Anyway - Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway)

It is likely that the Big Companies, when forced into a corner, will tell you anything to get you off of their backs. The truth without, it seems the Internet disruption is only down in part to the weather the main reason being the problems BT are having with installing the Fibre Optic system hereabouts. A familiar story, as in recent times Portland suffered a similar 'outage' which took some while to rectify? Anyway, (they say that she comes on a pale horse but I'm sure I hear a train) as it's chucking it down with rain and there is a chance to get On-line (who knows for how long) so I have confined myself to a cold office (no Internet in the house) to hopefully get some way to getting up to date. On Wednesday (22) armed with updated information and still following my own hunch I returned to Blashford, and particularly Kingfisher Lake, to see if the

FERRUGINOUS DUCK*

was on show.

With no luck on the previous visit to the East side of the lake, where the waters are more or less obscured by vegetation, story has it that it has been seen to the West. Arriving at the end of Hurst Road, a cul de sac, I had not even left the car before a birder emerged from the pathway to inform me that the Duck was on show but at a distance. Not content simply with this, he erected his tripod. focused on the bird allowing me to see it across the lake. With the exception of Friday, which is a tale in itself hopefully to be published tomorrow (don't get too excited), I have visited the waterlogged area of the Avon Causeway daily in the hope of adding Egyptian Goose to the 'ongoing' Dorset January List. Even at the time of writing this has not been achieved and can only thing these fierce but beautiful birds like to get to terra firma for long periods?However, during these visits

TEAL 

have been extremely numerous, not even allowing me to estimate numbers,

GREYLAG GEESE

have been there by the dozen as have Lapwing, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull along with a few Pintail, Shoveler, Mallard and Shelduck but the best finds have been 2 species not encountered there before. In the first instance my attention was drawn not only to the sight of a guesstimate 200

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT,

some already starting to show the rufous vestiges of summer 

plumage, but also the cacophony of their chatter as they fed in the 

flooded margins. Next came c2

RUFF+,

an addition to the Dorset Year List, along with singles of Little Egret 

and a singing Cetti's Warbler.

For most of Saturday morning sanctuary was sort in the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes keeping out of the rain. Always a decent selection of Waterfowl here which included Egyptian Goose (frantically trying to 'flush' into Dorset), a few Goldeneye (both sexes), Pintail, lots of Little Grebe and pick of the bunch c2 Black-necked Grebe. However the 'title' was short lived as with continued patience a female

RUDDY DUCK

was spotted among the Pochard.

That's when Bruce from Gillingham (Dorset not Kent) arrived, someone I have known in birding circles for many a year but never got to know his surname. He was pleased to see the birds mentioned, but beat a hasty retreat when told of the continued presence of the Fudge Duck!

Being such a beautiful creature this image, from the archive, of a male

Ruddy Duck

is added for you pleasure.

Most hours of daylight yesterday were given over to the pursuit of 'one species', an addition to the Year List, but that also will have to be Posted at a later date - my legs are freezing!

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Fog On The Tyne - Lindisfarne

Despite yesterday's advice to readers that I would not be venturing out today until first light, this was the picture here at 08:00 that precluded me from going out in the car at all.

Dense fog had replaced the heavy rain and with enough maniacs 

on the roads already, I am not willing to add to that!

So, with little or no birding on today we rely on some outstanding images some of which have been sent to us by our readers. Mostly weather connected it's always pleasing to receive these photos even though the first is attributed to me.

RIVER STOUR
at a higher level than anyone here can remember.
From Portland what seems to be called

POM-POM STACK
(before the storm) although I have not been able to find anyone
to confirm the name.

and there it is GONE!

Just a little to the south of Pulpit Rock (background) another
mighty slice is chiseled off the ledges

photo © Robert White (Secret's son).

From the mountain range outside of Tokyo, Japan our friend

© Chris Cook sends us these images of himself and friend.

Hey, there's a Snowman, Look, Look what a Snowman (Genesis).

He reports that at that time the temperature was -30°C.

A few more POCHARD on Longham Lake today, a

REDWING

on the farmhouse lawn and a

LITTLE GREBE
on the Parley Pond.

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Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

Don't know what that 'headlines' got to do with anything but just the first,

and a very good song that came to mind - I hope mine isn't!

By comparison with most just lately the weather today was 'no bad' so thought worth a walk in the (black) forest. Not that there is anything 'black' about the New Forest but the headline just fits! A number of prospective additions to the Year List but being in Hampshire none to add to the Country tally. Knowing the traits of overwintering wildfowl, it is usual that once they find a favoured spot they are likely to stay put?

 Since the break of the New Year there was this gut-feeling that
the Ferrugenous Duck, seen in December at Kingfisher Lake (left
of map), may still be there but without report. 

Then, no more than a whisper from my Chief Informant that it had been seen at the east side of the lake spurred me to take a look. Despite the (Wiki) photo, to show what we are on about, nothing was seen of the Duck and very little of the Lake as the vegetation is so dense the water is hardly viewable.

