Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones

At long, long last there was a little more meat on the bone today,

but not quite enough to invite you all round for a

Sunday Roast

Certainly a ‘game of 2 halves’ between the Moths and the Birds

with the former outstripping the later as far as

First’s for the Year

were concerned by 6 to 2!
Of the former Mohamed only got half way to the Mountain before finding the first of these

WHITE ERMINE

 clinging to wet grass a couple of yards from the trap
similarly a

 CINNABAR
a daytime flier was doggedly holding onto one of the baffles

 yet another Prominent and our 5th of the family group this year

 IRON PROMINENT
was getly teased from the egg tray

BRINDLED PUG

FLAME SHOULDER 
and a brace of

 RUBY TIGER's

coming out of torpor and bringing up the ½ dozen

 In addition to the above and still close to home the first

COWSLIP
of the year was found in the most unlikely of places, the
Chicken Coup
We say unlikely, as these varacious feeders will eat just about anything but they may feel
like myself not exactly attracted to eating anything that has been in a 'cows mouth', no I would much sooner stick with 
EGGS!
With the hackle up we were certainly buoyant about capitalising on the traps
and didn't have to wait long as passing the 
Eco Recycling Works 
the refrain of a Garden Warbler which was not seen but this, over the years, has become a
Traditional (Breeding) Site
At the Irrigation Pond and for the second day running the only difference has been the
abcense of one of the c7 juvenile Coots, hoped to be just hiding away
Next at the Gravel Pit first to hit the lenses was a 

 GREEN SANDPIPER

never knowing if these are newly arrived birds

or those that we have been seeing sporadically across the winter months
 That was the moment the first

 SWALLOW
flashed overhead

 and seeming reluctant to land

considered an absolute 'must'

after such a long flight?
A further c2 

 GARDEN WARBLER's

were seen / heard briefly along the bridleway but

 for further clarity

Martin Cade
Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory

can be relied upon to come up with the goods!

As the 'Song' Does Again Today

Very little movement on the Bird Migration front is a bit of an exageration but

9 Species x 11 Insects is the highest count so far this year - "the only way is UP"!

CLAY TRIPLE-LINES

 and

 MUSLIN MOTH

were welcome additions to the fold and yet more evedence that the

Light Emiting Diodes

are still catching

 MOORHEN

carrying nesting material

 but it was a bit of a shock to find it 'building' right in the heart of this

Blackberry Bush

Yes, they do roost in such places but my first sight of a nest above the waterline

 MALLARD

and again young appear without witnessing any of the 'run-up'

 They are STILL

 NEST BUILDING

 while we have seen no action

 only sleeping and the odd 'dive' from the

TUFTED DUCKs

 Still cannot residt a pristine adult male

STONECHAT

 or alternatively

LINNET

 LONGHORN?

of one flavour or another and again the all to few

 MISTLE THRUSHs

 making the most of the lofty perches that are the

Solar Panels

WE ARE HOPING TO DO BETTER IN THE NEAR FUTURE

TAKE CARE!

The Song Remains the Same - Led Zeppelin

While it ain't going to send us

VIRAL

Sunday's tally of 374 'hits' is the highest tally since the

Reinvention og the Bagsy Blog

and a very nice step towards that

'Magic Million' 
Also this morning we find ourselves in the 800 Thousands, so even closer

THANK YOU ONE and ALL and STAY SAFE

2 new Moths for the year were represented by

 KNOT GRASS

and

 PEBBLE PROMINENT

and while

Jumping the Gun a bit but sticking with the Insect theme, on the day both

 LARGE WHITE

(Larvae just for interest)

and

SMALL WHITE

were on the wing in the garden

A reasonably hard day at the office brought up no new species of Bird 

as we perposefully searched for

Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail and Swallow

alike which are all far later than in previous years but stand by for the images soon!

On the way to the Coal Face we clocked a lone

HERRING GULL

which we had hoped might heve been carrying nesting material, no such luck

WHITE BLUEBELL

The invasive
MARE'S TAIL
 and then finding ourselves leaning heavily on 

All Our Yesterday's

LITTLE GREBE

still careing for the nipper

while there seems to have been no progress from the 

Nest Building Pair

BAGOT GOAT

not to be left out gets into the frame followed by

the only bit of good fortune on the Heath

as turning the Reptile Covers to a 
BLANK

this

 DARTFORD WARBLER
popped up right alongside

Turning the Herp's Covers with not a Reptile in sight, we had to satisfy ourselves 

with a bit of action from one of the many

BLACK ANT COLONIES

APPLE TREE
back in bloom

and

Pied Wagtails