29th October Diamond Princess cruising

0730 hrs it was light so an hours sea watching produced one flying fish,generally its been quite
poor with the exception of the Peregrine.Another warm sunny day ensues as I walk around the
ship with Howard from Yorkshire who has taken an interest in birds and hopes to see some
mammals.

So now Howard has seen a flying fish but its been a birdless day on the ocean.
Howard with two night birds.

28th Oct Diamond Princess cruising

The wife's birthday docked in Singapore,after a late night decided not to go ashore,had breakfast
spent all day on boat frankly a little boring.
A few birds to report ie Pacific swallow,distant terns and skuas , raptors of note Black Kite and
White bellied sea eagle.

 A bottle of Bollinger  in the cabin as we leave Port 1710 hrs.Dinner at Sabatinis a nice
Italian meal.Once clear of the Port we crossed the traffic lanes and carefully navigated the
busy waters of Singapore heading North easterly towards Phy My ,Vietnam.

27th October cruising Diamond Princess

Got up around 0900hrs on the balcony sea watching of note flying fish being pursued by
something.An island in the distance had small petrel like birds white with brown upper wings

following fish.Above bottle nosed dolphin probably this specie was seen yesterday.
Back to today Pacific swallow alongside 0920hrs then a Pacific Swift.
Sailing to the South through the Gulf of Thailand passing the wrecks of HMS Repulse and
HMS Prince of Wales.Lunch was Sushi around 1700 hrs returned to cabin at 1800hrs noted

a Brown Booby in flight.Above Pacific swift in flight.

26th October cruising Diamond Princess

10.00hrs ordered tea for the cabin,a girl from Brazil brought it in 5 minutes.Sea watching was quiet
as I sit in my shorts contemplating another day.On the horizon a few oil tankers and a rain cloud in
view.
Carol said she had seen what I thought to be petrels,then a Peregrine flew along the starboard side of
the ship giving impressive views.

It looked to be of the sub species japonensis. I got more flight shots of it ,before it landed

aft now a ship assisted Peregrine.Later a few dolphins obliged and the Peregrine flew off around
1100hrs.
Having a snack just before noon and what looked like a juvenile Night heron tried to land on the boat.
Noon went for a swim,but first Captains log we are now 250 miles from Laembang Thailand doing 16 mph Latitude N9% Longitude 2% east  S.E 154Degrees .Just off the island of Kowa Cambodia avoiding showers best we can.
5 Pond herons off the port side as I grab a beer,18oo -1900 hrs sea watching till sunset  produced

14 Pacific Swallows.Dont fancy being on the fishing boat.

Diamond Princess Cruise to East Asia23

23rd of October 2012 flew  into Bangkok arrived 17oohrs local time on the 24th.The threatening
rain came pouring down. I noted a few birds on route to the Siam hotel mostly egrets and  starlings.
A few drinks in the bar and a meal before retiring for an early night as we had a tour booked of
Bangkok the following morning.

We left the hotel at 0730 hrs and made our way to the Grand Palace,this Royal residence was built in
1782.

This  is where  King Rama ascended the throne,I photographed this fine monument and its
superb sculptures.

Next we walked to the river Chao Phraya,a boat ride here held few thrills ,except feeding the cat fish.

Finally the Golden Buddha was a last  look at Buddhist Bangkok before heading off to Laembang
near Pattaya where we boarded the boat.

Our butler Benjamin brought us two glasses of Champagne as we unpacked,now 1730 hrs we
have a muster drill for safety on Promenade deck7 Explorers bar,after this we went to the Crooners

bar where a 007 cocktail was served as an orchestra played.We met an Irish couple from County Fermanagh Francie and Siobahn  had dinner and danced till late.All together now" We are sailing".

Fly fishing at John O'Gaunts Kings Sombourne

Saturday 13th of October 0615hrs Tom Mixture arrived from Woodoaks farm and Paul Lewis joined
Alan Walsh,Geoff the Kiwi and John Ireland . We we were away by 1825 hrs on route .
On the M25 still dark then the M3 towards Winchester ,land of Alfred and the Danes.
Around O800 HRS we were at the Crown pub in Kings Somborne village.

After breakfast we made our way to the fisherie around 0900hrs,on arrival we took
lots and set off around the beautiful mist shrouded the autumnal lake.

Soon  we were all catching  by 1030hrs I had bagged up.Lewis had been coached or poached by
Fred the sec and had caught his four fish.

So had Tom Mixture as had Alan and Geoff the Kiwi caught his four fom the end pool.
After a barbeque courtesy of John Irelands John O'Burgers as black as an Irish bog

Paul,Tom and I walked along a tranquill stretch of the River Test flushing a Roe Deer
and a lovely Barn owl before a wonderful day came to an end.

Sorry almost forgot our other new boy with a fine  Rainbow.affectionately known
as Dolly Mixture.

Raining Again so Birding in the Past once more

It's October the first and its unofficially the first day of the Pike fishing season, and its raining
fairly hard,if it eases off tomorrow I will do some lure fishing and birding at the same time.
But for now its all our yesterdays once more.
The only carpenters I have seen this morning was the Great Spotted Woodpecker on fat balls in

my garden.Here's a shot of old Esox Luscius about too strike.
26 YEARS ago on the 16th of Oct Jerry Bart and I were on the Paddington to Penzance overnight
train.At 0730HRS  I woke up to see through the window Truro Cathedral.
We picked up the Scillonian at Penzance harbour and our crossing produced Gannets ,Skuas and Kittiwake.
On arrival at St Marys  our bags and headed for Watermill Cove, where a Great Northern Diver was in summer plumage.Tired after a long day we had an early night.
The following morning we watched a female Merlin  attack a Richard's Pipit in a field between Salakee farm and Higher Moors.

But  only  10 yards from the guest house at Porth Loo beach was a confiding Semi-palmated Sandpiper feeding with a Sanderling.

This American vagrant is named after the skin webs between its toes.This is the clincher to indentify this particular wader.On with the birding and 2 new warblers for my British List were Icterine
warbler,

and Bonelli's warbler at Newford and Watermill respectively.
On the 18th it was  overcast with rain a sea watch from Penninis head produced Fulmar and Manx Shearwater.Later in the day from Lower Moors we had 3 Water Rails and 1 Jack Snipe.
While searching Old Town Church  we located 2 Yellow browed warblers, a new species of warbler
I had not seen before with its striking eye stripe  and double wing bar.

Two more new birds were added to our tally namely a Short toed lark that was frequenting the golf
course and finally a Little Bunting showing it's chestnut cheek patch and smaller than it's commoner
cousin the Reed Bunting.

Sunday the 19th our last day the wind was gale force as we sea watched from Giants Castle.
3 Manx shearwaters flew past and somebody had 500 Shags at Pendrathen some sexual prowess
indeed.
On a more serious note a Hobby was a late bonus at Watermill cove,also a Melodious warbler
more yellow below,brown above indicating an autumn adult.My favourite bird was a Pied flycatcher
feeding on Speckled wood butterflies amongst the Pines.

To  end the trip the Little Bunting gave crippling views from Carn Friars road as it actively fed
amongst theisolated cabbages.