DAVID NIVEN?? A complement indeed as an e-mail relating to yesterday's post compares the similarity between the photographs of myself and the most suave Englishman that ever lived, yes a complement indeed. I'll stick there while I am ahead!
Today was nothing like a mid-summer day except for the temperature, which bordered on hot, while the borough was covered by low dark clouds and a sea mist right up to the waters edge. A singing Coal Tit in the cemetery was a joy to behold this morning, having been seemingly absent since early spring, but unfortunately no sign of youngsters.
At Radipole these Little Grebes were walking (running) on water at my approach, but further on
another was content to pose.
The Common Tern count reached double figures here today with 10 adult bird plus a juvenile, while at Lodmoor
just a single Redshank was seen along with a few Lapwing and Dunlin plus 7 Little Egrets. All of this before fellow wildlifer Bob Ford and I met up with Essex naturalist Richard Dennison who along with his wife had set up half a dozen traps at Ferrybridge in an overnight bid to catch
Scaly Crickets.
Up until then I had only ever seen 2 of these elusive insects and it was refreshing to learn that there is a thriving population in the area around Chesil Beach.
The walk from Sweethill to the Bill was almost birdless, with the only interest coming by way of a Four-spotted Footman Moth
caught in he garden overnight.
On the way back to the mainland a second generation of Wall Butterflies were noted.
and recently fledged Wrens numbered about 4.
A Kestrel was also seen at a distance but all in all it was a quiet day, and one to end with a couple of pints at The Swan, where I have been up until now making for a 'late post'.
New friends Trevor & Lisa Vass where there
as were my dear mates Val Watts & Leslie Brown. I will make best efforts to stay on the 'straight and narrow' tomorrow but no promises as I know what I do best.