Pearl's A Singer - Elkie Brooks

A perfect end to yesterday as while transporting one of the Moth Traps to the vicinity of the 5th Golf Tee, a Barn Owl took to the wing from a perch on the perimeter fence. Heard now on a nightly basis and seen by Hugh occasionally, this was my first 'sighting' of the year at the farm.
The night however was a little less than perfect, but the temperature did rise, the wind moderated to a zephyr but the rain was persistent during all the hours of darkness. Given the conditions, there was sure to be something in the traps which included dozens of Caddisflies and what might be described as House Flies. Otherwise, Moths were represented by

 THE CHESTNUT* (new to the property)

 2 contrasting specimens of

 RED-GREEN CARPET

 and the Micro

RUSTY-DOT PEARL

I hadn't noticed, prior to this morning, the amount of 'berries' that have disappeared from the trees and bushes hereabouts. This HAWTHORN, directly outside my bedroom window, has already been stripped of two thirds of its crop and was predominantly 'red' when I left just a week ago. From the 'feeders', the niger seeds have been totally overlooked for weeks until this morning when a single Goldfinch was seen feeding there. Similarly, the peanut feeder has attracted nothing, not even a Grey Squirrel, but was in need of a bit of a clean up. Within minutes of re-establishing it this

 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

was at them but quickly moved on to the fat balls.

 Across at Janet's stables, while reinstating power to the Moth Trap, 

this PIED WAGTAIL was capitalising on the food source there.

 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

Au Naturel

one of c7 distinct and separate individuals encountered on the 

property this morning. 2 other species unusually not common 

or regular here, for reasons best known by themselves, are

 LINNET and

 MEADOW PIPIT

which were both transiting in good numbers today with odd birds

landing to feed.

SKYLARK

on the other hand breed here although are rarely seen near the house.

 One of the COBHAM jets takes off to undertake the daily

commitment with the Royal Navy.

 LITTLE EGRET

are also back along the River Stour with this individual

 involved in a skirmish with a

 GREY HERON 

which appeared to get the worst of it and retired to a nearby field.

Unfortunately no 'action shots'!

 It is not unusual for the COMMON PHEASANT to 'roost' in 

trees but seem a little ungainly perched this high aloft.

 

 This strip of MAIZE has been left as a 'Game Crop', providing

food and shelter for wildlife during the winter months. Today it

certainly seemed to be up to the task as c3

 ROE DEER 

were 'flushed' from cover.

 BLACKBIRD

plenty of those here taking advantage of the abundance of

Hedgerow Fruits.

 A Royal Navy Helicopter pays a visit to

Bournemouth International Airport.

 and while on the subject of ungainly perchers, far less familiar

 than Pheasants in Oak Trees has to be

 BLACK-HEADED GULLs

on power lines.

As previously reported these OAK TREES were overborne with Acorns earlier in the year, but all seem to have disappeared. Unlike others on the farm there isn't a single 'nut' remaining on any of these 3 neither is there sign of any on the ground. All other trees have a carpet of fruit beneath them and similarly all are still holding on to most of their leafs, despite recent gale force winds!

 Looks like a BADGER had been foraging here?

Other sightings/counts here today include c2 x Song Thrush (good to see back, if indeed they have been anywhere), single Common Buzzard, foraging flock of Long-tailed Tit, numerous Goldfinch all feeding on ASH, a single Cetti's Warbler singing along the Stour along with half a dozen Reed Bunting and 'double figure numbers of Jay (no wonder the Acorns are missing!).

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Brief Encounter (from Bitter Suite) - Marillion

A clear and star-filled overnight sky combined with little in the way of wind predictably saw the first frost of the season this morning. At 06:00 the 'kitchen weather station' showed a temperature of just +1°C

and as the sun rose
The mist crawled from the canal
Like some primordial phantom of romance
To curl, under a cascade of neon pollen.
While I sit tied to the phone like an expectant father.
Your carnation will rot in a vase.
Bitter Suite 
 Not surprisingly there was little in the way of life in the 3 Moth Traps,
with this

 ANGLE SHADES
clinging to the outside of one and

 a NOVEMBER MOTH (type) in another.

Just c13 Moths in total with the other species being Beaded Chestnut, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Red-line Quaker and Large Yellow Underwing. While monitoring the traps, bird 'calls' from above indicated some movement which included both

 REDWING and

BRAMBLING.

While the latter has undoubtedly occurred on or over the property at 'some time', this was the first positive sighting on record. While there was plenty more going on both overhead and on the ground, the intent, weather permitting, is to complete a more comprehensive 'rounds' tomorrow. In the meantime a quick look back to Sunday when I had a 'brief encounter' with my family in Bristol. Things might have been more prolonged had it not been for the impending storm which hastened my return to Parley. A gentle tap on the front door soon had those 3 Little Scamps running (I thought) for Grandpa Bagsy but they had another agenda. On my last visit they had discovered the charms of my

new car which seemed to be their only interest that day!

While ALEXANDER was totally occupied by the automatic sun roof,

FREDERICK was besotted with the visual volume control for
the sounds system. Seems like his Dad he is going to be a 'numbers' man!

Who's that reflected in the window?
A very nice Sunday Roast Dinner

was followed by a short visit to a park in the heart of the city.

BENJAMIN was first in the sand-pit

followed in quick time by the other two.

Noticing just 3 ships masts above the houses and just across the road

I was happy to discover they were connected to the

SS GREAT BRITAIN
Some very interesting facts via this link.

Tower in the Park,

more fun on the swings,

Bristol University (Good Wishes to my friend Robert
who is studying Law there)

and a Bristol Church on the way home.
FOOTNOTE
Did you see on BBC TV last night
Imagine: Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin'
The most detailed and revealing Hendrix documentary I've ever seen!

Guitar Sacrifice - Wild Thing
"The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye, 
the story of love is hello and goodbye....
until we meet again"  
James Marshall Hendrix

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