Proper Birding

This afternoon Andy G and I headed to the north Somerset coast, an area we don't often visit. The reason we made the hour and a half journey was to see the long staying Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus).
We arrived at Porlock shortly after two fifteen and parked at the start of the toll road. The directions said to go to the first bend, find the log pile by the metal bench. We did as directed and immediately heard the varied call of this endemic species from the Iberian peninsula.
We climbed up the wooded slope by the road and had soon located the bird and had good enough views to confirm its identity.
We then made our way back to Porlock and popped into the The Ship Inn (The Top Ship)for a pint.

The Ship Inn (Top Ship)

It was the usual west country fare on offer but they did have a Sharp's seasonal ale, Atlantic IPA at 4.2%. It was dark blonde ale with a fresh citrus aroma. While we were there we noticed a poster advertising a beer festival at nearby Porlock Weir which was starting today.
Well it would have been rude not to go and check it out so we made our way along the lane to the other Ship Inn (The Bottom Ship) and had a look to what ales were on offer.
There were fifty beers on the list, although as its a three day 'fest' only fifteen were available in the tent with the rest being held back for rest of the weekend.

 It was again a typical West Country list with mostly local breweries represented. We both plumped for St Austell's Black Prince (Andy had the half as he was driving) a black mild ale at 4.0% with a dark coffee and molasses taste.
We could have stayed all night but both had to be back home at a reasonable time, its perhaps one to remember for next year with a overnight stay to get the best out of it.

Don't Panic

Last night I was at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth to see The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy performed live on stage as a radio show by the original BBC production cast.
In it the 'Guide' says's that drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick. This is, I imagine, how most England football fans will be feeling this morning.
I,on the other hand, having missed it completely, can bask in the memory of having seen one of the best nights entertainment ever. The cast were on top form recreating the roles they had back in the early eighties and joined on this occasion by Rory McGrath as the voice of the book.

Simon Jones was a joy as Arthur Dent and the puppet version of Marvin the Paranoid Android (voiced by Stephen Moore) got the best cheers of the night.
A great evenings entertainment that I would thoroughly recommend to fans of the original show.

Drink Moor Beer

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Moor Brewery near Long Sutton on an organised trip from work. The trip was organised by the social club and attended by 16 employees. This included two of the usual suspects Andy G and Nigel and myself.
We were dropped off by the Mini-bus at the Halfway House,Pitney where we were due to spend some time later in the evening. This was where we assumed the brewery was but its actually about 2 miles away and its only the offices in Pitney. Fortunately the co-owner of the Brewery Maryann Hawke found us and then very kindly ferried us all to the brewery.

The Moor Brewery was rescued from obscurity in 2006 by Californians Justin and Maryann Hawke.They took an ailing and tired business and transformed it into a great brewery. Justin is a passionate brewer and uses his expertise from the other side of the 'pond' to blend American and British styles. He is also a champion of unfined beer, as he says's 'cloudy doesn't always mean bad' and has recently taken this argument to SIBA and won concessions for unfined beer in competitions. He makes a great argument when he says that the taste for crystal clear ale only dates from when we had beer glasses, before that drinking vessels would have been ceramic,wood or leather and who cared what the beer looked like just whether it tasted good.
The brewery is now a twenty barrel outfit with new equipment that was installed last year.

Justin gave us a very comprehensive guide through the brewing process and also had a barrel of So'Hop on for us to try, unfined of course ! . This ale won the overall champion at the Somerset CAMRA festival in Minehead last year and is a really good hoppy ale at 4.1%. There was also a small amount of one of the ales he inherited from the previous owners, Old Freddy Walker at 7.3%. Justin likes his strong ales and also brews JJJ IPA at 9.5%.
The awards wall pays testament to how well received this brewery is by its peers.

Awards Wall

All too soon our visit was over but Justin came up trumps again and organised a taxi to ferry us back to the Halfway House at Pitney.

We arrived at the pub around 7pm and as usual it was already full. We had taken the precaution though of booking a table for 16 so we were soon ordering meals and beers. This sign made us all chuckle though, something lost in translation as it should have read Brecknell, Willis !

Look at all those cloudy beers !

