Kingfisher - Golden Earring

With total reliance on the Fungi Field Guide, Bowie & Sheila's forage at Sherford Bridge resulted in this single specimen. Bowie was initially determined to eat what is thought to be a Penny Bun

(but as with so many of these things there are similarities, the other option being Oak Bolete, but my money is on the former) but thought better of it later! Each were described in the Guide as 'delicious' - guess we'll never know.

Today started in what has become 'usual fashion', gloomy, overcast and threatening to be another bad weather day. It was certainly that on the avian front, with little to report except a Grey Wagtail overflying the cemetery, as were half a dozen Siskin.

The 2 Little Stints were still at Radipole and may have looked like this if a little closer to the lens, while migrants included a number of Chiffchaff, lots of Sand Martins, a few Meadow Pipits. All else included the Radipole 3 'specialities (Bearded Tit, Water Rail & Cetti's Warbler) plus a

Common Kingfisher - the same species as see at Radipole today, but photograph taken in the centre of Delhi, India.

It was down hill from there on with only a couple of departing Siskin at the Bill as well as a Grey Squirrel close to the Barns. As a Computer/Music Masterclass was booked for this afternoon, I hooked up with the Secret Lemonade Drinker bye-passing Ferry Bridge and heading directly home. Once there and keeping Gary topped up with coffee he set about teaching me 3 more fundamental computing techniques - that sounds good doesn't it? Well, let's hope I've learnt my lesson as immediately this is posted I'll be at it - failure not being an option. Now, where did I put Gary's telephone number?

So, as Kingfisher had entered the log today it maybe an idea to finish with a few of the family group from around the world.

Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher - Australia

Forest Kingfisher - Australia

Giant Kingfisher - Zimbabwe

Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher - as stated

Malachite Kingfisher - The Gambia

New Zealand Kingfisher - as suggested

Pied Kingfisher - Thailand

Ringed Kingfisher - Brazil

Sacred Kingfisher - Australia

Stork-billed Kingfisher - Sri Lanka

Clutching At Straws - Marillion

Weather wise, the only difference from yesterday was that by the time I was ready to leave home this morning the rain was so heavy it prevented me which in turn saved me from getting soaked once again.

It was 07:15 before there was a lull, this being the picture as I took a short cut through a bird-less cemetery, bye-passed Radipole and headed straight for Portland.

Not a lot brighter there looking back (north east) along the East Cliff towards Chenye House and

towards my destination Portland Bill.

Swallows were still leaving on their south bound migration, with a few House and Sand Martins for company with a lone Tree Pipit calling and putting in a brief appearance.

As I approached the first of the beach huts some angry looking clouds rolled in bringing with them a deluge which, had luck not been on my side, would have resulted in another soaking.

Exit Hugh Hayward, grandson of the founder in 1868 of the famous Hayward's Pickles brand, from his mobile home who invited me to take shelter in his hut. A great chance meeting as he went on to tell me that the hut was built as a World War I 'observation post' in 1915, and that the kettle was near to boiling. I have since found out for myself that on average, in the UK, a Hayward's Pickled Onion (now owned by Premier Foods) is eaten every 4 seconds and 5.4 million households buy their products. Thanks to Hugh and your wife for the kindness!

While stood at the doorway of my new found shelter 4 Whinchats appeared with 18 Wheatear,

3 Grey Wagtails and a passing Sparrowhawk.

There were also good numbers of Meadow and Rock Pipit but as the rain subsided I was off to the Bird Observatory. Things had not been too productive there, in fact it seemed I had seen the best of it thus far, but there were a few lovely people to see, some familiar some new to me.

A short stop at Ferry Bridge as the tide receded produced a total of

6 Sanderling plus one Little Stint and a likely second. So, with the dark clouds continuing to tumble in from the west it was time for a pint of cider and then home.

This Hawthorn Shieldbug was found in Bowie & Sheila's garden yesterday,

while my pal Andy Lindsay sent me these interesting shots from Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire currently experiencing seriously low water levels. It is here that he some times takes me angling on my occasional visits

but have never come anywhere near a Pike of this size. Like he tells me time after time "it's no use having bait on one end, and a 'twit' on the other"! Words in this quote can be changed or shuffled as appropriate.

All this rain put me in mind of these Marillion lyrics:-

'The Last Straw'
(the final track on this sensational album)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the water
Those problems seem to arise the ones you never really thought of
The feeling you get is similar to something like drowning
Out of your mind, you're out of your depth, you should have taken soundings
Clutching at straws, we're clutching at straws

Sailing - Rod Stewart

It was a simple equation of intrepid or stupid this morning as the storm clouds rolled in on the stiff westerly wind, with the chances of rain being more a case of 'when' rather than 'if'! 'When', as it turned out, was just a few hundred meters from home as I exited the bird-less cemetery with a downpour of Biblical proportions leaving me as wet as one of the Cormorants seen feeding while passing Radipole Lake.

On the subject of feeding birds, it was strange (the first time for me) to see a Great Black-backed Gull feeding on corn at the path-side verge usually reserved for feral Pigeons and more confiding Waterfowl. But enough of that and on to the bus. The rain continued to increase, especially across the Beach Road, but moderated as we reached Avalanche Church

but there was still need to shelter in the lee of a convenient hedge as I surveyed a gloomy looking Bill Road towards the Observatory. On the way I managed to clock up 13 Wheatear and a trickle of Swallows and Martins heading straight out to sea regardless of the conditions.

In the Obs garden there was this rather sickly looking female Pied Flycatcher but that was all seen there. After coffee it was a walk to the Obelisk at the Bill,

and on the way there was just a single Yellow Wagtail flying over and this small group of hardy (or stupid) anglers.

Out to sea there was a largish tug towing an even longer barge, and with reference to the AIS (real time) Vessel Traffic and Position web-site (thanks to Mr Cade) it was seen to be the Panamanian registered Tug Courbet bound for Sete, France on the Mediterranean Coast. Rather her than me shaping up for the Bay of Biscay on such a day!

At the point, all of note were 2 passing Mediterranean Gulls while further on at a wind and sea battered

Pulpit Rock

there were a few Gannets

and Shags flying by. There had been a number of Balearic Shearwater and Arctic Skuas, plus an unexpected Puffin but not seen by me.

In the Bill Quarry several of the resident Starlings waited on the rocks while I passed by, and headed for Ferry Bridge.

There, the tide was still pretty high but given the wind and sea conditions not a surprise to see the sailing fraternity mustered 'mob-handed'.

The shallows on the western shore of Portland Harbour has become something of a Mecca for

Sail-boarders and

Kite-boarders alike, and while the action is always exciting today there was a special treat as this guy showed off his skills.

At a speed estimated to be over 30 knots, he raced across the wind then at the opportune moment launched himself high above the sea surface, and achieving the horizontal.

All of this was no more than a few yards from the shore, and as I stood there alone marveling at these skills I couldn't help but applaud loudly.

Not all of these maneuvers met will success, but even the 'crash landings' were spectacular and didn't seem to phase him one bit. Let's hope it isn't too long before we see both of these disciplines become Olympic sports!

Plodding the foreshore watching the Sea (Marsh) Samphire uncover as the tide dropped back,

my, and probably the Counties, first Brent Goose flew out of the now clearing sky. On the wing for a full 10 minutes, it eventually settled on the sea

but was continually harassed by a juvenile Herring Gull.

Only letting up for short periods, it would have been understandable if the Goose headed elsewhere

but eventually it settled

and occasionally came quite close.