Wednesday 14 January 2015

A Winters Tale - David Essex

With that single record of Barn Owl, from the final evening of November, still firmly fixed in my mind a few sorties to that end of the farm, at the appropriate time of day, have been made. Unfortunately, all have come to nought as far as Owls have been concerned, but driving back along the Bridle Way undercover of dark the path suddenly became alive with Moths. Only those of the small and delicate type, it was now a mission to identify them. With the 'ever handy' Butterfly net c4 were quickly 'bagged' and gently confined to the folds of the net. Back at Slight II the net was unfolded to find not a single Insect with, where the flip have they gone thought I? A little disappointed the net was returned to the car, where all 4 were found perched on the windscreen - Thank Heavens. Kept in cool conditions until the following morning it was soon revealed that they are in fact
WINTER MOTH
and first for the Year.
The strange thing was each, during its fluttering, would alight in, or
at the at the edge of one of the many puddles along the track.
It is though, as with some Butterfly species, that they were likely seeking
minerals or maybe just the water itself? Bit of a conundrum!
We have been running a single Moth Trap on the occasional warmer night
and have thus far captured
c6 LARVAE (Caterpillar) of who knows what?
a few
YELLOW DUNG FLY
Scathophaga stercoraria
along with lots of
DANCE FLY
Empis tessellata
but no Moths yet.
Over the passed 2 or 3 days we have been getting away from the Farm
with the first Port of Call being
LONGHAM LAKES
where immediately on arrival
POCHARD
and
GADWALL
were added to the County List
while
KINGFISHER
was new for the Year.
Water levels are about as low as I've ever seen them but this is
closely regulated by pumping water from the Rivers
Avon and Stour as required.
Just a couple of passing shots with no real significance included
BLACK-HEADED GULL
CHIFFCHAFF
and a bevy
of very smart looking
HOUSE SPARROW
It was at that moment the Sheik decided to fly overhead in his
JUMBO JET
not to the liking of the Wildlife.
It looks every bit as though the sheets of roofing felt placed on the
southern bank to attract hibernating Reptiles etc have been abandoned,
also suffering from the weather. A very quick glimpse revealed
c3
SMOOTH (Common) NEWT
along with good numbers of 

GARDEN SNAIL
Helix aspersa
Thought most likely to be the Eggs of the above, but
could be Slug's Eggs
There followed a quick look around the Solar Panel Farm where
SONG THRUSH
along with loads of
CHAFFINCH
were utilising the perch, while a
ROE DEER
was seeking shelter.
Moving on to the Eco Recycling Works and a great surprise by
way of another 'First' for the Property
c2 female
SHOVELER
were in company with a male bird.
Another First for the Year was relocating the 2014
SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF
and to make up the Hat Trick a skein of c47 Greylag Geese also flew overhead.
A quick drive down to the
Avon Causeway
in pursuit of Egyptian Goose came to nought by in the far distance
another, or the same, party of Greylags in flight.
Totalling 48 it was thought likely to be the same bunch except nothing
was seen of the 'albinos' at the first viewing??
Finally, and the most bizarre discovery of the day
GOLDFISH
(type once known as Comet before mankind started tinkering with genetics)
Strangely found dead on Avon Bridge, maybe dropped by a Gull??
and for your amusement
Willie Wine on the loose.
We also thank John Gifford for his assistance with identifications.
Cheers Matey. 
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