As usual there were ten ales on offer and I was pleased to see two from Moor. I went for Nor'Hop at 4.1%, a beer I had tried a few weeks ago in Crewekerne. It was the unfined version and is a delightfully hoppy and fruity ale with a crisp finish.
Next up was a new brewery for me with Green Jack from Lowestoft in Suffolk. This was Mahseer IPA at 5.0% a strong, bitter but again very hoppy ale.
Third beer of the night was Wessex brewery's Deverill's Advocate at 4.6% a golden ale, but not overly remarkable.
I went next for an old favourite with Hopback's GFB (Gilbert's First Brew) at 3.8% , A nice well balanced session beer.
The time was now getting on and our transport was due at 9pm, but there was still time for 'one for the road' and I plumped for Butcombe 'Bitter' at 4.0%.
A great evening and I would recommend visiting the Brewery if you get the chance.

The First Tatworth Beer Festival

On Friday evening myself and a couple of the usual suspects went to the first ever Tatworth Playing Fields Beer Festival. As it was held in the playing fields which is a 30 second walk from my back gate I was there at 4pm ready to get stuck in.
The beers chosen for the festival by Andy J, another of the usual suspects, were all champions,either nationally or locally.
I started with the Dark Star 'Espresso' at 4.2% , a black beer which has ground arabica coffee beans added to the brew to provide a rich coffee taste. The beer won World Speciality Ale award in 2009.
Next up was a Scottish beer, Cairngorm Black Gold at 4.4%. This is a stout with a very malty taste and molasses overtones. Its a very smooth and easily drinkable stout. Its a multi-award winning beer including SIBA Supreme Champion Beer of the Year.
The third beer was one I had tried a couple of years ago at the Great British Beer Festival when it was voted the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain and was Castle Rock's Harvest Pale at 3.8%. It's a blond beer brewed with American hops and as a result has a very 'hoppy' crisp taste.
I was now in the mood to enjoy the entertainment for the evening as the England v Sweden football match in Euro 2012 was about to start. I filled up in readiness with Oakleaf's 'I can't believe It's not Bitter' at 4.9%. This was not really to my taste as its a cask conditioned lager and although Its served at a 12degree temperature and has none of the usual lager chemical fizz, it still tastes a bit like lager !
Its another speciality beer award winner and was CAMRA champion beer in 2011
Next up was another old favourite with Yeovil Ales and Stargazer at 4.0%. This is a dark copper ale with a sweet hoppy bouquet.Another multi award winning beer and was Somerset CAMRA champion in 2007 amongst others.
The next beer was a late entry for the festival, but what a substitute with Timothy Taylor's 'Landlord' at 4.4% which has won CAMRA's beer of the year no less than four times.
Its a great beer with something for everyone with its malty,hoppy,fruity and spicy taste.
Last of the seven was Worthington's White Shield(5.6%) but in cask. Its a another multi award winner but usually for its bottled variety.Its a proper IPA with a smoky bouquet and a smooth texture.
As I was so close to home, a rare pleasure for a 'fest' I decided to have 'one for the road' and went for another Stargazer.
The festival was on for the Saturday as well but as I had my wife's 50th Birthday party to organise I gave it a miss, hopefully though there will be some left for the next England game on Tuesday evening !

Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival 2012

Yesterday myself and some of the usual suspects  Andy G and Tony made our way to Cardiff and the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival at the Motorpoint Arena.
We set off from Taunton station at 9:10am and arrived in Cardiff at 11.22am. It was a short walk then to the arena and after picking up our glasses, programme and tokens we went into the hall, surprised at how quiet it was.

Calm before the Storm.The Tiny Rebel stand to the left would be 'heaving' later on.

