La Marseillaise - French National Anthem

After the unexpectedly busy start to yesterday the rest of the day continued at a steady pace. The Moth Traps had caused something of a delay but more than worth it now we have confirmation of identities. Our mentor reports that this is not in fact Mottled Umber as stated but the much more uncommon

 SCARCE UMBER*
Status of 'Scarce Umber' in Dorset Link 

 while this is in fact as thought the

WINTER MOTH*

Both of these creatures are additions to the Parley

Moth List which now puts us just a single species

short of the 200 of this first and shortened year.

 The Micro is Crocidosema plebejana,

thought to have no connection to any member of the 

Police Force in Downing Street.

 and what do you make of this?

All will be revealed at the end of the Post.

The drive to Heathrow Airport was without incident and having 'checked in' online it was directly to the

BRITISH AIRWAYS HOSPITALITY LOUNGE

 for a snack and glass of wine.

 The design of TERMINAL 5 is quite remarkable with huge

support beams an

 Panoramic Widows across the Tarmac.

In 1 hour and 20 minutes we were in

 picking up the hire car for the 2 hours drive to

LEMBEYE
and one of Hugh's favourite restaurants the
LE TOUR

Settling down to a glass of local wine produced just down the road.

Pâté de Foie de Canard
came next and staying with the Duck theme

Confit de Canard
both one of my real favourites.

 Eventually, and under cover of dark, we arrived at our destination village of

to be greeted by our first bird, a distant and vocal

TAWNY OWL.

This morning VESTAL was on the doormat and

 what again looks like 

WINTER MOTH

high on one of the external walls.

 We spent most of the rest of the day cruising around the countryside

simply seeing what we could see. At the local reservoir we found

c2 GREAT WHITE EGRET and half a dozen CORMORANT.

 During the day we sighted c7

BLACK REDSTART

with this adult male being the best.

 A LIZARD on a roadside wall was in company with c4 of the

 BLACK REDSTART

 We were surprised to see 'thousands' of hectare of

MAIZE

still not harvested so late in the year.

 While work is most definitely in progress there is still

 much to be done and nearly everywhere we went

there were signs of harvesting.

The Post may seem a little on the short side but our day was full

and we are both very much looking forward to another wander

around this excellent part of the world DEMAIN - OUI!

Almost a Frenchman.

The mystery picture is a cloud formation through which the setting sun is shining and was taken through the starboard window about half way to Toulouse.

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Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

We are in the South of France and for convenience, on our side, will be Posting one day in arrears. In the mean time just a few residual photos from my lightning visit to Weymouth where while waiting for an appointment I popped along Westham Bridge where

MOORHEN

BLACK-HEADED GULL

and that old favourite
HOODED MERGANSER
was showing well but distantly.

On my way to Secret's a short stop at Osprey Quay
got me fairly close to

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
now increasing in numbers in Portland Harbour.

My visit there fitted perfectly as I only had a little time to spare and was driving through Weymouth anyway, so I was able to take Mrs Secret (Jane) over there on my way to picking Lesley, just back from South Africa. up for lunch. With no plans where to eat we took a drive along the Ridgeway Hills and took a look at the

HARDY MONUMENT.

Not to be confused with Thomas the Bard (play-write and poet Hardy) this structure is dedicated another local man of the same name Thomas Masterman Hardy, Lord Nelson's sea-Captain who is reputed to have been asked by Nelson on his death-bed to, "kiss me Hardy". Like many others, Lesley and I are always looking to discover new places to eat and today we stumbled on a little GEM! 

 THE BREWER'S ARMS
Martinstown.

It would seem the accommodation is on par with the friendly
welcome, good food ad ambiance,

LESLEY and I would strongly advise you pay a visit when you are
passing this way.

 Throw-back to when washing was done by hand, an old
MANGLE

As for yesterday and our flight, provision had already be made for an early Blog Post, 3 traps had been set with little chance of anything being caught due to temperature, while on the 'birding front' things had quietened down dramatically, at least that's what I'd thought and hoped.

 

Reaching the first of the trap, and giving the progress of Janet's stable the 'once over', it was seen to contain a fair number of Moths, which was the same for the other two. Not really having the time to tend them, once laid they are a 'priority' and the Insects must be photographed and released as soon as possible, that tool a while. Within were

 Single FEATHERED THORN

 c2 SCARCE UMBER

the 'Micro' RUSTY DOT PEARL

  WINTER MOTH

CONFIRMED
With no time to check before leaving and no Field Guide down
here I will be relying on my Pal back in Blighty!
 
 c7 BEADED CHESTNUT
 
 c2 CYPRUS CARPET

single ANGLE SHADES

The MICRO Crocidosema plebejana.

Then came the next interruption as reading through various Web-Sites it was found that the Penduline Tit may still be at Longham Lake. Not to be missed I set myself 90 minutes to catch up with this rare little bird and luckily I have a 'parking permit' for the lake which would save me a little more time. The news was it had been see in the reeds at the 

SOUTHERN POND
 which is the furthest reaches of the lake.

Already, there were a number of people looking with the latest news saying it had been showing well, at the site described, at 08:00 but, as I soon found out, not since. I gave it the full hour and a half with no luck, so let's hope it stays until my return. Just to give the reader some idea how could you not try to see such a charming bird?

PENDULINE TIT
here's hoping!

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