Another memorable dinner last night
included haunch of venison and deep lemon tart, but even more memorable
was Hugh's choice of wine broaching a couple of bottles of
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2000. This terroir also provided my very first
bottle of fine wine which was drunk in good company at the 'One
Michelin *' restaurant 36 On the Quay in Emsworth, Hants. Today also had its magic moments as I was kindly chauffeured to
LONGHAM LAKES where the early morning sun (yes, you heard me, SUN) was burning off the remnants of mist.
While not a regular visitor here, there seemed to be an extraordinarily high number of MUTE SWANs, the final tally reaching 62.
Looking over the top of the mass of GREATER REED MACE the first 'target' of the day hove into view.
Having
never recorded EGYPTIAN GOOSE in Dorset during the month of July this
was considered a good record! Seen here with Mute Swans
and here with MALLARDs gives some idea of size.
This
was about the closest point of approach, so at least a few images that
are recognisable. In the hope of more to come the walk was continued
until this
male REED BUNTING
was found almost performing a ballet
in pursuit of insects to feed young
in a nearby nest.
Despite the now very warm sunshine there was little in the way of Insect life so a SMALL SKIPPER was welcome, as were
first one COMMON TERN
with Fish
and then there were c2.
Mute Swans were still buzzing around
while a bunch of HERRING GULLs and a single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL loafed on a roof.
That's when the Egyptian Goose was re-located on an island at the other side of the lake,
a RABBIT put in a brief appearance and the next target was located 'miles away' across the water.
To my knowledge (female) MANDARIN is a
scarce Duck in Dorset so no wonder my personal records only cover 3
month, none of which is July. Another 'tick' in that column but a great
shame that it never got near enough for a photograph. While delving into
the archive for this shot, it was worth
copying one of a male again for illustration.
On my way back to meet Janet for a lift home, I encountered the POOLE RADIO YACHT CLUB
on one of their annual outings. The images are self explanatory so I'll leave you with them.
In an effort to attain a 'hat trick' of Ticks, I joined the Dampney's on a visit to the local 'Pick Your Own' farm.
My first visit to such a place but Daryl and Cath seemed to be dab hands at it in the Strawberry Patch.
Hugh and Janet however headed directly
to the Raspberry Canes returning with 3 punnets of fine looking fruits.
All of this reminded me of many years ago when I would hitch-hike from
Portland to Portsmouth when a member of the Royal Navy. On one such
journey on a dark night I ventured into a Strawberry Field and nicked a
berry. It was a pity the darkness masked the fact that there was a Slug
attached, which seems to have put me off the idea up until now - best
left at that I think?
This quaint cottage in the village of
SOPLEY was every bit worth a photo, but whatever possesses the
authorities to so badly place road signs in front of such a fine
building????
and finally, a few intriguing images
sent to me by Paul Harris showing how the South Koreans are changing
rice production into works of art. In the first shot, farmers or artists
are planting with far more precision than they might do ordinarily.
With the work completed there is time to stand back and watch the progression.
