, which it did at the same time as me. With news that the

Savi's Warbler was also showing well, having been here for 2 weeks now,

we headed off to Beachdown Way where I was able to secure a few distant photographs, the first ever of this species anywhere. Close inspection shows a ring on the left leg!

Parting company, I now wandered the west path to find this predated Mallard egg

which looked every bit as if it had been taken by a Corvid, Carrion Crow?, Magpie?

On the dried out mud there were a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and further along

the Honeysuckle was seen to be in full bloom while the members of the

Common Tern colony all took to the wing at the same time and for no apparent reason.

The final sighting on, or perhaps I should say 'above' was this para-glider making the most of the thermals.

At Portland, once again I took a look at the Curtis puddle and noted today that it wasn't just House Martins utilising the water and the mud, but a Swallow had joined in collecting building material,

while a number of House Sparrows indulged in a little bathing and

a few Linnets, including this male,

where enjoying a much needed drink. Apart from the now 'long gone' Golden Oriole, there was little to hold me at the Bird Observatory for long, and with a drink date with 2 lovely ladies pending there was just time to capture these

Azure Damselfly and

Large Red Damselfly

Leslie Brown, Myself and Val Watts enjoyed a splendid lunchtime drink together which was supposed to be a Bon Voyage tot before my departure next week. I just keep getting the feeling there may be 2 or 3 more of these before I actually leave? Great to share your company ladies!

Overhead the Albatross,

Hangs motionless upon the air

And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
An echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine.

Echoes - Pink Floyd

A quieter day altogether than yesterday, weather wise and in the wildlife department but at least I was up early enough to enjoy more of it! The sun was already shining in a near cloudless sky at 06:00 and the wind had dropped to a gentle breeze, but bird-wise even the now local Swifts and House Martins had temporarily absented themselves. A wander through the cemetery and Radipole brought up no more than a singing Lesser Whitethroat, but along the way there were a few roadside plants to observe

such as these Common Poppies

shaking their crimson heads in the breeze, plus a good showing of

Dog Rose

Nearing the Gurkha restaurant a passer-by told me that he had seen young birds in the Mute Swan nest, pictured yesterday, I lingered for a while in the hope of seeing them but the parent bird was unmoved so I continued to the sluices at Westham Bridge.

There, 4 Mute swan Cygnets, were being shown off by a parent bird, a first for me this year.

Quite unusual at anytime of the year never mind May, a male Pochard had arrive from where I know not, but there would be a pair or 2 on the lake and more at Lodmoor. There was time to take a look at Ferrybridge before the flood tide began, but even there the Waders only amounted to 81 Dunlin and 29 Sanderling

but this line of foam / residue along the shore-line was a little disturbing.

My first destination on Portland was the barns at Sweethill to check the progress of the House Martin's nest building.

Once again Curtis had topped up the puddle continuing a ready supply of mud,

and as can be seen from these shot the birds were taking full advantage.

There were more wild flowers to view in the Top Fields,

but despite a determined search of the Field Guide I haven't been able to identify either. This one may be Viper's Bugloss????

but this, maybe one of the Umbellifers, remains a mystery. OK John time for you to get to work!

The Royal Netherlands Navy Minesweeper 'Willemstad' passes Portland Bill.

On the way home the 501 Portland Bill (open-top bus) service passed by, reminding me of yesterday's return home when I called in to see The Secret Lemonade Drinker. Gary White was a longtime shipmate and since a very dear friend who is always a great pleasure to see. Along with a cool ginger beer he played for me Echoes (originally from the Pink Floyd album 'Meddle') this rendition from the David Gilmour record 'Live In Gdansk'. It has been some years since I sat down and listened to this 23 minute 31 second opus, but guess Gary must have sensed the thrill and gave me the album. Nothing has been on the turntable since, and I doubt it will for a few more playings yet - Thank You 'Secret' you're a Gem! Love also to Jane.