Sunday 8 March 2015

Hully 'Gull'y - The Grateful Dead

The signs on Haigh/Asbury in the 60's used to read
LAND of the FREE - HOME of the DEAD!
RIP Gerry! 
The Meteorological Office had predicted an overnight temperature of +7°C on Thursday, so as quick as a flash it was on with the (as yet still single) Moth Trap but we were to be disappointed. Dawn saw a fairly heavy frost and the mercury down to a chilly -1°C. Maybe needless to say there were no Moths but one hardy, black and tiny Spider had sort refuge among the egg trays. Yesterday morning showed a little more promise as c2 were taken, both having been caught here before, but certainly a step in the right direction.
 HEBREW CHARACTER
and
DOTTED BORDER
and just before we drift off the subject of Insects, we are told by our friend
John Gifford
that the outstanding Fly, shown on a previous Post as 'unidentified', is in fact a
TACHINID GREENBOTTLE
on
COLTSFOOT
These wanderings, which include records from the past 3 days, began
on the bank of the
River Stour
where first up were some strangers in the camp. There is a resident 'pair' of
MUTE SWANs
which bred here last year but they had already been spotted earlier.
as can be seen neither are 'ringed' so are added to the
Spring Total which already stood at 10.
Arriving at the south west weed field (Mash) the Common Snipe
were already springing skyward and for a small alteration of course
c3 JACK SNIPE were also discovered.
Unlike their larger cousins these small Waders don't take to the wing
until almost trodden on and remain 'silent' when doing so. Another trait,
also unlike Common, is that they land fairly quickly and not too far away.
What remained of the 2 - 300 Herring Gull flock of earlier in the week
amounted to an easily countable 97, but among them was something
far 'scarcer' here than Lesser Black-backed Gull. a
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
As if the
Great God of the Gullible Gullfinder
were smiling down on us another 'even rarer' was just at the end of
Mousey's Wood and favouring the Horse Paddocks. This
COMMON GULL
is only the 'second' to be seen here
since starting my wanderings here back in
2006
It was in company with a good many Black-headed Gull and these c2
MISTLE THRUSH
Even more excitement, if you go for that kind of thing, as reaching the
Irrigation Pond
this presumed 'pair' (you can't tell these days) were really snuggling up
and appeared to be prospecting the Island.
Eventually, (presumed again) She had seen enough and took flight
while he on the other hand started 'throwing a wobbler', 'spitting out the dummy'
and generally behaving badly before deciding to calm down
and try a song,
which worked a treat - stand-by to climb aboard!
Which takes me on a little diversion, to tell of  
'A Moment In Time'
Socialising isn't high on my agenda these days, but invited out to lunch during the week by 2 lovely people, caused me to make an exception to that rule. Great Time, Lovely Meal, Stimulating Conversation so not mindful of either time or situation. Major roadworks close to Parley Cross are making anytime extremely difficult, but woe betide those who fall into the bracket of Rush Hour, which is precisely what I did. Literally 'grid-locked' both ways, each side was only making a cars length every 5 minutes, but of little consequence to me, as my favourite adage is "Life Ain't A Rush" - "we all get to the same place in the end"!, just as long as the iPod is to hand. I fell seriously in Love with the 5-piece, 80's Goth Band from Stevenage, London  
 the very second I first heard them and have played their music endlessly ever since.
 Close to my destination, it was their seminal album
ELIZIUM
issuing from the quad-sound system
with the haunting and almost menacing voice of front man
CARL McCOY
predominating on my all time favourite track
"And There Will Your Heart Be Also"
Glancing to my right, there sat in a similar vehicle was this
beautiful young woman beaming from ear to ear seemingly
at my nonchalant antics? The moment, the music and certainly the lyrics
were just right, so I wound down the window and sang to her.
We must suffer to free our pain 
Can you help us to find our way? 
You're here to stay, stay here in Paradise 
I'd end this moment to be with you
Through Morphic Oceans, I'd lay here with you, only to stay

Stay here in Paradise only to stay, so lonely 
From this Maelstrom free are you 
From this Maelstrom to be with you.
Note:- The Nephilim are a Biblical race of giants or angel-human hybrids,who some believe, like the the Norse Valkyrie, carry the dead bodies of believers to 'Elizium' (Valhalla).
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch
There were also a couple of newcomers at the Irrigation Pond
yet another 'pair' of
GADWALL
I rather liked this 'ground cover' of
COMMON ENGLISH STONECROP
on Merritown Heath but there was little else of interest there.
Bemoaning my lack of success with getting
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
(au naturel)
in the viewfinder, on a previous Post, today they were simply
EVERYWHERE!
HERRING GULL
looking altogether ungainly atop a Power Pylon
and still good numbers of
Northern Thrushes
FIELDFARE with a single REDWING
onlt a small part of the 3-figure numbers of both still here.

GREYLAGs and CANADA GOOSE
Thought, noting the Pennent Letters that this may have something to do with
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
but all that was found was it is a
1986 DORNIER 228
owned by Cobham Leasing of Wimbourne
DUNNOCK
COOT
keeping a low profile,
WOOD PIGEON
Almost a perminant sight on the banks of the Moors River
(Continental) CORMORANT

looking a little nervy.
There are very few
ALDER TREES
here but those that are
are BLOOMING
COMMON FIELD SPEEDWELL
Ornimental Daffodils
all over the place - let's enjoy them while they last.
This set of 5 images are not published to Blow Your Mind
but it is hoped the next time we publish such
they will show a timely reminder of
Before and After
These are the newlt Ploughed and Sewn
Wild Flower Meadows
The meltwater on both twigs and Spider's Webs did look a lot more dramatic in
Real Life
Cleaning Operations are continueing apace after the fire at the Manor

We have recorded a long list of Bee Species on the farm
but yesterday we added another
TREE BUMBLEBEE
Entry            Pageviews
United Kingdom
                 418
United States
                 154
Germany
                 107
Russia
                 102
Canada
                   25
France
                   20
Estonia
                   17
Netherlands
                   15
Sweden
                   13
New Zealand
                     8