Thrill Me - Simply Red

Late Post? - Yes, I fell among Thieves (Good Friends)

Secret was a little late switching off the Moth Trap when the downpour started late yesterday evening so all that was found this morning was a bunch of soggy egg-trays and an inch of rain. Fortunately, others arrived at the Observatory bearing gifts of

SPRUCE CARPET

and the scarce CLANCY'S RUSTIC
by kind permission of Ricky Lambert.

L-ALBUM WAINSCOT
was in my own trap a couple of days ago but with fumbling fingers
it was allowed to escape before committing to the camera.
No matter, this one was in the Obs trap the following day.

All else where these 2 very interesting looking

FLIES

Most bizarrely the final thing to be plucked from the mist nets

was a short twig complete with leaf and clinging on was this

POPLAR HAWK-MOTH CATERPILLAR
However, that said there was potential of things a little more 

exciting on the horizon so to Sweethill to pick up Secret
and off to Ferry Bridge.

These day's we are all well used to seeing Kite Surfers in Portland Harbour but it looked like this one may have been a little 'off course' on the cusp of Chesil Beach. At the Bridge things remain pretty much as in recent days with c7 Bar-tailed Godwit, a couple of Sanderling, single Knot, c46 Mediterranean Gull and uncounted Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstone. The only notable addition were over 200 Brent Geese including one Pale-bellied which we had reported to us but didn't see.

 

Bird 'ringing' is the key to discovery of so much information so the
birder is always on the lookout. Difficult to see ring details in the field,
the camera can often disclose this information.

While this ringed BLACK-HEADED GULL has still to be verified
it would seem, from those in the know, it origin's are likely
Radipole Lake and tagged by Luke Phillips.

Ever onward to the ARMY BRIDGING CAMP on the Fleet at Wyke Regis and in search of our 'target bird' for the day. West Bay (English Channel) can be seen in this image above the Chesil Beach with just a glimpse of The Fleet below that. This is where Secret spotted a hunting

SPARROWHAWK

which we soon located with 'prey'

and soon took off at our approach.

From the remains and the image above the 'prey species'
could not be determined.

When we finally arrived at the location described
it was in very short time that we made contact with the distant

RED-BACKED SHRIKE

that was found by fellow birder Paul Rendell yesterday. Despite the distance, it is always a Great Trill to see such a bird. It is also gratifying to report that this now extremely rare British Breeding Bird has successfully brought off 2 young this year in Devonshire.

A polite request was made to the 'Horse fraternity' for access to the field, but this was denied so the best shots available of this bird are above. The best from the archive is also shown.

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	1024
United States	355
Indonesia	76
Russia	61
Germany	35
France	30
Canada	24
China	17
Estonia	17
Australia	15