Master & Commander - The Far Side of the World

Although there is still much to do at home the weather again played a part in making my mind up for me today. In addition I have a small party this evening so really the blustery wind, overcast sky and frequent outbreaks of rain kept me at bay!

Our friend Howard is over on a brief visit from Australia (not as short I paid them recently) so it get together should be well worth it particularly as his countryman Russell Crowe is also attending. Ever since visiting the HMS Victory sail loft a couple of weeks ago there has been this desire to watch 'Master & Commander' so what better time?

Again we rely on the archive to provide the 'eye candy', also appropriately from 'down under', Northern Territories, Australia to be precise - please enjoy!

Little Corella flock

Little Corella

Masked Finch

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher

Magpie Goose

Kori Bustard

Hello Goodbye Lizard

Masked Plover

Northern Fantail

Peaceful Dove

Pheasant Coucal

Pied Heron

Radjah Shelduck

Rainbow Bee-eater

Red-backed Fairy Wren

Red-necked Avocet

While the home country passes yet another milestone 15,000 readers, Spain still lurks just below the 3 figures. Come on John & Marion, please give your adopted countrymen a jog.

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	15047	71.63%	United Kingdom
	1556	7.41%	United States
	541	2.58%	Taiwan
	520	2.48%	Canada
	305	1.45%	Estonia
	292	1.39%	Australia
	225	1.07%	Germany
	187	0.89%	Netherlands
	186	0.89%	France
	163	0.78%	New Zealand
	129	0.61%	Italy
	112	0.53%	Japan
	95	0.45%	Spain

"Mushrooms Mr Merry" - Fellowship of the Ring

Another overcast day with light rain on the breeze but nothing to stop me getting out of the house after 3 days self confined. You'll doubtless be pleased to know that ALL the media is working, although there is now just the matter of hiding the 'spaghetti junction' of wire cables, a little job for this evening.

With the exception of half a dozen House Martins whirling above the cemetery, there was little by way of bird-life and all else included a single Grey Squirrel and this

Fungi Sp??

While the water level has risen slightly at Radipole, there is still a deal of exposed mud but there didn't seem to be a Wader of any sort let alone the reported Little Stint of recent days. There were however still a few Reed and Sedge Warblers along with singing Chiffchaff, Cetti's & Willow Warblers plus 2 Water Rail.

I had noted from the reserve a thick band of mist cum low cloud blocking out the Ridgeway Hills towards Dorchester, and while things were clear through Weymouth and Wyke Regis, Portland was shrouded in this 'dome' of grunge. Just in time for the start of the ebb tide, first on the list was this

Bar-tailed Godwit

which was one of 2 today.

There were also a few Great Black-backed & Herring Gulls, 3 Sandwich plus 12 Common Terns plus Ringed Plover but I was more interested in the

4 medium sized Waders flying towards the Chesil Beach.

Once settled they were seen to be Common Redshank

but there was one among that company that would have done better just to fly straight through!

Hovering above the foreshore, and looking very Kestrel like, a Peregrine Falcon was obviously eyeing up its next meal, and soon found it.

Stooping from an estimated 100 feet and

pulling out just above sea-level,

the chase was on!

The hapless Redshank carried out some fantastic twists and turns

but not enough to save it from the Peregrines talons as they both crashed to the shingle.

A last desperate struggle to break free was all in vain,

soon overcome by this powerful bird of prey

which then effortlessly took off and flew over the ridge of the beach.

Sensing the danger was past the other Waders, flushed by the appearance of the Raptor, started to return including Ringed Plover, Dunlin and

Oystercatcher

but these 3 Sanderling

had not been seen prior to the air strike.

3 Mediterranean Gulls had been present throughout all of this,

seeming unperturbed but be warned I have seen these killers take full adult Great Black-backs so little is safe!

It was great to be back on Portland again after the short absence, but birds were extremely thin on the ground (and in the air for that matter) with just singles of Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat entering the notebook.

Reaching the crest just above Culverwell the third band of murk was sighted stretching as far as the eye could see both east and west along the English Channel. A few migrants had been reported, including the 2 Grey Phalaropes at Chesil Cove, not seen by me, but a compensation by way of

2 large Field Mushrooms plucked from a nearby horse paddock. On his last 2 Fungi Forays, John Gifford has drawn a 'blank' on both but when you tune in later maybe you can confirm these are in fact edible matey?

PS - What's that 'rule of thumb' John? Yes, they do 'smell' like Mushrooms - Aggggghhh!

A short diversion to thank 'Secret' for his recent efforts, afforded this shot of a Collared Dove

and finally, it was good to see the new 'real time' Bus Stops around the Borough are now at the live test stage.