Photograph - Ringo Starr

Another day of fine weather, which the forecasters tell us could be the last for the time being at least, with long periods of bright sunshine, and a gentle breeze to be enjoyed before the cold sets in. Not a lot on my agenda, in fact pretty much a 'stay at the farm' day but even closely confined there are things to see. As usual it was coffee at the Moth Trap, wherein there were a good few insects but only one addition to the Property List.

 GREY PINE CARPET
However, while engaged in the identification process this 

WREN (now called Winter Wren for reasons I cannot figure)

crept through the only gap in one window and more or less allowed me to catch it. A golden opportunity for a photo call not to be missed. Back to the Moths and another 'lost file' on the lap-top where two other 'escapees', which have been denied Property List Status, were found which bring the Parley total to 179.

GEM

DOUBLE LOBED

Loosing photos seems to be coming something of a habit with these, thought 'lost forever', taken at the Portland Bird Observatory during my recent visit. They show what was probably the most interesting and revealing moment of the stay, a

 COMMON WHITETHROAT

of this year's generation showing

 a 'band' on its tail. Not a usual marking for this particular Warbler,

The Assistant Warden explained that this is known as a 'Fault Bar' and indicates a period of feather growth, while in the nest being fed by the parent birds, when nourishment was either absent or in short supply. I have since discovered that this is not an unusual phenomena as since then someone has shown me a similar 'fault line' in their teeth as a result of a bout of measles when a teenager. With little else on the menu I'll leave you with a few more 'archive' images of MADAGASCAN ENDEMIC BIRDS

 MADAGASCAR SCOPS OWL

 male MADAGASCAR FODY

MADAGASCAR HARRIER HAWK

 MADAGASCAR CUCKOO ROLLER

 MADAGASCAR MAGPIE ROBIN

MADAGASCAR HOOPOE

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I Am The Owl - Dead Kennedys

Despite their 'daily' presence within a couple of mile radius of Parley the 2 key species for the month have avoided me for this first week.

 BARN OWL
(Wiki Pic)
was seen by others during the first 3 days while I was visiting
Portland, but since my return to the farm have remained strangely
silent (or, far more likely, I have been in the land of Nod?). Last night
redressed that irony as one was 'calling' close to the house at 02:00.

About that time the light evening mist had thickened to a dense fog and blocking out the heavens was likely to increase the catch from the Moth Trap? All of that quickly burned off at daybreak and there were a good number of Insects which are still under scrutiny. Unfortunately debilitated for most of the day all that was managed was the short drive to the Avon Causeway where it was found the Prodigal had returned. Only c5

EGYPTIAN GEESE
were seen but that was more than enough to fill the space on the
Dorset Month List. Two other species of Geese were there as well

 GREYLAG GOOSE

and CANADA GOOSE

but that was my 'bird watching' day over, so have once again had

to rely on the photo archive and another visit to Australia.

 BAR-SHOULDERD DOVE

 CARNABY'S BLACK COCKATOO

 COMMON BRONZEWING

 DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT

The Continents tiniest Parrot,

'smaller' than our own House Sparrow.

 DUSKY WOODSWALLOW

 ELEGANT PARROT

Not looking quite so 'Elegant' in a torrential downpour.

RADJAH SHELDUCK

RED-COLLARED LORIKEET

 RED-NECKED AVOCET

 RED-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO

 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER

 SPINY LIZARD

VARIEGATED FAIRY WREN

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Mr Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Sun is shinin' in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin' ev'rybody's in a play
And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day hey,hey, hey

My tenure as Lord of the Manor was short lived as most of the revellers were home before midnight at which time I was still enjoying the Boxing on this fancy TV they have here. By that time a whole bottle of McGuigan Bin No578 2012 Merlot had taken residence in it rightful stowage along with a bag of Kettles Crisps and a Smoked Salmon sandwich at which stage I too was ready for the hammock. Barely a wink of 'noddy', during which time had the Owls been 'calling' I would undoubtedly have heard them, so as dawn arrived all I was fit for was tending the Moth Trap. The results from this will be combined with a later post, but after this I had no inclination even to venture the 2 miles (drive) to the Avon Causeway to check for Egyptian Geese. Resigned to an easy day and a heavy lean on the archive photos I was in for something of a cultural and entertaining shock.

After yesterday's nuptials along with Hugh and Janet I was invited

to a late Wedding Lunch up at

PARLEY COURT MANOR.

The crowd was already gathering and as I had never visited the 

'inner sanctum' took some time to wander round.

I didn't need a 'second calling' when the dinner gong struck,

and CHEF was quick to avail me a 'grit big dollop'

of the fattened Pig which most certainly didn't die in vane.

We were all soon sat down to a fine meal including a particularly
good Rioja after which there was time to mingle (no second asking
there either) and meet some lovely people.

Unbelievable, I can remember most of the names of those met

 but as they know who they are and the readership won't know one 

from the other I'll happily save my own time, except to say this is

 

part of the NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT

on the Grooms side - Welcome once again to England!

 More views of the grounds before I got to meet

 SHAUNA MULLINS

 and the bride ZARA PITMAN (nee Dampney)
Seen here with JANET, DARYL and CATH.
 
 Great Britain's Ladies pairs Beach Volleyball

 OLYMPIANS

 Wiki shot of Shauna and Zara in their glory days.
Special Note:- while Shauna has now discontinued playing, Zara
tells me she is training hard for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero,
Brazil along with Coach and now husband Kirk Pitman.

 A fantastic afternoon thanks to Hugh's brother and sister in law

 TRELAWNEY and GWEN

PLEASE SHUT THE GATE ON LEAVING!

Parley Manor Weddings

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