Wednesday 1 April 2015

The Mediterranean - Beautiful South

It was yesterday's Readership Total, via the Stat Counter, that was the highlight of the past couple of days, with the steady but relatively low daily count suddenly, and seemingly without reason, TREBLING as can be seen on Total Pageviews! I guess, like myself, all BLOGGERS love to see a high turn-out and similarly like to advertise their wears, so here's your chance to disseminate our link, small return for the effort put in. 
along with a HUGE Thank You for whoever is responsible for upping the Counter!
To contradict myself straight away, there was an equally joyous moment as we received communication from our dear friend Chris Cook in distant Japan. We keep in touch from time to time and receive equal enjoyment to learn of each others recent meanderings. For those who know Chis it will come as no surprise to hear that when work as Fashion Editor for the Tokyo News he has been 'out in the field'. Here are some of his findings.
SIBERIAN WHITE CRANE
 SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER
and, dependant on 'point of view' best until last
BONIN WHITE-EYE
an 'endemic' of Hahajima Island, Japan.
The Moth Traps were a little devoid over the weekend with just
 DOTTED CHESTNUT
 of note from the Garden trap, so onward to the North.
 
 At the Solar Panel Security Fence
it looked as though PHEASANT (ORDINAIRE) was trying to get out,
while one of the (Dark Morph) Hand Reared was trying to get in?
 
 The scene at the Irrigation Pond was not a pretty one, it was immediately
noted that disaster had struck. Despite applying a couple of stout lashings
to counter the impending gale of Monday night, poor old
Tommy Chippendale had taken a severe list to starboard.
 On the bright-side,

COOT
at both Parley Pond and here seem to have commenced 'nest building',
but thus far only exchanges of material between the pair has been noted.
In recent days we have been trying a new, to me at least, method
of Moth Catching using an
 ACTINIC TRAP
 A battery powered, 'low voltage' Fluorescent Tube is used in lieu
of the more usual Mercury Vapour Lamp, supplied from the mains,
with the first outing proving a
Great Success.
 A good catch for here, although we did have one last year,
RED SWORD-GRASS
followed by a
 Batch of Eggs
attributed to
 COMMON QUAKER
 for no other reason than they outnumber every other species 10 to 1.
 
CLOUDED DRAB
With the trap set close to Aspens we are ever watchful for the elusive
and similar Lead-coloured Drab.
Not this time Matey!
 SMALL QUAKER
 Another 'first for the year' the delightful
 PINE BEAUTY
Then from within the Gorse the sweet refrain of our first
BLACKCAP
of the year.
There were in fact c2, both males, but as there was no evidence of a
Female
we draw on the archive to show the comparison between the sexes.
Male and Female
STONECHAT
have now become commonplace at the Solar Panel farm and are
thought highly likely to 'nest' there?
The past couple of days have also produced a prile of
'First of the Year' Butterflies.
SMALL TORTOISESHELL

SMALL WHITE
and

PEACOCK
while a
lone
STARLING
looked very handsome too.
A dedicated search was made yesterday to establish just how many
Northern Thrushes are still on the property with obliging
FIELDFARE
numbering 21 while Redwing numbers were considered to be double that.
 
The Noise Abatement Society was represented by this
Swiss BOMBARDIER BD-700-1A10 GLOBAL 6000
being put through its paces, landing and taking off continuously
throughout the afternoon from
Bournemouth International Airport
right next door.
Not enough din to flush the small party of Gulls favouring one of the
Horse Paddocks, but they were jittery. Unfortunately distant among
the Black-headed Gulls a rare visitor here, a
MEDITERRANEAN GULL
not only that but an adult (right) in
Full Summer Plumage
The accursed aircraft's persistence eventually paid off, putting them all to flight, but a close eye was kept as the target bird appeared to land behind the Manor at 18 Acre. This, of course, was followed up only to find a further c2 (in similar plumage) along with a 'sub-adult'. To afford a closer look we delved into the archive.
Adult Breeding
Winter Adult (not seen) with a lookalike of the younger bird seen.
Back at Parley Pond
'building works had continued apace during my absence
with a decent foundation having been laid.
A 'tailess'
MAGPIE
much preferred would be the bodiless kind!
and finally, Spring Sprucing continues on Hugh's beloved
Grass Tennis Court.
Entry            Pageviews
United Kingdom
                359
United States
                237
Germany
                104
Russia
                  95
France
                  42
Lebanon
                  21
Estonia
                  18
Ukraine
                  16
Canada
                  10
Japan
                    6 - 'Big in Japan', Cheers Chris and Ponny