Pictures at an Exhibition - ELP

Whether you believe in coincidence or not, some things are certainly SPOOKY! After yesterday's short Post, thanking the 'massed' Readers of the USA for the fantastic (815) boost to the number of hits on the day, and headlining it AMERICA - The Nice, we woke this morning to find that Keith Emerson front man and keyboard player with that outfit (later to perform under the heading of Emerson, Lake and Palmer) died the same day. My only personal experience of this most exciting combo was at the 1969 Bath Blues Festival where Kieth's 'party piece' was to jam a huge Bowie knife into his keyboard, to keep the sound emitting, while throwing others from across the other side of the stage into the back of the Hammond. 

Time for a little Brain Salad Surgery me thinks!

Pictures At An Exhibition - ELP 

 Would seem, given the number of birds sighted in the last few days, that the dispersal of over-wintering species is well underway. Good job then we had a few 'stills' and videos' in the locker to bring to you right now!

 

Up just in time this morning to catch the

DUCKS stealing the SEAWEED

With c9 Sand Martins already recorded in Wales last Sunday it was thought time to turn attentions to the breeding site of last year here at Parley Court Farm. Talks have already been ongoing with reference to the Sand Martin Bank at the back of the Eco Recycling Works, and while some damage was done to it after last years breeding season, on the face of it

All Looks Well for this year.

A meeting with Justin Dampney, the Eco Site Manager, some weeks ago had me leaving his office with an almost carte blanche option of what should be done with the Bank. At a site visit then it was thought that a little titivation might be in order but after this weeks inspection it was thought best just to leave as is!  

The Bund runs the full length of the northern edge of the site and is made up in the main of fertile growing soil/humus, a valuable product. Fact is, once a customer is found the diggers move in to provide what is needed. However, though negotiation with Justin there has been a sensible compromise struck with a 'stockpile having been made, before the Martins return, and any further 'extractions' being made from the center of the heap. Oh how we wish we had the RSPB advisors here! Meeeoooowwww! In addition the security fence, previously planned for removal, will stay in place and soon to be adorned by a notice or two. Amid all of this most interesting and exciting maneuvering Nepalese

KESH THAPA

introduced himself to me as the digger driver who would have undertaken any works if required. It felt as if an immediate bond was struck at the first handshake with this ex-Gurkha of some 15 years. Instead of having to busy ourselves with shifting soil we spent the half hour or so getting to know each other, and Sand Martins or not there will certainly be a visit to see Kesh again in the very near future.

To describe the weather over the past week as

CHANGEABLE

would be an understatement indeed, ranging from

frosty mornings to days of both unbroken sunshine and rain.

Here are a few outstanding 'stills' and 'clips' from that period.

 A threaten front above Harbins.

male

PHEASANTs

jockeying for supremacy in the frost.

On those frosty days the Solar Panel Farm really come into their own,

providing

CARRION CROW

CHAFFINCH

 STARLING

COMMON BUZZARD

GOLDFINCH

feeding and

WOOD PIGEON

alike with some sanctuary.

BLACK-HEADED GULL

in the horse paddock with half complete head and

at the Irrigation Pond one just about complete.

BLACK-HEADED GULL

FIELDFARE

 GREYLAG GEESE

CANADA and GREYLAG GEESE

GREYLAGS

 While giving the Moth Traps and associate equipment a quick overhaul, before we 

embark on a more serious season of Mothing, we were paid a visit by our first

 HOVERFLY

of the year.
Trail Cameras Update
includes 3 new species captured including just a single 'still' of

 BADGER
 a little grainy but we hope to do better, and no logical reason for the
Video not to activate?

Grey Squirrel at a distance.

GREY SQUIRREL

REDWING
Best shots thus far of

ROE DEER
appearing

Roe Deer Crossing

and

Roe Deer Posing.

 Oh yes, it was a
MUTE SWAN
stealing the 'sea-weed'!

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AMERICA - The Nice

SOME THOUGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN LATELY

OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON THE

BAGSY BLOG,

BUT EVEN MORE SERIOUSLY, TO DISCONTINUING IT ALTOGETHER!

MOSTLY DOWN TO A MUCH REDUCED 'READERSHIP'

BUT IN PART TO THE REPETITIVENESS OF SUBJECT MATTER.

OF THE FORMER THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CERTAINLY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS YESTERDAY FORCING THE

NUMBER OF 'HITS' FOR THE DAY TO A MASSIVE 815 WHEREAS

THEY USUALLY AVERAGE IN THE LOW 100's.

