Thick As A Brick - Jethro Tull

To start on a 'high note', as predicted yesterday's unusual mystery plant was identifies by John Gifford as the highly poisonous shrub Solanum pyracanthum, more commonly known as Porcupine Tomato. Thanks for your efforts John!

Given the weather conditions and a self imposed restriction on birding hours today (you have to draw the line somewhere to get other things done) it was inevitable that a good bird would show up. It did!

Pea Soup (an old English expression for 'thick fog') didn't come into it when taking the same view as yesterday along the Backwater, you couldn't even see Weymouth let alone Portland. But, it's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good, so surely a rare bird would have been forced to land amidst all of this?

It was the same picture at Ferry Bridge and with 'spring tides' with us once again it was well worth watching the first couple of hours of the ebb in the hope something might drop in!

The water was pushed right up to the sea wall when I arrived, deciding to do a 'species count' and photograph as many of them as I could. Not surprisingly first on the scene was this semi-resident

Herring Gull in company with a few

Black-headed Gulls plus

3 Turnstones.

A look across the road into Portland Harbour drew a visual blank, with the band of brighter light, centre, being where the Isle of Portland was yesterday.

It is at such tides that the small patches of low-lying ground running along the inside of Chesil Beach fill with water, which remains as the water drops back, making a fine habitat for many species of bird. Mells (not a word I cn find in the dictionary) as they are referred to locally are always worth a look, and in doing so this morning came to realise just how much beautiful

pink Thrift is still in bloom.

A few Dunlin were the first Waders to arrive,

closely followed by equally few Ringed Plover

as 2 Little Egret flew along the line of the Beach.

Among the smaller birds, this Dunnock looked every bit as if is was still feeding young with others in attendance included Skylark, Linnet, 3 Stonechat, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Wheatear, Swallow plus Meadow & Rock Pipit. More Gulls had now landed including

this adult and

a 'first winter' Mediterranean Gull,

along with this Sandwich Tern.

On my way back towards the bus, I came across this discarded plastic container left 'high & dry', between the pebbles and the dead Zostra (Eel) Grass, by the falling tide not unusual in this day an age of the perpetual 'Little Lout'.

However, on closer inspection it was teeming with life within forming something of a mini aquarium. Clicking on the image will magnify it, where both small Shrimp-like creatures and fish can be seen.

As for today's 'Rare Bird', it was a

Blyth's Reed Warbler, caught close to the Portland Bird Observatory. Continuing to be self disciplined I didn't go but have dug a picture out of the archive of one that I photographed while visiting Estonia last year. Finally, to complete the 'morning list' both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gull were seen as well as Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and a Peregrine with prey.

Pearl's A Singer - Elkie Brooks

By and large the day began much as the last few both weather and bird-wise. Overcast and gloomy did quickly give way to some outbreaks of sunshine but rain did look likely, things remained warm overall, while the wind (a brisk westerly) didn't even manifest itself until arrival on the cliff at Barleycrates.

Goldcrests and Robins continue to dominate in the cemetery, with little else to keep me, so quickly on to Radipole. There the water level is still being kept low but as far as Waders were concerned seemed only to have attracted 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere on the reserve 3 Kingfishers were active along with a single Common Sandpiper, plenty of Teal, Bearded Tits 'pinging' from the reeds, the long staying Arctic Tern remains and numbers of

Reed Bunting appear to be increasing. One of the best and certainly most endearing birds to land in the county for many a day, remains here for what must be a third year.

This image was taken on the 24th July 2011, since when (just 65 days)

the Hooded Merganser has moulted into this fine plumage. Not quiet complete yet but a few days should see it pristine!

Close to the Westham Bridge sluices I found this unusual looking plant with thorny leafs and stems. A flick through the 'wild' flower book produced no answer as to what it might be, so looks like I'll need to call on my mentor John Gifford to sort it out. Given that so much WWII bomb rubble from the High West Street/Chapelhay area was used to form footpaths etc here, it may well be a cultivated plant. There is much evidence of this around the reserve with Plum, Crab Apple, Bay et al growing all over the place.

Taking a quick weather observation as I arrived at what we used to call the Backwater as children (Weymouth Inner Harbour would be more appropriate) things looked a little bleak towards Portland.

However, we persevered, taking a look at some of the decent size Grey Mullet that now prosper here. Portland once again was a dead loss for me, retracing my route of yesterday seeing only a hand full of Swallows, 3 Stonechat and 2 Ravens.

Lodmoor was my next port of call where Lapwing, Little Egret, Common Buzzard, Red & Greenshank, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper plus a single Grey Plover were seen in quick succession, and it was worth taking a little time to watch this

Grey Heron

Never hurried in their hunting technique, it just stood motionless eyes firmly fixed on one spot.

Quicker that my eye could see, it's head plunged into the water and emerged with this small Dab.

Not a huge profit for such a long wait, but maybe bigger fish next time and

at least we've eaten today!

The main thrust of my visit was to try and see a juvenile Red-backed Shrike that was spending a third day on the Moor, and on arrival the news was good. It had been seen regularly and often but, as is often the case, had just disappeared from view. The wait was a full 20 minutes, and even then the bird only lingered for a short time before presumably catching another insect.

With no chance of securing a photo these 2 images come from the archive, the bottom one showing an adult bird. So, while thumbing through a few shots I again returned to the Venezuela section to bring you a few more from the Hato Pinero visit in 2009.

Roadside Hawk

If the Pearl Kite isn't the niftiest little raptor, I'd like to know what is!

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Saffron Finch

Certainly not David Attenborough, but an Ocelot for all that!

Concrete & Clay - Unit 4 + 2

Firstly, a quick return to yesterday's concrete block conundrum solved by our friend and lover of Portland, Deborah Tessier via the link below. They are it turns out the old foundations for a long defunct Stone Saw Mill. Many thanks for that Deb.

http://www.geoffkirby.co.uk/Portland/685690/

I doubt there will be any disagreement in local 'birding' circles that today was the dullest of the year for our avian friends? The cemetery drew a complete blank, while all there was of note at Radipole were 2 Black-tailed Godwit.

Rarely do any of the average 20 to 30 Cormorant on the lake venture this close to humans, so the opportunity was ceased before quickly moving on to the

Town Bridge where most were making preparations

for a days sea angling or diving.

Walking the full length of Barleycrates Lane twice (the second in disbelief) then Reep Lane, along the West Cliff and onward to the Portland Bird Observatory there was only a single migrant to report, a Wheatear. Things were as bad there, so after a chat to a few newly arrived visitors it was decided best to return home and catch up on a few chores.

On the way this fine looking Sailing Vessel passed The Bill, but while my guess was The Pelican of London there is no confirmation of this. So, a quick return to the archive:-

The seriously endangered American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Venezuela.

Crowned Caracara also seen in Venezuela.

Common Pauaque, Hato Pinero, Venezuela this unfortunate (for it not me) critter hit our Land Rover but returned to full health and was later released.

Madagascar Nightjar