Venezuela - Harry Belafonte

Another lovely day weather-wise and one on which I have been in transit, only as far as Portland, where the only thing to let the side down was a lack of migrant birds. It might be a contradiction in terms to say in the next breath that 3 species of those that did arrive were additions to the Year List. As usual, the Moth Traps were tended first off, then as I have taken just a back seat roll as replacement Lord of the Manor while Hugh and Janet are swanning it in the South of France, there were just a couple of duties homely duties to attend to before the leash was slipped. It can also be reported that there were c4 additions to the Property Moth List as well, but all of that will have to wait until the photos have been edited. For now (this evening), there is an invitation to a Mother's Day dinner not surprisingly as I have often described myself as an Unmarried Moth-er. Today's images all relate to yesterday - with more to come soon!

From the Traps

Pachygnathe Sp
SPIDER

 STRAWBERRY SNAIL

 and a clutch of eggs thought to be those of the
Hebrew Character Moth
While attending the traps this

 STARLING

looked resplendent in what little sunshine there was, and while I am not licences to catch or handle wild birds, in over 40 years 'birding' it would be rather strange if one didn't come to hand. On the Oil Rig especially there was plenty of opportunity to pick up exhausted and injured birds, so I have a fairly extensive list of 

'Birds in the Hand'

 MAGPIE
until today was not one of them.

 GOLDFINCH

 are now regular visitors to the feeders after being absent from there throughout the winter. During that time they were present around the property but must have been finding natural food somewhere or other.

The sun came out to greet me as Stanpit Marsh

 and looking towards Stanpit Village
there were still a few
DARK-BELLIED BRENT GEESE

 Grazing and Resting Brents.

MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE and FISHERIES
Oil Spill Response Aircraft

 REDSHANK

The CURLEW has landed.

 New Boardwalk beyond the Bailey Bridge.

 CARRION CROW

CHRISTCHURCH HARBOUR ORNITHOLOGICAL GROUP
'Birders Bench'

 Good use of Flotsam!

 LITTLE EGRET

 A veritable 'carpet' of

 DANISH (or Early) SCURVY GRASS
is covering the roadside verges close to
Bournemouth International Airport

While at various other locations these images were secured.

BLACKBIRD

LAPWING

male GADWALL

male WIGEON

female WIGEON

male MALLARD

'Flight' of SHOVELER

 A male SHOVELER has also landed.

 HOATZIN
as close to 'living prehistoric as you're likely to get.

With Venezuela returning to the Readers Top Ten, it jerked memories of my journeys during 2 visits there, especially the time spent with David Ascanio and Friends. I hope you are all reading this as it comes with my VERY BEST WISHES and memories of that fabulous bird.

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Watcher of the Skies - Genesis

Twixt the Moth Traps and the strange Gull activity at the Parley Pond, using the car as a 'hide' I chose the latter. While there is a senior gentleman who visits the pond on a daily basis and deposits bread and cakes (for the Ducks) that would easily fill the shelves of any supermarket, the 'larger' Gulls are 'never' seen feeding here. Today was the exception to that rule and while the 'small camera' was the only one to hand these images of

 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,

 never before seen to land on the property, were taken for the record.

(seen here with regular feeders Black-headed Gull)

Returning to the house to pick up the bigger equipment, by the time 

I got back the 'Lessers' had gone only to be replaced by a similar couple of

 HERRING GULLs

(also in shot Mallard, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull)

 These are regularly seen feeding on open fields but seem to shun habitation.

 Lesser Black-backed Gull

made a final fly-past.

 While poised, advantage was taken of a close approach

MOORHEN

 which usually keep their distance,

 a not so close

COOT

 and a 'point blank'

male MALLARD.

 On the back lawn Gramps was doing his best to eradicate

 Mr and Mrs MOLE

as I wandered off to the traps.
A night of heavy rain showers and a burst of HAIL while
springing out of the 'hammock' left little in the traps save for c2

 MARCH MOTH
 the best today in that category,

WHITE-LIPPED SNAIL

plus
TWO-SPOTTED LADYBIRD.

Longham Lakes don't just present a fantastic waterside habitat with

associate bushes and trees, it also features what I like to call a

BIG SKY.

With the likes of Red Kite and Common Buzzard, already seen close to here in recent days, and 'goodies' such as Osprey and White Stork being sighted in various other areas a 'Weather Eye' needs to be kept particularly skywards. While only c5

 COMMON BUZZARD

were seen today, there must be others to come!

 Yesterday, I spent a fair bit of time at the same location trying to photograph

 LONG-TAILED TIT

in the tree tops without much success.

 Today with only 10 minutes behind me this one showed up

at close quarters Feathering its own nest.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO 'RADIO CAROLINE'
50 Years to the Day since first transmission!

It's been some time since the UAE graced our Top Ten Readership and we would like to welcome them back. Strangely, this coincided with receipt of an E-mail from a long lost niece who is currently holidaying in Dubai, so may account for the increase in reader numbers. Will be in touch soon Vicki.

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