Wednesday 29 April 2015

Bits and Pieces - The Dave Clark 5

Unlike last Saturday's Post, when we sported a Pentangle of Prominents (Moths) today, due to unforeseen Government cutbacks, we are only able to field a 'Brace'.
SCARCE PROMINENT
 is brand new to both myself and the property
 so a most welcome addition to the List.
COXCOMB PROMINENT
on the other hand has been caught here a number of times before,
 but this specimen was our first for 2015.
In the same way
SPECTACLE
 was added to the Year List while
 STREAMER
already caught and shown this year, appears for no other reason than
it is a cracking little Insect!
 Another 'first' for the Year
SILVER Y
Another smart looking specimen found in one of the traps is
 COMMON CARDER BEE
while
GREEN TIGER BEETLE
was 'netted' while 'free-flying'.
As some of our new BIRD arrivals at PCF have been neglected,
due to workload (hands up if you believe that - there's always one blind fool)
we can now show a few images of these newly welcomed guests.
REED WARBLER
 now grace most of the watercourses here and remain far more
numerous than their close relative
 SEDGE WARBLER
There have been a total of 5 occurrences of 
 CUCKOO
so far, attributed to at least c2 separate birds and we are still listening out.
A single
WOOD WARBLER
was heard singing as we activated the actinic trap late Monday afternoon,
while all else of interest includes:-
Excellent numbers of Dartford Warbler and Stonechat, while Yellow Wagtail and House Martin have thus far only amounted to c4 of each. It was thought that Woodcock 'roding' was over, but of c4 individuals seen last evening 2 were seen in fill display. The now single pair of Little Ringed Plover appear to be settled at the Irrigation Pond (IP), along with nesting Lapwing, the Coot have completed their nest, good numbers of Swallow (for here at least) are capitalising on the increasing numbers of Insects while the 'loan' Little Grebe looks a bit dejected. My theory is, the Missus is sat on eggs and some day soon all those little Little Grebe will be joining him soon - here's hoping!
Have to admit that my maligning of the invasive spread of
Parrot Feathers Pond Weed has been slightly over stated as it does
serve something of an important purpose.
PIED WAGTAIL
(among the Parrot Feather)
How many of our Over Wintering Birds survived as it provided a
more than adequate supply of food, both the weed itself, for some,
and endless Invertebrates for others. It looks every bit like the next generation
will also benefit.
COOT
and
LITTLE GREBE
to name but a few.
Back at the IP
these 2
GREYLAG GEESE
have been showing up on a daily basis while
prospective parent
LAPWING
keep obo on their clutch.
Going by the extra activity and noted 'food carrying' it seems sure
MEADOW PIPIT
have young but no sign of such from the
LAPWING
close to the Bridleway.
There is little to match
LONG-TAILED TIT
carrying nesting material, and even the
COAL TIT
have put in an appearance again
after quite a long absence.
BLACK-HEADED GULL
of all 'age ranges'
continue to favour the Sewerage Works and IP.
At the latter, trouble seems to have been afoot
as the Usurpers
or maybe invading pair of
COOT
left the Gravel Pit
to muscle in on their neighbours.
A drink and a bit of a freshen up and they returned from whence they came.
COCK PHEASANT
enjoying the sanctuary of the Solar Panels.
Close-Up
BLACKTHORN
View across the IP.
HUGH tending his BONFIRE
HERRING GULL
Floating Weed
just seemed to make a nice subject,
and this is reckoned to be about the closest we are ever going to get to
PINTAIL
(but you never know)
A short footage at the IP.
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