A Walk On The Wildside - Lou Reed

So, what would be the odds on taking a photograph from the window of a moving bus of a 'windsurfer' flashing past in Portland Harbour, and it being one of our readers? I'd have risked a 'tenner' on it, and referring to the Stormy Monday (10th June) Post the 'comments' will revel that this did happen.

Another sunny day in prospect, but thankfully I hadn't let the scene outside mar my judgement as to wearing a coat. It was still chilly enough but walking the Rodwell Trail, most of which is the redundant railway cutting under a cathedral arch of tree offered some lee from the breeze. Very often filled with birdsong, this morning was no exception as the likes of Wren, Blackbird, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff had been heard before the first photograph

 

a SONG THRUSH also in good voice.

This is one of Weymouth most picturesque walks with 2 red brick road bridges sharply contrasting with the green of the trees, and this the very spot where

 

this male BLACKCAP, the first of about 6,

 was first heard, then seen, then photographed.

As the vast expanse of Portland Harbour opened to view with the backdrop of The Isle itself and the sandy coloured strip of Chesil Beach to the right,

a GREENFICH, also singing, simply sat and posed. 

 

As ever there is plenty of VIPER'S BUGLOSS

 

along with HOUSE SPARROWs, this one seemingly still building a nest.

Arriving at Portland Bill around 10:30 it was quickly noted what other effect the recent high winds had thrown up. An 'armada' of sailing boat, all presumably delayed,

 

had finally managed to leave the shelter of Weymouth for the open sea. There were in fact 15 in all.

Then probably the best moment of the day, meeting this young Australian couple at the Obelisk. Having received so many 'warm welcomes' on my recent grand tour, especially in Aus, how nice it was to be able to do the same with visitors to our shores, especially the Magic Island, quite a buzz! It was lovely to meet you people, hope you are tuning in and continue to have a successful holiday - ALL the BEST!

Last to round the point of the Bill was TSK 645 of which I can find nothing on the web.

  Next to hove into view was presumably the same large ATLANTIC GREY SEAL that visits this part of the coast with some regularity,

while in the Bird Observatory garden there had been a small emergence of LARGE RED DAMSELFLY.

A few more Butterflies on the wing in the noon-day sunshine, including SMALL WHITE, Red Admiral while The Warden was alone in seeing a Clouded Yellow. A search was made in the direction it had flow but nothing was found.

The better weather had also encouraged the opening of some of the 'mist nest', and while there were no great numbers of birds caught there was a slow trickle throughout the morning. Included in this was a fine looking male LINNET

and this juvenile STONECHAT.

This was the first young Stonechat I have seen 'in the hand' so something a little special to end the day!

Sunday Shining - Finley Quaye

 Sun is shining the weather is sweet yeah
Makes you wanna move your dancing feet
To the rescue, here I am
I want you to know y'all, here I stand
As the morning gathers a rainbow
I want you to know y'all, that I'm a rainbow with you

Amazing what a little sunshine can do! A different picture all around, starting with

Weymouth Outer Harbour where the commercial fishermen were preparing for the days haul having been 'layed up' for about a week now.

While at the other side of the Town Bridge the Charter Skippers were doing similarly - not a bad view to start your day is it? The first bus of the day to Southwell, free pratique for bus-pass holders at week-ends, so no waiting 'til 09:30 today.

 

 

Along Bill Road dozens of LINNETs were twittering away

and the view from the top of Culverwell towards the Bird Observatory, the 'active' Lighthouse and

a little further north the Higher Light were all bathed in early morning sunlight - MAGIC!

On the walk down to the Obs it was only common breeding birds to be seen on the way such as this DUNNOCK,

a fair number of COMMON WHITETHROAT mostly feeding your

with juicy, fat BUSH CRICKETs and

MEADOW PIPITs some still

continuing display flights. Many more stayed clear of the camera but more that made up for that with the 'vocals', especially Skylark, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird and a pair of Ravens feeding young along the East Cliff. Seems in addition to this another pair of Raven have also brought off c2 youngsters over the West Side.

