Take a Look - Level 42 (Part 1)

 Just because we have not been celebrating the 'C Word' doesn't mean we have been sat idley by twiddling the proverbials, on the contrary, we have been more active than is usual. So much so that already we are 4 days behind and now looking back at a magical day across the

SOMERSET LEVELS
making a start at

and imperative that we arrived pre-dawn to witness one of the most magical moments the reserve has to offer. We could already hear the kerfuffle from the car park about a mile away as

many 'thousands' of

STARLINGs

made to leave their reedbed roost, known as a 'murmuration'
MAGIC!
While in the process recording all of the more common British Herons including

LITTLE EGRET

GREY HERON

GREAT WHITE EGRET

along with a number of the smaller version

CATTLE EGRET

and only dipping out on the most shy and secretive of them all the

BITTERN
On entry to a nearby hide the first thing to be noticed were a number of

OWL PELETS
regurgitated by most likely Barn or Tawny Owl before catching sight of the
Thousands of Waterfowl.

TEAL
in the majority and with small mixed

'flurries' ariving at regular intervals such as

TEAL and WIGEON (male's with thier 'golden caps')
in the background.

Male SHOVELER 

also in the background

and foreground with Wigeon before turning our attentions to something a little more agressive!

The first of at least c3

MARSH HARRIERs

spoiled for choice as far as

breakfast was concerned!

DRAINS

served by the mechanics of a

WIND GENERATOR

Of the passerines, small perching birds, there were decent numbers of

SISKIN left and LESSER REDPOLL
and just a single

WATER PIPIT
while representative of the Wading Birds probably a thousand

LAPWING
and who knows how many dozens of the less numerous

GOLDEN PLOVER
both mostly 'on the wing'.

A huge heap of PEAT thought for a commercial market rightly or wrongly? who knows, along with regular squeals from

WATER RAIL/s
The last of it before moving on was something of a fluke as walking along one of the drains coinsiding with the 'landing' of this Jack (small)

PIKE
which was successfully 'clicked' from some distance and with the anglers cooperation.

Part 2 Coming to a Blog near you in the near future!

The Thin Line Between Love & Haiti

 A slight slant on the original track from the Iron Maiden album Brave New World seemed to fit the bill with a pun, but it was 'brave' that was the bye word as leaving the Dominican Republic, after a full 2 weeks of joy, and heading for Port au Prince capital of the adjoining country of Haiti all part of the

Island of Hispaniola "La Perle des Antilles" as it is sometimes known.

Without doubt, one of the most impovrished countries in the World with no Gold, no Oil, no other natural resources it seemed as if the United Nations had given up on them completely! Even in flight there were indications of what these people had been going through since the 2 major Earthquakes within a decade as a

Scorched Earth Policy
was forced upon the populous simply to cook and keep warm Haiti left, Dom Rep right.
The plan was simple with no return or onward flight ticket, we would not 'act in haste and repent at leisure' with in the first instance just taking a peek around the

Airport Door

YES

looking broken but at least there was a sign of the UN being there

it was back inside to seek the advice of a young man in a nicely tailored suit who said he could fix me up with a single telephone call. Within minutes I was being introduced to the

Reverend Ernso Jean Louise

and whisked off through the dirty and dusty streets

to the opulence and birdlife of the well guarded

EUCALYPTUS GUEST HOUSE

HOODED WARBLER
and introduced to

Senior Housebot Carl, Ernso's wife Gina and one of only 2 other guests Brandon
who we will hear more about in future posts.

HISPANIOLAN PEEWEE

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER

the occassional

BUTTERFLY
and daytime flying

MOTH

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

in a beautifully appointed garden

HISPANIOLAN PALM CROW

some might say I had fallen on my feet - I had!

PLAIN PIGEON

Front Garden

WHITE-NECKED CROW
and to cap it all supper with a beautiful

Lady Scientist from the USA
the only other guest.
SOMEONE's GOT to DO IT!

(to be continued)

Ferry Cross the ******

While we don't even utter the dreaded and totally band 'C' word, we would heartily defend the right of anyone who wishes to do so. On the strength of that no matter what your Faith we wish all our 'Valued and Loyal Readers' the Very Best of the Season, have a Great Time!!!!

Given much of the content of Today's Post, the eternal question certainly lends itself to

"What is brown and steams and comes out of Cowes backwards"?

yes, of course, the
Isle of Wight Ferry!

Looks like it's had a Paint Job, it used to be brown?

while we have been harried by the Solar Panel Parent Company Brighter Green as to whom should be contacted on the matter of the escapee brace of

BELTED GALLOWAY
now favouring the outer margins of their perimter fence - right.

Early Doors
and the ghostly sillouette of this Grey Heron over-flying the homestead and

later relocated,

surveying the

Main Pond in Search Mode

and good to see the water levels along the

RIVER STOUR
(looking east)

(looking west)
have somewhat receeded, while up north all that could be mustered was the returning

COOT
along with a new arrival female

TEAL

male
PHEASANT

and yet another deteriorating
PUFFBALL
while again down south, seems the neigbouring farmer

had cut all his Cattle free for

SUCKLING

and general Winter grazing.

HOUSE SPARROW
and a final attempt at coaxing the Cattle back to where they belong

met with sheer

Nonchalance

and Cud Chewing.

We consider it about time we had another away-day so watch this space!