Yet another blustery night
punctuated by showers of sometimes heavy rain, but still the Moth Traps
have something to show. In mine at Weston Street this little beauty was
among only c7 Moths and if we did do Micros (which of course we don't)
this would be one of the favourites. Like most, this only has a Latin
name.
The second by contrast was in one of the Portland Bird Obs traps.
something of a 'rare' migrant which also has a Latin handle.
Spoladea recurvalis
Close to the tip of Portland Bill stands the monolith known as
PULPIT ROCK
Here are some of the things seen today inside just a few
hundred square yards of that feature.
COMMON KESTREL
GOLDFINCH
note the 'ring' on right leg.
Looking from Portland Bill along the East Cliff
Portland Bird Observatory the white finger (near top left).
One of c4 BLACK REDSTART in that area today.
At least a dozen WHEATEAR
JACKDAW also 'ringed'.
On the rocks
c2 TURNSTONE
Distant OYSTERCATCHER
A RAVEN finds a long time dead BROWN RAT
and flies off to the relative safety of one of the Beach Huts.
It didn't tolerate me for long!
The first of what turned out to be 'lots' of FUNGI.
2 of c4 BLACKCAPs
(c3 female + a male).
Another much more obliging
LITTLE OWL
and several BLACKBIRDs enjoying
the abundance of 'fruits', these ROSE HIPS
More FUNGI before heading back to the Obs.
I said to a man walking towards me "the Common if 'full' of
Toadstools today", "How do you know it' 'full" he asked.
"Because there's not Mush-room left" said I.
Having
not owned a telescope for a number of years and now with thoughts of
buying one, it was fortuitous to find my mate Kieth Mortimer of the
Optics Company 'In Focus' in attendance. It took no time at all, with
Kieth's guidance, to select an Opticron instrument and thought while I
was at it the long thought of 10x32 Swarovski 'Swarovision' binoculars
were also purchased. A lot of money but the prospect of a Lot of Joy to
come! The visit also coincided with a mixed feeding flock of Seabirds
easily viewable from the veranda, of which I saw Balearic Shearwater and
Common Scoter, thus far not seen this year, Sooty Shearwater added to
the Dorset Year List, while best of the bunch a Sabine's Gull (a 'rare'
vagrant from the America's) which was also added to those Lists plus the
Month List for the County. As if I hadn't already had the 'cream of the
crop', to end the day a Barn Owl flew out of the Obs Quarry to hunt the
nearby fields. That final touch just DID IT for me!
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