At the Bird Observatory, even the VALERIAN, a common plant probably synonymous with Portland, took on a new and brighter hue, attracting a few insects that have been mostly absent during the wet weather.

First of these was a LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING Moth, captured by fellow Obs member John Lucas seemingly saved awaiting my arrival.

Getting towards noon more and more insects were arriving to feed on the abundance of blossoms in the garden, Hoverflies, represented by what I believe to be Conops quadrifusciata, but only as a result of a quick look at the Field Guide.

 There, once it starts getting into "the anal cell almost reaching the wing margin" that's when I give up and so if it looks like the picture, that's what it is??

SPECKLED WOOD and

MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLIES are a good deal easier, but even

 

 BROAD-BODIED CHASER Dragonfly and

LARGE SKIPPER Butterfly I qualify with the Warden.

A 'change of tack' saw the 72 foot Sail Trainer CHALLENGE WALES past the Bill http://www.challengewales.org/

while on the way home I encountered Local Farmer, Coastguard Office and Portland Stone Worker Curtis Gould and his wife, mowing grass, and stopped for a longish chat.

Finally, stepping off the bus back in Weymouth there was one of the dozens of antique buses driving around the town as part of the annual festival. As it was now getting late there wasn't, unfortunately, time to look for more.

Jimi, Jimi - The Undertones

The halyards were clattering against masts as I walked the backwater this morning heading for the 6 'o' clock bus to Portland. After yesterdays poor excuse for a gale, things were far more brisk building hope of some seabird movement off the Bill. A short visit to the Bird Observatory showed little had been seen so onward to the Obelisk again.

 

On the way this adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL seemed to be posing for the camera, but a little closer

 

and it soon flew off.

More dramatic seascapes but not a lot of birds in the first 30 minutes,

 

except for this GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, probably looking for an easy meal, before a good number of Auks (Razorbills and Guillemots) started flying past. Good to see so many carrying fish, probably Sand-eels, hopefully indicating plenty of young to feed?

 

Gannets too started to arrive before the first

MANX SHEARWATER put in an appearance, these

being the first photos I have ever taken of this species, but not likely to grace the pages of National Geographical. Just before the hour a GREAT SKUA appeared out of the west but with a stern wind was soon gone at great speed. A good record as this was my first of the year and also the first ever in the month of June. All else amounted to a few Kittiwakes and the odd Fulmar, but overlooked from the last 2 days an unseasonable Common Gull was seen on Thursday and a group of c6 Common Scoter yesterday.

On the way back to the Obs I noticed this nailed to the side of one of the beach huts, good to have a reliable prediction of the weather.

Last year, the Warden, Martin Cade, had caught something of a scarce visitor to the Island

a BEDSTRAW HAWK-MOTH which he found had laid a number of eggs. In his usual inquisitive way he decided to try and rear them, giving many people a chance to watch the development over the year. Today, the second of the surviving 4 chrysalis emerged into adult state, and what a beauty. If you decide to do requests Martin, can you try Oleander Hawk-moth this year please??

Given the weather it is not surprising few Butterflies are on the wing, with the only representative I've seen was this SMALL HEATH on the slope of Culverwell.

In the same area, this COMMON BUZZARD appeared from behind the low hedge

and not seeing me immediately allowed a couple of shots. Otherwise, the only other news was that I did meet the ESTONIAN Olympic Sailing Team, in the supermarket of all places, and was able to give them a welcome to our shores. With my strong association with that beautiful country over the past few years they, of all our visiting sailors, were a real pleasure to meet. While on the subject it might be a good opportunity to send Best Wishes to Ille Kalaste, son Herkko and lady-friend Helis, along with all those I met during those heady Tallin years. 

and finally, a snippet from Bomber Command tells of a new Jimi Hendrix BioPic Link in the making. Click 'Link' for more details.