It's all happening back home....SOOTY TERN arrives at Dublin!!

Well, what other insult can the irish birding scene throw at me?? A friggin Sooty Tern!!! Mega-rare on the shores of the fair isle and a cracking bird to boot. It had been found on Anglesey, Wales at the weekend and it turned up near Rockabill, Skerries in Dublin this morning!!! Fantastic stuff. With the 2 Laughing gulls in Cork and Colin's Fea's Petrel, I am being robbed of new ticks and beautiful birds to see at home. Not that I am complaining about the birds in Japan (although the H. sapien variety have not been bad, just not sampled), it's just the wrong time of year...pity really. Anyway, to all the langers back home who read this and have seen the Sooty tern...YER SOME LANGERS!!!!

Anyway, last week's bash courtesy of the boss was a "fabulous" affair, fueled by free gat so thankfully it was painless. Everybody had to make a 1 minute speech extoling the joys of working with the Firm, how amazing the boss is and general stomach churning arse-licking. After making the most of the free bar a number of us headed off for another one or two in a local bar and then went home...Friday was not a pleasant day at work...All in all, it wasn't too bad, but the food was brutal and scant.

Great to hear from Dr.'s Wallace, Roper and Guerin during the last few days and Cally and Mel today...outcha Callster, no better man for the encouraging words (Happy Belated B'day my dear man, age witheld!!), will be on to you by end of the week. I also want to wish my bro a great day out at his graduation in Swansea on Thursday, have a good day kid and make the most of the parents being over, hehehee!!

Did a bit of birding over the weekend and saw feck all but what I saw was not bad (see list below) and just chilled out on Sat night, drank a bottle of wine and watched a DVD. More of the same on Sunday, a well needed rest was called for. I intend to get mildly drunk at the weekend and go clubbing, long weekend in store so it's all go...pity it's just before pay day but I am sure that cash can be found to enjoy it. A big festival happening in Kyoto so we are going to go out to that, it's supposed to be one of the best festivals in Japan and a must-see according to the usual Lonely Planet/Rough Guides splurge. if the weather is nice then photos shall be taken and another page added to the photopage (thanks for the encouraging words Mel!!).

Ok then, another comment on Japan ( I could go on all day about Japan but I think little bits of info will serve you better): the streets are used as vomitoriums after the men have been out having "A" drink and they take a piss wherever they feel like it (ah, reminds me of Pana on a Sat night....)

Bird note from Saturday, July 9th: Meadown Bunting, Osprey, Japnese Bush Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Swallow, Kingfisher, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Fan-tailed Warbler, Little Ringed Plover, Tree Sparrow and Black Kite.

That's all from me for the moment...