Big In Japan - Alphaville

Neon on my naked skin, passing silhouettes
of strange illuminated mannequins.
Shall I stay here at the zoo, shall I go and change my point of view for other ugly scenes.
You did what you did to me now it's history I see
Things will happen while they can, I will wait here for my man tonight
It's easy when you're Big in Japan

Of the many hundreds of Siskin that must have flown overhead here in the past few days, there has barely been one visible, only betraying their presence by a distinctive call. Today was to change all that as within a few paces of home 2 flew overhead at such an altitude that some colour was discernible, as did wave after wave of Meadow Pipits. What had brought them down from the heavens is not known as weather conditions remained similar to previous days, except there had been a noticeable reduction in wind speed.

Having been alerted to the week-end arrival at Portland of one of the Royal Navy's latest warships, by my friend Janet Read, I noted, stepping off the bus at Ferry Bridge, that she is secured alongside the Outer Coaling Pier. The first of what are known as 'stealth destroyers' HMS Daring is on a 3 day visit to the port and during this time will be open to the public (well we did pay for her!).

A quote from her Master Captain Robertson tells us that just one small part of the capabilities of this technologically innovative vessel, equipped with an air defence system, would be to track and destroy a target the size of a cricket ball travelling three times the speed of sound.

Not quite as fast as that, but seeming like history was repeating itself, 3 Brent Geese flew across Portland Harbour, as three did yesterday, but instead of disappearing over the Chesil Beach

they landed briefly on the foreshore allowing this shot. Also, there seemed to be double the number of Ringed Plover and Dunlin while for quality a (the) Bar-tailed Godwit plus a very vocal Whimbrel and 5 Mediterranean Gulls were also recorded.

Walking the Top Fields while heading for the Observatory, the sky was alive with birds but only more of the same, except for a single male Brambling (among a small flock of Siskin), a few Swallows, a Raven and 4 Stock Doves.

All else on this wander was the amount of Woody Nightshade in the hedgerows and what might be described as a Grasshopper.

Being only the second specimen of this fine insect ever to be found on Portland, it was thought well worth exposing to a wider audience. My own pathetic attempt to secure a decent image came to naught, so Southern Oak Bush-cricket comes to you © Martin Cade, Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory.

A short visit to see my mate Gary White, enabled me to fulfill what as been a small but niggling musical ambition, long overdue. Having drawn up a list of my favourite 20 'Hit Singles' ever, Gary transposed my discs to CD format so I might play them in continuous and preferred order, especially on the i-Pod.

Never content simply to do the recording and hand it over, the innovative 'Secret Lemonade Drinker' decorated the discs with what he knows to be my favorite motif. The 4 North American Indians ('tooled up' and ready to go) are surrounded by the words "Homeland Security, Fighting Terrorism since 1497". The records concerned are:-

1 Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
2 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
3 Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
4 Badge - Cream
5 Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
6 Will You - Hazel O'Connor
7 Lady Willpower - Gary Puckett & Union Gap
8 Night of Fear - The Move
9 In Dreams - Roy Orbison
10 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles

11 Up the Junction - Squeeze
12 Big In Japan - Alphaville
13 Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
14 Every Day Hurts - Sad Cafe
15 Mandy - Barry Manilow
16 Wonderful Life - Black
17 96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
18 Night Owl - Gerry Rafferty
19 Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
20 God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You - Argent

and in a similar vein, from Forrest Rowland my Mate in Montana
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of the arrival in the Americas of Christopher Columbus, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday.
but not ALL!

With a shortage of photos today, we end with another visit to Hato Pinero, Venezuela

Sharp-tailed Ibis

Sunbittern

Sunbittern. A thousand apologies for the quality of this shot (no one would be more pleased than me had it been focused) but thought worth publishing for the 'feather pattern' alone of this stunning bird!

Whistling Heron

I have the name of this strange looking Turtle-like creature written down somewhere

but for the life of me can neither find or remember it at present.

A quick update here - Willie suggests it's a Pig-nosed Turtle, but once reminded by John Gifford I agree with him that it is a Mata Mata! THANK YOU both for responding.

I'd Rather Go Blind - Etta James

With a steady trickle of Swallows accompanied by a few Meadow Pipits and the odd Pied Wagtail flying over my house soon after dawn, at least there was some movement despite little improvement in the weather. Still dark, dank and cloudy the wind had wind still on the cusp of 'gale force' had 'backed' a point or two resting square in the north west.

Again, guided by the tide, it was directly to Ferry Bridge where, even before alighting the bus, these 3 Brent Geese were spotted flying high over Portland Harbour. Given the amount of food just lying there waiting for a Goose or 3 to drop in, they simply overflew

and disappeared into West Bay. Apart from 2 Little Egret, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a bunch of Great Black-backs there were only the following allowing a few photos.

Starting with 4 Dunlin and a single Sanderling that landed right along side where I stood.

