Heart of Oak - Dr William Boyce (lyrics by David Garrick)

This Lord of the Manor thing really is a 'piece of cake', having entered the pooches for Crufts where all 3 come away with 'Best of Breed', the UK Egg Marketing Board having placed orders for 1,000 'cackle berries' per week and having signed a contract with the FA to replace the Wembley turf next season I have now turned my attentions to the Parley Golf Club. No disrespect to the lovely Cath, but it was felt it needed that Bagsy touch. Having wielded the big stick and squared off the Manager

the place was throbbing last night,

couldn't get through the door at one point

while empty beer barrels were scattered everywhere. Don't quite know what we'll do next Saturday when Tiger Woods is booked?

Only joking, it was really this young mans birthday but in true Bagsy fashion I have forgotten both his and the lady-friends names. Don't mock it will come to you eventually!

In stark contrast to yesterday a rapidly clearing sky brought forth sunshine, a gentle breeze (albeit northerly and chilly) and also not a drop of rain which lasted all day.

 

 No time to lay there watching Ash Trees sway when you have one of these alongside you in bed, but given it is the season for the House Spider (Tegenaria gigantea) to come inside this was expected.

The only new species in the moth trap this morning, along with about 100 others, was SQUARE-SPOT RUSTIC unless I'm told differently? The rest of the morning was given over to a car boot sale where, getting in for FREE, made every penny profit and I did alright, and airport runs.

A couple of hours at Longham Lake this afternoon produced nothing but this magnificent OAK which I had not even noticed before, but I am not sure as to species, so once again will be reliant on the archive. As the real L of the M is on holiday in Canada with the family at this time a Canuck theme follows, all the images were taken in that beautiful country. Hope you lot are seeing some of these!

BALD EAGLE

BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (female and male).

BOREAL CHICKADEE

GREAT BLUE HERON

GREY JAY (or Whisky Jack)

LESSER SCAUP

MEW GULL

RACCOON (lookout Davy Crockett's behind you).
and finally a couple of excellent pictures of

COMMON BUZZARD

with prey, sent to me by John and Maggie Gifford - Thanks again Both.

I Like It That Way - Brian 'Poole' & the Tremeloes

Watching the giant Ash Tree swaying in what Beaufort would consider a force 8 to 9 gale from the comfort of my bunk, first thoughts were "is it worth getting up anyway"? It's always worth it and despite yesterday's dearth of anything 'wild', let alone birds, I sprang out of bed like a Thompson's Gazelle at the crack of 11:30 (only joking on both counts). A decent start to the day as I let out the Chickens and feeding them at the same time, to see a

LITTLE GREBE on the Parley main pond,

a species I have not seen there before but once again no Mandarin. With all the animals fed and those that need it 'excersised it was time to attend to the moth trap, maybe for the 'last time' the way things are going. Only 4 insects were photographed from the haul yesterday and anotated as The Shark and Wormwood Shark (both new to the farm). In fact they were ALL the 'same' species Blair's Shoulder-knot with the appropriate ammendment being made and ditto 'thanks' to Paul Harris for putting me right. This Moth malarky is not coming back to me at all as I thought it might, but feel I'm a little to long in the tooth to become a 'quitter' now - Ever Onward!

Apart from a most interesting Hoverfly, that escaped just befor the first camera click,

what I believe to be the MALLOW was the only addition today? With no Airport pick-ups and the only caravaners arriving this evening I was now free for 3 or 4 hours until duty once again called, so off to circumnavigate Poole Harbour. First stop

where an Osprey has been seen over the past few days, a potential addition to both Year and October Lists.

The walk through the wood at Sherford Bridge produced c2 Nuthatch, lots of Goldcrest, Chaffinch and Tits,

while looking across the heath to the bog itself there was something of a swarm of Meadow Pipits, an untold number of Stonechat, a Dartford Warbler and the first c5 Jays that became c13 before the day was over.

 

MISTLE THRUSH and Blackbirds were taking advantage of the Hawthorn Berries close to the road which I took towards Middlebere.

Narrow country lanes nearly all the way but all the tree trunks were not confined to the neat stacks made by the Forestry Commission Loggers. No, one was squarely across the road, result no doubt of last nights gales which had now happily abated.

About turn and access Middlebere Hide via Soldiers Road and Norden,

 

where first to be seen was this posing BLACK-HEADED GULL.

Looking east along Middlebere Creek

 

about a dozen CURLEW were feeding the last couple of hours of the 'flood tide' as were

 

c3 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, c3 Little Egret, c2 Oystercatcher, c7 Canada Geese plus several Teal and Wigeon but not much else.

In the opposite direction

a GREY HERON flushed from the reeds as a most welcome

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL appeared from nowhere.

At quite a distance, it didn't make for a perfect image but this set are the best of this species I have yet taken in this country, so happy with my efforts!

With little else to keep me it was onward, via Corfe Castle and these splendid views across Studland Heath (centre) and Bouremouth Bay (right),

Poole Commercial Harbour (centre, distant)

and more of the heath and Pasture Land to the west.

The recently reported Garganey (Duck) at

BRANDS BAY (BP's Witch Farm Oil Drilling Derrick centre) was worthy of a look but not found,

but a GREENSHANK did make up in part for the 'miss'.

Heading to the Sandbanks Ferry, and in turn home, these 3 ROE DEER quickly crossed the road

and several SIKA DEER were seen during the day.

In That Quiet Earth - Genesis

Only having reported the lack of a new country during the month of September a couple of days ago, one duly turns up in the shape of MYANMAR (formally Burma). We of course extend a warm welcome to the readership in the hope that the Blog Link will be spread throughout the land!

A beautiful start to the day with some mist lingering over the River Stour and

the early morning sun livening up the Parley Pond after the last few showery days. Still no sign of the Mandarins though but a few Swallows were heading south, Wood Pigeons seemingly increasing in numbers and Pied Wagtails everywhere.

 

There were 2 dozen Moths caught overnight including what is believed to be 3 new species for the farm. BLACK RUSTIC,

BLAIR'S SHOULDER-KNOT

 All Blair's Shoulder-knot.

Otherwise a very quiet day of duties on the farm rather than 'wildlife spotting' so hope the weather holds to get a little further afield tomorrow.