Firstly today I can bring what is
regarded as 'sensational; news from the Buchan Alpha Floating Oil
Production Platform stationed 120 miles north east of Aberdeen, Scotland
in the North Sea. The dates, during May, are unclear but reports from
my ex-colleague and birding friend Dave Penney tell of day one when he
paid his morning visit to the upper-deck to find what would be likely
contender for 'Bird of the Decade'
this
ICTERINE WARBLER. Not only an addition to the Buchan List but also new
to the North Sea Bird Club List. Dave told me of his adulation and that
his find may well of expired his luck for the rest of the year?
I
did find one myself back in August '96 which was my only record -
another rare bird out there. What happened on the third day was revealed
by Jim the Medic via e-mail. He too had caught the bug (birding) and on
his way to the deli-deck he called in to see Dave to find out what was
about. Not a lot Dave replied and on leaving Jim quipped "OK, I'll go
and find a Golden Oriole"!
By
a billion to one chance he did just that finding this GOLDEN ORIOLE
perched on a box-girder. In my view if your going to score a 'hat trick'
this is the way to do it, and I send my hearty congratulations to both
of them.
For
me, the day started with something far less exotic but arguably equally
rewarding as I visited the Chicken Coup to release the birds to the
pen.
Equestrian
pursuits play a huge part in the day to day business at Parley Court,
but for the Lady of the House, Janet (right) and riding companion Jen,
they were already saddled up and ready to hit the trail for their own
pleasure.
For me, after the E's for B, it was another stroll along the picturesque STOUR where the riverside meadows were alive with
BANDED DEMOISELLES, this one a male.
By
no means an authority on the subject, I'll stick my neck out and
describe this as a female of the above. The Field Guide points to
greenish wings plus the tiny white patch at the end of the fore wing (pseudo pterostigma) as defining marks?
Recently
emerged BANDED DEMOISELLE. Plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers along this
stretch again this morning, but thus far none surrendering to the lens.
Time for a stop at Tudor Cottage and a cup of coffee with Mrs Dampney
Snr, to exchange tails of the world at large, before heading for the
PARLEY LAKES looking splendid in the early morning sunshine.
Angling
here is permitted to the Ringwood Club only with the only fisherman on
site today having caught 3 x Crusian Carp plus a Common Carp, not a bad
haul for the first hour. Unfortunately (for me), all had been returned
to the lake immediately not allowing me a first sight of the former, or a
photograph of either.
male MALLARD to end the visit as I wandered off towards the heath at the north end of the property.
No Dartford Warblers unfortunately, but there was this single YELLOW SHELL MOTH
along with about half a dozen COMMON HEATH MOTHs
and an array of FOXGLOVEs, so all was not in vain. As usual there were plenty of common birds on the way back, including
HOUSE MARTINs continuing to capitalise on the muddy conditions around the wash down area in the stables yard,
Mummy BLACKBIRD feeding young
along with a SWALLOW first posing then building
and a fat, juicy FLY that may supplement one of their diets later in the day?
My
arrival back at Harbins, at precisely 'PIMMS o' CLOCK', coincided with a
GREEN WOODPECKER feeding from the garden path and the men of the house,
This blistering 'ace' from Daz was probably the shot of the game but no match for
