Friday, 5 August 2022

Stranger's in the Night - Francis Albert

 Not at all adequate given the time of year with perfect overnight weather conditions, so we are considering changing our tack. Considering clearing the naphthalene crystals from the wardrobe and running c4 traps in there and the 5th in my wallet which should do the trick but we shall see. Otherwise, just c2 additions to the Year List, is better than nowt such as:-

SMALL ANGLE SHADES
one with
parasites
along with a most welcome
BOARDERED STRAW
Out in the Wider World there were a few things to ponder but little 'new' with at the Irrigation Pond a full muster of the family
MOORHEN
save for Dad who was probably at work
while in the Main Compound
a couple of more mature
MISTLE THRUSH
than we have seen in recent days and the return of the single
LAPWING
or maybe just
breaking cover again?
Best of the Bunch
however was the emergance of these new
WARBLERs
which for my money are either
CHIFFCHAFF or WILLOW WARBLER
difficult to say in juvenile plumage and no vocals, while on return to barracks immediately summoned to the boudoir of our short-stay neighbouring caravaner,
the lady concerned being just a little troubled
by this young
ROBIN
on here bed.
Out with the Butterfly Net and in with the Bird
and set free
in an instant.
Finally, the best of endings as we get so much help from our 4 like-minded friends in Weymouth
Paul, Dave, John and Phil,
to see that one of them, Dave, had a real stroke of luck during the week capturing this
Tiny Micro Moth
with no vernacular name only the Latin
AETHES BILBAENSIS
only the 3rd ever to be captured in the United Kingdom!
Well Done Matey!

Thursday, 4 August 2022

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach

 Again with high and almost total

CLOUD COVER
expectations from the Moth Traps were high, but seems no-one had informed the Moths. From a count of 111 Macro Moths of 59 species not a single one was added to the Year List so, in desperation, we clutch at a few 'eye-catcher' from days gone by. There was however one moment of interest when finding this
MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY
clinging to an egg-tray.
EMPEROR
ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH
BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH
BLOTCHED EMERALD
PEACH BLOSSOM
and
GREEN SILVER-LINES
During the process we did have a brief flirtation with a skein of c11
GREYLAG GEESE
heading in an easterly direction towards the
Avon Causway
which could likely be their home from the oncoming Autumn and through the Winter??
Within the Solar Panel Compound it looked as if the recent Grey Heron and Lesser Black-blach Gull, favouring the perch the panels afford had been replaced by a moulting
HERRING GULL
note the
loose and falling feather.
At the Irrigation Pond
Danger and Dinner
were captured in the same frame while the c2 survivinig
HUMBUGs
have re-appeared and look to be feeding well and even better on the
GRAVEL PIT
yet another attempt at
LITTLE GREBE
Nest Building
and by our own recollection
a 7th attempt at doing so on the pond alone!
HERE'S HOPING BUT WE SHALL SEE!

And finally we spare a thought for the Family and Friends of Lepidopterist Luminary Barry Goater who passed away overnight on Monday. Not a man who was in my circle of friends, but one who I had the pleasure to meet on 4 separate occasions, remembering my name on each and always accompanied by a number of what might be referred to as his prodigies and who left a Huge Legacy to the Wild World.

Wednesday, 3 August 2022

I Got Stung - Elvis Presley

 After the Party of the weekend came something of a disappointment as we had handed out, and explained, 'fliers' advertising the Bagsy Blog with seemingly much interest but unfortuneately only a 'dip' as far as HITS were concerned yesterday. Let's say 'early days' and hope for a response soon?

Good and Bad visited us at the Moth Traps 'early doors' as in the first instance a

GEM
MARBLED BEAUTY
and
LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING
were added to the Year List
but while sticking ridgedly to the original blue-prints for the construction of the

Great Wall of China

our own efforts didn't seem to have lasted quite as long?? and having a word with the culprits the Sheep could only say, " if you have an Itch you have to scratch it"!! Put back in place, for now at least we also plucked a rather fine and co-operative
OAK EGGAR
from that particular trap even willing to show its
UNDERCARRIAGE
as
WASPs
are also being caught, almost in 'swarm proportions', having never had a year of not being stung!
In the morning gloom
SWALLOWs
were making feeding sorties from the high wires,
maybe 'bunkering' for long and upcoming journey south
while in the Main Compound
evidence of
COMMON BUZZARD

moult or maybe an encounter with a Prey Species,

and also the first of this years crop of juvenile
HERRING GULLs
most likely the product of the nesting birds on the
Warehouse and Hanger Roofs at Bournemouth International Airport
(the authorities there don't care for them)

P.S. - there is a rumour, and no more than that, that some people have more Important and / or Interesting things to do than read the Bagsy Blog? Propaganda We Call It!

Tuesday, 2 August 2022

Twilight Time - The Platters

 Heavenly shades of night are falling, it's Twilight Time,

Out of the mist your voice is calling, it's Twilight Time.

The time chossen to drive around to the Heath to have a final check on the much neglected (this year)

NIGHTJAR
with this trio of images for illustation only as expectation, or should that be 'hopes',
would be of locating 'juvenile birds' but there was an interuption.
Along one of the fence lines was spotted this
CUCKOO
looking like almost in 'display' but considered unlikely so put it down to preening.
Either way, it seems unlike that we will see another until next Spring as:-
"In July away I fly, in August away I must"!
On arrival and taking up one of the poll positionsthere were, as expected, no flying or vocal birds only a single addult seemingly coming out of 'roost' we turned our attentions to the tracks
which always seem to be favoured by these 
Young Birds c3 in all........

Nowhere near as productive early morning at the traps with this our 3rd

DEWICK'S PLUSIA
being "best in show" along with a juvenile
BLACKBIRD
hunting on the lawn while the
ROWANs
are becoming increasingly showy and a very brief appearance of a
ROE DEER
and another very brief showing of an adult
LITTLE GREBE
on the Gravel Pit
"now yer see 'em - then you Don't"