Monday 13 October 2014

Fox On The Run - Sweet

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With rain, wind, lightning, thunder etc continuing throughout the week-end most wildlifeing was done from the comfort of the car and with poor returns from the Moth Traps on Saturday the idea was abandoned altogether last night. All of note was this strangely 'light' looking single
 BROWN-SPOT PINION
which baffled me altogether.
Starting with a visit to the 'Hole in the Ground', all on offer there was this

 FOX
 but there was at least a New Arrival at the Irrigation Pond.
Over the last couple of days the area has been fed with a handful
of corn or so and seems to have attracted this
 MUTE SWAN
It should be pointed out that this small watercourse has been in existence for 15 years or more and according to local 'Wildfowlers' is visited by Mute Swans regularly. So, when it is stated a bird is 'new' to the Pond List
that only relates to my own records since the site was cleared..
 Not only good for the record but also to answer a couple of outstanding questions that might have been tackled in quite a different way had this bird not shown. Firstly, how deep is the pond? Well sat there in the rain for 2 hours it fed across the whole area and didn't have to cock its tail once, making the depth no more than Swan-Neck! The second and final question was answered as a consequence, is there any natural food? It was bringing up great beaks full of greenery so in addition it is thought ideal for 'Diving Ducks'.
There are a good number of resident
 
 JAYs
 on the property which at this time appear to have been augmented
by migrant birds. It is unlikely they will stay as similar to 2012 there is
not an ACORN to be found.
This one, braver than all the others, was feeding from the recently
turned earth.
To continue the Corvid theme at least c17
 MAGPIEs
also took advantage of the new bounty
 along with half a dozen
CARRION CROWs
Quite close to the Ponds and alongside the Eco Recycling works is this small and rapidly diminishing area of 
 HEATHLAND
which was previously a
Rubbish Tip
adjoining to Merritown Heath. This is where, during his last visit, Dave Foot pointed out and identified a wealth of Wildlife for me.
 The whole area is covered by Webs of one description or another
which are best viewed early morning when the Dew is still on them.
 Most unusual of these must surely be the home of
 'millions' of
RED SPIDER MITES
 LARVAE of a species of SAWFLY
 SONG THRUSH
 ANVILS
complete with plenty of Snail Shell evidence,
 and most dramatic of all, good numbers of
 WASP SPIDER
 zealously protecting their
EGG CASES.
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