The Lizard but not Cornwall.

 Wednesday motored 138 miles from my Bampton home to Portland Bill to look at the beach hut my Daughter Neet and Son in Law Mark have purchased, left home at 5.30am and arrived 8.20am, met up and ate a full English breakfast in the nearby restaurant.

Lots of Meadow Pippits and a few Wheatears along with a third winter Herring Gull, went for a walk along the cliffs overlooking a spectacular sea that glistened with a trillion sparklers in the morning sun. Decided to stop off at the Observatory in case there was something good and lo and behold there was the birding god Martin Cade with Kingfisher in hand the first in some twenty years that had been caught in the garden. Super bird to see at close quarters and Mr. Cade allowed us to get some marvellous photos of it before taking us to the rear of the observatory overlooking the wildlife pond and garden, this is a super spot for all manner of wildlife and to have the ear of Mr Cade as he most eloquently answered all my questions including the Little Tern colony at Chesil beach that has once again really been up against it from predation, this years surprise villain Hedgehog, these brave but vulnerable birds are living right on the edge of existence .

Walked rough and tumble path that was a temporary home for many Wheatears and I got lucky spotting a very colourful Wall Lizard that was a complete surprise for me, but of course a most welcome tick for the day. Noted Common Toadflax and a few Butterflies but nothing of great interest except a blue but it passed rather quickly so unable to id it but in all probability a Common Blue. A submerged diver below us using a spear gun with which he had managed to spear one fish and I guess he had great enjoyment although I can't help thinking it wasn't much fun for the fish. We were getting quite breathless now as we climbed ever higher up the rocky path, a couple were climbing some of the steep cliffs and it made me feel somewhat sympathetic as they struggled to get finger and toehold. Because we had two motors we had previously left one of the cars at the top where we exited, and to be able sit and catch our breath in such comfort was heaven sent.

Next on our agenda was a trip to Ferrybridge where a friend had suggested we could quite possibly see some pretty decent waders. Parked up and walked the short distance to a very good vantage point and we were rewarded straight away with many nearby Ringed Plover, further out was Juvenile Bar Tailed Godwit, Juvenile Dunlin , Oyster Catcher and others that have slipped my mind although there were a couple of Peregrines that put in an appearance spooking everything and so ended a most interesting day spent in a habitat that is so unfamiliar to me but the sheer numbers of birds passing through at this time of year is phenomenal.

This left the enjoyment of an evening meal that was taken with great gusto, and then so to bed at the rather bleak looking but superb service and facilities at the Admiral Hotel.