Reports of Parrot Crossbill at this site in the New Forest was a real temptation, supposedly favouring the Scots Pines to the north east of the car park. Remembering the 10 attempts, without success, to see this elusive visitor from the north the determination set in. A full hour without a Crossbill of any description, or a 'birder' for that matter was when the only rain shower of the day arrived. Seeking shelter, there was a chap with a telescope who directed me to a flock of

COMMON CROSSBILL
among which there were c2

PARROT CROSSBILLS*
(archive photo)
confined to the canopy and very flighty!
Nest stop the

BLACKWATER ARBORETUM

complete with an Ornamental Drive and excellent collection of
trees from around the world. Here, as sure as birding can be a
small flock of

HAWFINCH*

come to roost in the last hours of daylight.

Almost on cue the first,

and what was to be the only, bird appeared

and was gone withing 10 minutes.
Also a good site for

FIRECREST*
just a single was hard work to locate but eventually committed to the log.
Continuing the 100% record Sheila, don't remember ever 'dipping' here?

Good job the best part of this Post was tacked together this morning during the 30 minutes or so the Internet was working. Things have gone almost 'totally' pear-shaped here on that front, and it was only by coincidence and the Kind Fairy that anything was published at all, so can only say we'll bring you a Post when we can.

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(Just) Another Day - Paul McCartney

The day started well enough with bright and even at that time of the day warmish sunshine. Driving towards Parley traffic lights the waning moon was still visible along with Venus even though daylight was well upon us, and arriving at Chesilboure even one of the 2

 COMMON CRANE+

 could be seen distantly down the valley.

 Goodish views via the telescope

 and when it started 'dancing'

 this was a bonus indeed.

There were two options for my planned visit to the west of the Country, either drive to Poole and catch the X53 service at 10:30, or from Weymouth take the 09:32 which starts from there. Time was of little consideration except taking the latter there would be more of it, so that was decided. First snag was finding a car park close enough to walk to the bus stop, which I did just in the nick of time, but there was no margin for delays. Enter the

 HOODED MEGANSER

 which was directly underfoot as I exited the underpass.

Now, who'd give up a chance like that? A quick 'click' on this

 MOORHEN

and 'Strider' was well on his way!

Since the X53 service, Poole to Exeter, Devon it has departed from the beach side of Weymouth seafront, where today there was not a soul to be seen. Quickly looking at the departures board it was seen that it now leaves from the other side of the road, so another 'sprint'. Arriving at bus stop 4 there was neither bus nor passenger, but the Inspector was there to solve the riddle. "Industrial action Mate, no bus today service will be back tomorrow"! Now, had I not taken the precaution of checking On-Line for delays (mainly due to major roadworks at Abbotsbury) the pill would have been less bitter, but might just as well formulate another plan. What about driving to the destination, Lyme Regis, myself a good idea until reaching the signs endorsing the road works and simply wasn't going to drive the detour. About turn, shape up for the Fleet at Littlesea which is often a good spot for Greenshank. On arrival the tide, which up until then had no part in the plan, was a high as it could be so surely any Waders would have flown to roost on the Chesil Beach a long way off. It was decided to pursue it anyway with a closer look, but negotiating the slippery footpath I soon found myself on my knees in a pool of mud - B*s*a*ds! Things were not looking promising but a short stop at Ferry Bridge at least produced some birdlife albeit common. A few

 BRENT GEESE

were still on the narrow strip of foreshore that was left

while 'dozens' of

 MEDITERRANEAN GULLS

 were on land and sea.

 2 Med Gulls flank a Black-headed Gull for comparison.

By now it was painfully obvious that this was not going to be a classic day, so a cup of hot, strong coffee was need and where better than with The Secret Lemonade Drinker. That Master Plan lasted until the first roundabout on the Beach Road where the notices showed parts of Portland to be 'flooded' and inaccessible. Luckily I was well place to about turn and high-tail it back to the east, but not for long. At Chafeys Roundabout there were more holdups as the asphelt was being lain but I was well used to it by then. 

 Even then the passage was not smooth and a long delay was 

caused by Army Manoeuvres

the TANK was from the

ARMOUR CENTRE at BOVINGTON
 A quick look in Poole Park was mainly to photograph the
Great Scaup seen earlier in the month, but yes you've got it!!!!

 GREYLAG GOOSE

 and POCHARD were there as was the

 Strange Duck

discussed on the Blog earlier. A little more obliging than last time when one reader suggested it could be the WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL once resident on Lodmoor. Since then I have discovered there has been some discussions among local birders as to its identification, some agreeing with the above and others suggesting maybe a hybrid involving Red-crested Pochard. On my first sighting, at some distance, it was thought to be the latter (a decent find) but study of the poor images called for a re-think. Still undecided and with a long look at Madge and Burn I would now lean towards White-cheeked Pintail.

STAND ADVISED - I AM NOT GOING OUT TOMORROW,

UNTIL DAYBREAK AT LEAST! 

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