Stormy Monday - BB King

 They call it stormy Monday, yes but Tuesday's just as bad.
They call it stormy Monday, yes but Tuesday's just as bad.
Wednesday's even worse; and Thursday's awful sad.

The weather, once again, has prevented too much in the way of gallivanting but between bouts of heavy rain and high winds we have taken advantage of the bright spots. On the other hand temperatures, particularly overnight, have remained reasonable with the lowest remaining in double figures. Some of the highlights from the traps include the first

DARK CHESTNUT
of the year and another if only it could be identified by mere mortals.

 Most likely a 'type' of
NOVEMBER MOTH

 which we are reliably informed can only be certain by dissection of
the genitalia.

 Also difficult
COPPER UNDERWING
or

 SVENSSON'S COPPER UNDERWING

 Half a Dozen

 LARGE WAINSCOT

 and with
BLAIR'S SHOULDER-KNOT
of which there were also c6.

SILVER Y

 and a dark form of

 TURNIP MOTH
brought up the rest of the Moths with additionally

 FLAT-BACKED MILLIPEDE
Polydesmus augustus
and the

ICHNEUMON WASP
Pimpla insigator
a nice find on Parley Pond on Monday morning was this

GADWALL

in addition to which and over the past 3 days

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

CORMORANT

now back on the River Stour but not on Parley Pond YET!

The acreage turn over to attracting birds came up trumps with

c 13 REED BUNTING

probably as many as up to 50 Skylark, a couple of Common Snipe,

a Brown Hare along with quite a few of these

'black' PHEASANTs.

ROE DEER
was flushed from the Flight Pond area as a distant

RAVEN
flew overhead,

I discovered one of the 4
BEE (Insect) HOTELs
now strategically placed around the property

and this

GREEN WOODPECKER
feeding on the now 'dormant' grass tennis court.

Back at Parley Pond

the first sighting of the giant

RED-EARED TERRAPIN

since the Spring.
The hedgerows all round are now bearing masses of fruit which should
bode well for the imminent return of the Northern Thrushes
(Redwing and Fieldfare) plus others.

SLOE (Blackthorn)

HAWTHORN

ROSE HIPS
and

HOPs
There were c5

MALLARD

on the Irrigation Pond all weekend along with the returned
MUTE SWAN
as

BLACK-HEADED GULLs
continue to utilise their favoured but strange choice of perch.

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Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix

More of a Purple PATCH than a Haze as the back end of last week along with today have have thrown up some pretty Good Stuff. With limited time and a fair bit of business to attend to in Weymouth, the 3 Lingering Stars at Portland were going to prove far too much of a temptation with the chase for these resulting in missed appointment back at Parley. Never mind, there are some things in life far more important than appointments, starting with the

 BLACK GUILLEMOT

 which has returned to a favoured spot close to Portland Castle were it
spent the latter months of 2013 and the early ones of this year. An addition
to the Ongoing Dorset List and a good start to the day. Also there were

 PURPLE SANDPIPER
and a

 KINGFISHER
 but time was ticking on!
The Hooded Crow, during its tenure, has been seen 3 times but
always in the vicinity of the Pig Farm at the Grove, Portland but recent
reports have shown that it now seems to be favouring the

 ADMIRALTY QUARRY
a site never even heard of let alone of known location.

 Purely by chance I discovered this huge Open Cast but only later
learnt, from Martin Cade, Warden of the
Portland Bird Observatory
that this was indeed the said quarry.

A search was also made of part of the adjoining

KINGSBARROW (Redundant Quarry) NATURE RESERVE
 where there were plenty of

 LINNETs
along with a number of

 STONECHAT
and

 MEADOW PIPIT
but not a sniff of the elusive Corvid.

 Always nice to see the

NICODEMUS KNOB
if you will excuse the expression!
Ever onward to target Number Three, with a brief stop for coffee with
The Secret Lemonade Drinker, at Reap Lane, Portland where it took a very
short time indeed to spot the

ROSY STARLING
(photograph © Duncan Walbridge maybe on the same roof)

in direct sunlight. In an attempt to secure my own photograph a shift of position was needed during which time the local Sparrowhawk decided to make an appearance and shift the position of everything else. Sod's Law took over and the Starling was not seen again!

With 2 out of 3 being more than satisfactory, Saturday was sure to produce a much better result in fact a predicted 100%. Hugh, Janet and I spent the whole day in London with the Family York. Before even having time to remove my jacket, I was 'luffed-in' for feeding the baby,

 some 'luffing' I can tell you to have the privilege of attending to our
new little girl
ELIZABETH LOUISE
Lots of difference and improvements to see in all the children
despite the relatively short time since the last visit.

 FREDERICK
has now become a Dab-Hand at preparing the table at meal times.

 We all enjoyed an excellent lunch.
 
 BENJAMIN, ALEXANDER and FRED
Please note there is a Monkey on the outside of Alex's shirt and
an even bigger one wearing it!!

 Fred helps Mummy Lisa build and intriguing toy

 MAGFORMERS
never seen that before and what an invention!

 A Cube within a Ball

 BENNY
who is now far more articulate 

 while Elizabeth has lost all those 'New Born' wrinkles

 which is more than can be said for Grandpa Bagsy.

 HUGH
looked to be having a good time!
 While the Moth Traps had to take a back seat to our London visit they
were attended too on our return, but in rapidly fading light. This morning
(Sunday) was quite the opposite except the light was similar that early in the morning.
Here are a few shots of some of the 'captives'.

YELLOW-LINE QUAKER

 is a new addition to the Year List

 while here there is a chance to compare with a close cousin
RED-LINE QUAKER

 The 'so called' Immigrant
VESTAL
is also still being caught pointing to a likelihood that it breeds at PCF.

 BRINDLED GREEN

 COMMON WAINSCOT

 likely the last of a 'second brood' and another Immigrant

GEM

Last out was also a new sighting for me a

 

DOCK BUG 

Coreus marginatus 

(kindly identified for us by John Gifford)

After this a hasty retreat was beat to the northern part of the property

and the Irrigation Pond which has been neglected over the past 2 days.

On arrival just 2 male and a single female Mallard were found 'afloat' but

 nearby a 'third' species was noted showing attention to the Feeding Station

GREAT TIT.
while there was a Blue Tit close behind, it didn't seem to have the
courage to brave the table!

 Next to be noticed were two fresh excavations in the
Sheer Bank at the far side of the Pond.

 Most likely
RABBIT
it was thought but yet another reason for getting a Trail Camera?

 MAGPIE
always numerous and  in close attendance these days.
Despite there having been a report from Portland yesterday of a single,
it was a 'bolt from the blue' looking up to see a 

 COMMON SWIFT
cutting across the sky which, to be honest, was at first glimpse
thought to be a Merlin.

 It was quickly joined by a second and then by a

SWALLOW
which ALL disappeared to the north seemingly quicker than they had arrived.
As if that were not enough, soon afterwards the 'yacking' of an
overflying Jackdaw turned my attention to the reason for such a kerfuffle.

 The first 'seen' or 'reported'
PEREGRINE
from the property this year.

 The image of this perched bird, for illustration, is from the archive
as are some of the above.
Next a short wander round to the

 HOLE-in-the-GROUND
where it can be seen, after an almost dry September, just how much
Rain has fallen this month.
Frequent visits during and since the gravel excavation have revealed
a small colony of

BULLFINCH
in the area which, until this morning, have only made their presence known vocally.

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