Friday 17 July 2015

Because They're Young - Duane Eddy

Communication Breakdown
of the serious kind has precluded
our attendance - Apologies all round.
As the Headline Says Link
some water under the bridge since we bought the
Guitar Man Album
A return to the weekend, and while the weather was less than desirable it didn't dampen the spirits of my visiting friends Paul and Tess, nor my own. Both days were utilised to the full, showing them the full extent of the Recording Area here, with most prominent on show being 'Young Birds'. With so much to see and so many images it might be that we have to split this into 2 separate Posts. Of course on both days early attendance at the Moth Traps was priority but even there we could not escape 'The Young' (not that we wanted to). 
 Heralding some of the less clement weather and with my
Meteorological Days
behind me
 I couldn't put a name to this 'strange formation'.
 At the Stable Trap it was likely this youngster had nicked all the
good stuff off of the palling wall.
 ROBIN
A decent catch on both days produced an interesting selection of
Insects, including
 LACKEY
 SMALL FAN-FOOTED WAVE
 the eye-catching
 BLUE-BORDERED CARPET
 GREY PINE CARPET
 RIVULET
a pristine 'first for the year'
 V-PUG
BORDERED PUG 
and
SCORCHED CARPET
At Parley Pond a young
 GREY HERON
has established a regular feeding spot.
 A 'host' of juvenile
 COLLARED DOVE
 we met as we drove through the 
Eco Recycling Plant and before entering the
Solar Panel Compound
this 'complete fluke' image of a parent
 CHIFFCHAFF
feeding a youngster was secured.
 Once the gate was bolted to keep the Sheep within 
 we quickly 
picked up on a number of recently fledged
SKYLARK
which even lingered long enough to become 'Movie Stars'.
While they have been showing an interest in the Compound for a
number of days now
 a family party or
 'UNKINDNESS'
of
 RAVEN
 now seem to have plucked up the courage to venture inside.
 Initially thought to be of c2 parent birds and c3 juveniles,
there are in fact c6 individuals in total.
They also were in for a 'shout' at the Oscar's.
All the small, passerine type birds have done well here
over this Breeding Season and none more so than 
 MEADOW PIPIT
but appear to be the least confiding of them all.
 STARLING
now congregate in many dozens but no sign of a 'murmuration' yet!
It was unanimously agreed that the
HIGHLIGHT
of the weekend was the visit
and very 'close quarters' views of the

SAND MARTIN
colony behind Eco.
 Initially, about a dozen birds
excavated and looked to be tending c7 'active' nest holes
before disaster struck as part of the 'reclaimed' soil bank
collapsed beneath them.
 Undeterred, these tiny Hirundines set about excavating
new nest holes which in itself was a miracle of nature to witness.
Seemingly taking it in turns, each would perch on the outer edge of
 the intended hole and frantically 'shovel' the loose earth behind them,
but only 3 guesses as to who didn't have the foresight to video this
'magical happening'.
Answers on a Post Card!
Although difficult to count, on the day of our visit the original dozen
or so have now increased to between 30 and 40 individuals, all
'on the wing'.
Of these there are still c3 (pairs) attending nests.
and the
Avian Oscar
goes to
SAND MARTIN
There are some Family Happenings on the horizon which shouldn't
preclude us from bringing you
Because They're Young - The Sequel
in a couple of days time.
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