OK, we've had our share of photos of both but find it had to resist snapping away.

Dunlin.

Sanderling

Before crossing the Beach Road back to the Portland Harbour side there was this Dog Whelk Shell which, although both the Harbour and Weymouth Bay are full of these delicious (my Dad and I used to eat dozens of the things) Gastropod Mollusc's, are these days a rare sight on this foreshore. When vacated by the natural inhabitants they often become an ideal home for the Hermit Crab.

Located on the west shore of Portland Harbour, which all too soon will become a venue for the 2012 Olympic Game, is the GB National Sailing Academy. I have received a couple of invitations to visit this fine sporting complex, so hope to bring you a report on this real soon.

Also in the Harbour, the cargo vessel UBC Saiki which is likely undertaking some running repair or maintenance like many other vessels these days.

Along the shore there were 27 Turnstone along with about double that number of Ringed Plover, but it was now time to catch the bus to The Bill.

While a number of shots of Northern Wheatear have also featured in recent days, this was just too close to leave out of today's post, before arriving at

The Obelisk where I met a couple from Suffolk and was soon joined by Bird Tour Leader Bob Ford and some of his clients.

Thus far the Sea itself had been the most interesting thing, followed by a few common sea birds such as good numbers of Gannet seen in this picture (click image to magnify),

Shag and

Great Black-backed Gull. Bob had hardly uttered the words "what have you got of interest for us today" than I spotted a

male Common Eider, in eclipse plumage, some way off-shore.

It never did venture close in, and as I phoned the Bird Observatory to report its presence

it took to the wing

disappearing down the West Cliff.

This is how he may look next spring (the brown bird is a female).

Soon after, the gentleman from Suffolk 'called' a Shearwater flying east and close to the West Shambles Buoy some way out to sea.

Both Bob and I agreed it to be a Sooty Shearwater, with these images being from the archive (for illustration) unfortunately not taken today.

My final bit of luck came when I relocated the Little Owl in the Obs Quarry,

but today, far more conveniently, perched on the stone rather than a bush and not obscured.

This afternoon I have been listening to the new offering by Joe Bonamassa, in company with Beth Hart (whoever she is). Have to say, not impressed by the first listen, and it's a brave lady who takes on 'I'd Rather Go Blind' it may be that Etta James is turning in her grave. Outside of her original recording of one of the greatest 'Blues' ever written (by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster??) I have only ever heard one other memorable rendition of this 'classic'. The set by Chicken Shack at the 1969 Bath Blues Festival was 'ground breaking' to say the least, but when Christine Perfect launched into IRGB there wasn't a dry eye on that Rugby Field.

Long Live Stan (The Man) Webb

One Hundred Thousand - Not Out

Except for walking the Rodwell Trail, a footpath along the redundant Weymouth to Portland railway line, all of my attention was directed towards the Isle today. With little (or no) shelter throughout its whole length, it was considered a little risky given the state of the sky and the blustery wind but in the event I was spared a wash down.

Looking towards my destination from Ferry Bridge, things didn't look a whole lot brighter across the Chesil Beach Road but just a little further ahead there were sign of bird-life.

Not unexpectedly, there were a number of Wheatear with

my tally reaching 23 before spotting something slightly less likely.

Not really the place for Robins, but the odd ones show up now and again, but today there were no fewer than 6.

Unfortunately unable to capture all half dozen in the same frame, I was lucky to snap these 2 shots in quick succession of a couple acting every bit as though they were defending territory. It's always an added bonus to capture any images of birds perched on Portland stone.

Crossing the bridge and accessing the foreshore via a walkway under the road, the tide was out and there were a few Waders feeding at the low water mark. First to be identified were an Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull and a Bar-tailed Godwit heads down seemingly dodging the gale.

In company there were also small numbers of Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone, while the Godwit seemed little concerned at my presence.

Onward to The Bill, and first sight was of a number of Great Black-backed Gulls sheltering from the high wind on the Bill Common.

The 205 bus, returning to Weymouth, put most of the Gulls to flight which eventually settled again this time closer to the Coastguard Cottages in the distance.

A noticeable absence for most of the year around the Island, and more particularly at the Observatory Quarry, have been the resident Little Owls. Fortunately, this beautifully marked bird arrived back at the traditional site a few days ago where it has been seen by a good number of people since.

Crossing the Common and counting a further 28 Wheatears as I did so, Meadow Pipit became the predominant species with a few Pied Wagtails, plenty of Linnets, a few Siskins and a fairly constant trickle of Swallows.

While conditions were far from ideal for 'mist netting' birds, the intrepid Peter Morgan persevered and did catch the odd thing or two, but nothing of note - there's always tomorrow Prof!

and just before pressing the Publish Post button this afternoon we were delighted to record our 100,000th 'HIT'
since The Bagsy Blog has been in existence!