Tracey arm to Juneau Alaska 21st September2015

It was overcast with rain again ,the clocks went back an hr today,from the ship white horses and a back drop of wooded islands and mist covered mountains ,closer a few guillemots and the ubiquitous gulls.

A second year immature bald eagle flew towards the ship and back to land.
Juneau is the capital of Alaska and is situated in the Gastineau channel,it is famous
for the Meldenhall glacier,it was cold sea watching as we approached Juneau a Peregrine flew
over the ship,mallards and crows along the shore.

We disembarked around 1230hrs noting Steller's sea lions along the pier,here we met our guide
Trevor Wade who worked for Gastineau guiding,we took a bus to Auke cove where we boarded our
boat for a whale watching trip with Captain Annette.

Here's Trevor with a specimen,before leaving we saw Harlequinn and belted kingfisher.We
were soon on our way viewing superb Humpback  whales.

You can see by the weather it was not ideal conditions,Trevor and Annette gave us lots of details
on cetaceans as we scanned the bay for blows.

We got fairly close but the weather got worse as we approached these magnificent leviathans.

Hence the name Hump back followed if your lucky by the disappearing tail.

We saw up to 8 individuals 1 party with a calve distinguished by a shorter spout from its blow hole.
A rainbow with a back drop of the glacier ended our trip.We returned around 1700 hrs seeing a Bald
Eagle up close.

Vancouver to Alaska Sept 2015

It was raining in Vancouver  as we boarded M.S Nordam around lunchtime on the 19th ,we unpacked
and done our life boat drill.
Some sea watching produced Neotropic cormorants a few Brandt's about 30 Glaucous winged gulls
and 4 Sabines 3 ads and 1 juv. Passing Vancouver around 1800 hrs.

The following morning around 0330hrs disorientated birds flew past our window on migration.
0720 hrs up on deck identified golden crowned kinglet and savannah sparrow.at sea numbers of
shearwaters and a pod of Dall's porpoises  plus a single great blue heron.

Breakfast 0900hrs be it brief was interrupted by duck ,geese skeins and a party of phalarope.

Numbers of distant Humpback whales I guessed around 8 individuals,a northern flicker flew over
the ship.We passed Laredo sound around1300hrs then Grenville channel and Kennedy island into
Chatham sound.

Around 1700 hrs after noting 3 bald eagles and 3 belted kingfishers and flocks of duck including
Harlequinn and Wigeon,we called it a day .A formal evening not many in penguin suits just the bonds
and their vodka martinis .

Grandad Wedding in Norfolk and some biirding

On the 10th of September our granddaughter arrived Sophia at 6lb 4oz ,never thought it would happen but thoroughly delighted as mother and daughter are fine.

Heres Carol with Sophia and here is the doting parents Chris and Sarah.

Two days later I'm in Great Yarmouth at my cousins sons wedding ,the day before I'm twitching
in the cemetery looking for migrants no not from Calais of note I see Pied fly and Spotted fly along
with a fem redstart these were the highlights.

well birding Norfolk had no rarities on route home from the pub Friday night before the wedding I passed Fallen Angels I expect some rare birds were in there.
Next morning was Grant and Gemmas big day and the sun come out in the afternoon a good family
wedding ensued.

My wife was at another wedding in Bovey Tracey for her sisters daughter Amanda Crilly I could not
be in two places at once.

Well a hectic weekend for everybody a rushed post but it had to be done love to everyone

Maple Lodge

early September a new path ,but fauna abundant in particular nettles and willow carr ,however I was pleased with a hobby hunting the reserve seen twice once taking a dragonfly.

On reaching long hedge hide a juvenile moorhen obliged along with dashing kingfishers although
distant and in flight.

I waited a little longer but it was generally quiet,a single great crested grebe,shovelers and mallard
obliged then a dragonfly buzzed the moorhen.

I missed a spotted flycatcher as I bade the boys farewell at the club house.

Happy Birthday J R Hartley

On the 27th August it was raining as we made our way to Testwood Fisherie  ie Sutton Springs in Hampshire,it stopped raining as we  tackled up in the car park.

The River Test runs parallel with the Fisherie and contains some trout and grayling.

The gang are here for my birthday fishing day out at this high profile lake in Hampshire.

Here's super Kev fishing a tributary of the Test after fishing the lake,unfortunately the fish in the river are a lot harder to catch.

I received a birthday cake from the boys as  part of our tea break,Jeff the Kiwi also received a
cake a little belated.

Finished the day with four good fish 10lb 11lb 12lb 13lb and 14lb ,four personal best fish
proved a fitting climax to the day.

So eat your heart out JRHartley here's the proof.

Italica the Romans in Seville and a champagne farewell

On the morning of the 23rd  I got up fairly early for a guided tour of Italica just 15 minutes from
Seville.My guide pointed out some ruins in Santi Ponce nearby.

On arrival we walked in straight to the amphitheatre or Colosseum,where blackbirds,green
woodpecker and a glossy ibis overhead.

We walked the passage ways around the arena and noted praying areas  marked with feet.

Next we walked up the hill passing the public houses to the richer ones housing mosaics.

Some of the mosaics were incredible in particular the house of the birds and the Planetarium.

Over head I saw black kite and bee eater and sulking Sardinian warblers.

Finally the large baths were quite imposing as we walked back to the entrance.

 

 

we were soon on our way back to Seville

 

I met Carol for breakfast and spent a quiet morning around the hotel at 1300 hrs I was bringing champagne to the room as we looked over Seville before leaving.

 

Bridge over the River Guadalquivir

Today it was overcast as we had tea  on the balcony  contemplating Saturday in Seville,
around 1100hrs we walked to the river or be it canal now, a blackbird scolded in flight pursued
by a lesser kestrel,while patos ducks and geese bobbed on the river.

Passing under the bridge some people were fishing under the bridge with poles.

This bridge is the Puente de Isabella and is famous in Seville,we walked to the Torre del Oro after
a beer on route.

More steps inside housing a maritime museum an on reaching the top good views all around.

A replica of the Santa Marie Columbus ship was on show as we walked up the tower.

Lunch was tapas again this time we chose poorly,so it was back to the hotel for a few drinks as the sun came out on route back.