We secured a table and then headed off to the bar. I chose Ilkley Brewery from West Yorkshire and 'Black' at 3.7% an easily drinkable mild ale and a good start to the day.
Next up was the Otley Brewery from Pontypridd in Mid Glamorgan and O Garden at 4.2%. This was the supreme Welsh Champion beer in 2010 and was a fruit/spiced golden ale with a clove flavour coming to the fore.
Next it was off to Herefordshire and the Wye Valley Brewery with the first of my many stouts. I chose DG Stout at 4.2% which was rich and smooth with a chocolate aftertaste.
It was now that the rest of our party arrived when Andy J and his wife Helen joined us. They were staying overnight in Cardiff and we had prearranged to meet up at the festival.
After some food , I had the excellent veg. Curry it was back to the ales and a new brewery for me with Waen from Llanidloes in Powys. Blackberry Stout at 3.8% was OK but I couldn't get the fruity finish.
Next up it was back to the Otley Brewery and their excellent Oxymoron Black IPA at 5.5% with its rich chocolate flavour and bitter aftertaste.
I now headed north and another new Brewery with Big Bog from Waunfawr in Snowdonia. I tried 'Swampy' at 4.7% a ruby ale with supposed hints of licorice and malt. Although I could get the malt the licorice evaded me.
I was now back to Yorkshire and Timothy Taylor's 'Dark Mild' at 3.5% a really good session beer with malt and caramel flavours.
I was the only one to try this next beer which on for this day only. It was from the Brains Craft Brewery and was Barry Island IPA at 6.0% and was served by the brewer Simon Martin. A nice example of an IPA.
Now it was off to the Tiny Rebel stand, a new micro-brewery from Newport and only started in February 2012. There was quite a crowd around the stand for most of the afternoon, a testament to a great new brewery. On the bar was a Hop Rocket, an in-line filter system that delivers a burst of hops as the beer is being drawn. The beer getting this treatment was Fubar, but I went for Full Nelson, a golden ale with fruity and floral notes. I wanted to try first Doc Brown and then Dirty Stop Out but both were already gone, another testament to the excellence of their beers.

Full Swing

Next it was a beer that wasn't in the catalogue and the Kite Brewery's 'Jubilicous' at 4.4%. The Kite brewery was another relatively new venture which started in 2011 in Gorslas, Carmathenshire and I was really taken with the T Shirts that the barmen were wearing as it had a Red Kite for a logo and I did ask if I could buy one. The guy took my E-Mail address so hopefully they will get in touch.
I now chose my last festival beer as we were going to leave at 4.30pm so that we could get a meal before our train at 6pm. I went for another Brain's from Cardiff beer and 'Jack Black'  at 4.3% a dark oatmeal stout brewed with dark malts and roasted barley. A good way to end the festival.

The Usual Suspects-L-R Andy G, Yours Truly, Andy J and Tony

We now took our leave of Helen and Andy J and made our way back to the station stopping in The Great Western, a Wetherspoons pub for something to eat. Beer on offer was Rudgates Ruby Mild at 4.4% so we all went for that. By coincidence as we were eating a text came from Andy J to say that the Festival Champion was..... Rudgates Ruby Mild.
We got to the station in good time and at 8pm were back in Taunton to be met by Tony's daughter and our lift home.
A good day at a very well run festival that might become a regular on the calendar.

Trinity Hill

Last night myself and two friends Paul and Aiden made our way to Trinity Hill just outside of  Axminster. This is a traditional site for European Nightjar and I've been coming here for over twenty years now. We were joined tonight by my long time birding pals Tim and Andy.
We arrived at the site around 8.30pm with the sun still shining(not the conditions I was hoping for) but soon a mist had come down and the conditions became more suitable for a successful evening.
We took up position in our usual spot but noticed that the vegetation had grown considerably since last year.
At around 9.20pm Paul, who had taken a walk along the track to warm up came back with the news that Nightjars were calling in the next clearing over at almost the same time as we heard them calling from some distance away.
We relocated to the next clearing and immediately had a Nightjar 'churring' in a tree in front of us and then a another fly past our position on the track and land in the tree next to us.

European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

We then proceeded to watch for around twenty minutes as the birds continued to give their strange 'churring' call and 'kriek' contact calls as they flew around the clearing.

This is one of my favourite trips of the year and I can never get over the fact that this goes on every night throughout the summer and 90% of the population will never know about it.

The Lesser of two Whitethroats

An early evening visit to the gravel pits produced nothing new but the Warblers were still all singing. The Cetti's is still trying to forlornly attract a mate calling constantly from near the hide. The Lesser Whitethroat was keeping loyal to the hedgerow near the weighbridge and thwarting all my attempts at a photo.
The Canada Geese family were still on the East lake and pleasingly still had five goslings.

Black Hole Marsh

This morning Mir and I popped down to Black Hole Marsh at Seaton for an hour or so. The weather when we left home was cold and overcast but on arriving at the coast the sun was out and it was quite warm out of the wind.
We walked out to the marsh hide and got comfortable and I was pleased to see this Grey Plover sat on a island in front of us, resplendent in its summer plumage.