THANKS TO THE 'YANKS' THAT SHOULD KEEP US STIMULATED A LITTLE LONGER.

PLEASE PASS THE LINK ON TO YOUR FRIENDS and FAMILIES.

Cheers Bagsy! 

America - The Nice

Out of the Blue - Electric Light Orchestra

You've just sat down mid-evening on a Friday minding you're own business and getting on with darning your socks, when a phone call is received (Out of the Blue) inviting you to go TWITCHING! Unlike the early days, such gallivanting is now all but out of my system, but when the caller is Dave Foot that puts a whole different complexion on things. As much for his valued company as the target bird, the plan was to meet in Dorchester at 06:00 to make a reasonably early start on the drive to Cornwall last Saturday morning. Having transferred the equipment into his motor, to the accompaniment of a 'calling' 

TAWNY OWL

he simply asked "have you got your binoculars"? which for the first time were noticed to be safely secured back in Slight Return II - "OH, FLIPPING HECK"! Suggesting a return, 45 minutes each way, which was not an option he then offered to drive back to his house in Weymouth lend me his spare pair. Now taking the Coast Road west, rather than the more northerly route from Dorchester, firstly only Dave's skilled driving saved the life on an extremely pale

BARN OWL

which all but touched the windscreen, allowing a fantastic but brief view. Additionally, we would now have to pass through the tiny village of Portisham where a

PALLAS'S LEAF WARBLER

has been holding temporary residence for quite a few days. It is doubtful that a special journey from East Dorset would have been made to see this little gem of just 3½ inches in length, which also allowed spectacularly close views but was all too mobile for this kid to secure an image. Given its overall appearance, size and the fact that it may breed in Southern Siberia and overwinter in China this forms a microcosm of what Bird Watching is all about to me! A potential Disaster had already turned to Absolute Delight! Reaching

DOZMARY POOL

in Cornwall about mid-morning things didn't look too promising as the wind had freshened and the first of about a dozen heavy hail showers had already struck. On the Pool there were a few Tufted Duck and Mallard plus a relatively close male

 GOLDENEYE
 

but not a sniff of the much sort after Lesser Scaup, ever onward to

 where the only 'birders' we met informed us that our main target
had just been seen to fly from the eastern rocky foreshore towards

an area it has been favouring since discovery.

The Surfing Fraternity were occupying much of the sandy beach
between the runs of rocky shoreline, so effectively another area we need not search.
Dave's first scan across

MOUNTS BAY
(where about this time last year we had both added Pacific Diver to our GB List)
and onward to

SAINT MICHAEL'S MOUNT
did turn up a very distant

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
an addition to my own Year List at least while an overflying

 RAVEN
a few

 TURNSTONE

 c2

 LITTLE EGRET

REDSHANK

 along with a lone bathing

ROCK PIPIT
After a full hour of wandering from one end of the sea cliffs to the other,
Dave did proclaim " it doesn't look very promising". 
It was at that very moment out of the corner of my eye that a
brown/mottled wing was spotted above the lip of this rock

and then a head and uttering the words "it's there" it

took to the wing obligingly showing there was no white to the rump

pointing to the

 HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL

we had been seeking.

 The flight shots were lucky indeed as care had to be taken

 as what might be described as a

(Common) Whimbrel had also been seen in the vicinity at the same time.

HAPPY the MAN - Genesis.

Distribution Map

You might as well have the whole jolly lot,
bumps, shakes, jitters and all!

AMEN

to the Whimbrel, but that was by no means the end of our day. A second attempt was made for the Lesser Scaup which never did materialise but, with reports of it (or another) plus a Franklin's Gull at the nearby Siblyback Lake it was thought worthy of those extra few miles. The route there followed a narrow but fast flowing stream, which was crying out Dipper, but with no time to stop we continued only to miss both of the other birds. However, we did get a 'first view' for the year of blooming

 PRIMROSE

 and these two fine specimens of

HIGHLAND CATTLE

on the way back to the main road Dave made sure we were not to be
denied a glimpse of the considered

DIPPER

before continuing to our next and final destination and a slim chance of
Green-winged Teal??

 My first and only visit to Black Hole Marsh, part of the extensive
SEATON WETLANDS, was as The Bus Pass Birder and came up trumps with a
Solitary Sandpiper. Maybe this would be an omen for this late afternoon short stay.

Dave quickly picked up on a loan

AVOCET

but apart from much more common fare there was little
or nothing to delay us.
It is always a Great Pleasure to share any Wildlife Experience
with Dave who is always welcome at
Parley Court Farm and a day simply
'OUT of the BLUE'

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