Thursday 11 July 2013

Big John - Johnny Cash

With the Moth Trap now fully functional it was thought that despite the great success thus far a change might be as good as a rest. Last night the trap was moved from the shade of the
SILVER BIRCH GROVE,
close proximity of a few FIR TREEs and VEGETABLE GARDEN
(I sense a Death's-head Hawk-moth among those spuds)
a little closer to the Garden Pond between the WILLOW and
the ALDER.

 BUFF ARCHES
 SILKY WAVE
SPRUCE CARPET
 BROKEN-BARRED CARPET
(these 2 'Carpets' really did it for me, what beautiful creatures?)
 DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG
were all additions to the Property List
and other Cweepy Cwalies in the trap.
 Many 100's of these tiny Insects and
another MICRO
After what has now become the most important function of the day, Janet accompanied by her Mum Joyce has driven off for their weekly coffee and chat, I decided on a bit of a tête-à-tête myself with her Dad. John, at 80 still plays a huge part in 'haymaking' (1,600 bales on Sunday alone), mile upon mile of fence laying and still chops all his own firewood. This remarkable man also has a great story to tell completely captivating me while keeping our eyes on the dozen or so 'bird feeders'. Lots of young birds are now visiting these along with parents including
 ROBIN (juvenile)
 (adult) CHAFFINCH
 BLUE TIT and NUTHATCH (juveniles)
 the latter was most interesting to me as I had never seen the
young of this species before.
All to wily for this bumbling lad the biggest miss of the visit were the c2 juvenile Jays along with a parent bird, and in addition we also saw Greenfinch, Blackbird, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Buzzard (not on the table I hasten to add) while a Goldcrest was vocal throughout.