Grey Plover

Looking out it was evident the most numerous birds were Shelduck and at least one pair had bred.

Awwwww !

Another evidence of breeding were these Canada Geese.

They were very protective and saw off this Mute Swan when it got too close.
The Seaton Tramway runs right by the reserve along the estuary and as expected on a bank holiday weekend was in full swing.

After about an hour we headed into Seaton and Tesco's as it has a good selection of bottled ales. I came away with three Wooden Hand beers,Four Hop Backs a Keltec and a Thwaight's Wainwright, which makes a nice blog writing accompaniment.

Comfortably Numb

Last night myself and friends Andy,Tony and Nick went up to Bristol and the Colston Hall to see Brit Floyd, the Uk's premier Pink Floyd tribute band.

We arrived around 7.15pm and made straight for the bar where the only ale on offer was Bath ales Gem and Hare, both served at sub-zero temperatures.
The show started at 8pm and we were straight into Shine on you crazy Diamond and a fantastic first half set which included a rare airing of The Fletcher Memorial Home from the Final Cut album and See Emily Play.
The second half kicked off with Echo's and went straight into Time and then Great Gig in the Sky featuring the great vocals of Ola Bienkowska.
The show ended with the usual Comfortably Numb and then an encore of Run Like Hell.

Run Like Hell

A great evening of Pink Floyd music by one of the best tribute bands I've ever seen.

Brewer's Arms Beer Fest.

Last night myself and the usual suspects plus three others made our way over to South Petherton and the 18th Brewer's Arms Beer Festival. This is another great example of what a pub can be with a range of events planned for the Jubilee weekend.

As we were increased in number we had hired a Mini-Bus to take us and it duly arrived at my place at 7pm. After picking up the other six we were soon on our way and arrived in South Petherton around 7.45pm.
We went straight through the old coaching entrance to the paved beer garden and were delighted to see a full blackboard of around 25 ales on offer.

Unfortunately some of the beers were not on yet as it's a four day festival but there still enough of the Jubilee themed ales to temp our pallate. I started with our local brewery Yeovil Ales and Crown Imperial at 3.9%, the tasting notes said it should have a citrus aroma which I couldn't quite get but it was a good session beer to kick off with.
Next up was a new brewery for me and Goddards of the Isle of Wight's Jubilation at 4.6%, this had a nice malty flavour with a 'back of the throat zing'
Some of the beers were in the bar and after Andy J had been to get a Fullers Hope and Glory and told me that they had the Adnams Diamond Ale on in there I was off like a butchers dog. Adnams are my favourite brewers and I really enjoyed their Jubilee special ale at 4.1%.
Next on the list was Hop Back from Salisbury's Cherry Diamond at 4.2% which really did have a cherry aftertaste.
Another old favourite was next with RCH's Steam Diamond at 5.0%. The Weston S-Mare's Brewery really does turn out some good` beer's and this was amongst the groups favourites on the night.
High House Brewery from Newcastle was another new one for me and I went for Lizzies Dimples which after five pints was quite difficult to order !. It was a good slightly spicy ale at 4.0%.
The night was getting on and our Mini-Bus was due at midnight, but I still had time for another from yet again a new brewery for me with Kirby Lonsdale in Lancashire and Jubilee Stout at 5.5%. A good way to end what had been a cracking night with good beer and company.

Weston-Super-Mare WTW

I've taken a couple of days of work this week and yesterday around 11am I took myself off to Weston-Super-Mare Water Treatment Works (Nice I hear you say !)
The reason for visiting this most inviting of places was a long staying Great Reed Warbler, the continental cousin of our smaller Reed Warbler. I've seen these birds many times abroad but never in the UK.
I arrived around mid-day as the traffic on the M5 was quite heavy. I walked up to the bank overlooking the two UV pools where the bird has taken up residence.
There were two guys sat on bank with 'scopes and I was greeted with the usual "you should have been here 10 mins ago" as apparently the bird had been showing well !
They left shortly after and I continued to scan the reed bed although I could hear the bird calling with its loud raucous calls. My patience was soon rewarded with good views as it flew into a small willow on the bank.

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

 

The photo is pretty poor and I realised when I got home the settings were all wrong.