Friday, 23 May 2014

The Parley Puddle

On a day when the rain has hardly stopped (even though once again they only forecast 'showers') driven home by a fresh breeze I haven't left the comforts of my (temporary) Country Home! Good job then that there is still a bit of action from yesterday hung over for today, starting with this
BROWN-LIPPED SNAIL
that was hitching a lift on my car first thing.
While the precipitation was also heavy throughout most of the night
there were still a few returns from the
Moth Traps with this stunning
PUSS MOTH
being a fine example.
LYCHNIS
WHITE POINT
and this rather magnificent
BLACK SEXTON BEETLE
made up the best of the rest.
Among the wayside plants and other wildlife there were examples of
BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL,
ELDER,
the daytime flying Moth
THE CINNABAR,
GREATER BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL,
and (likely) LONG-HEADED POPPY.
juvenile
STARLING
are now showing up 'mob-handed while this Daisy was seen to be hosting
COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY
and a female
THICK-LEGGED BEETLE
(the males have bulbous thighs hence the name)
The pair of COOT at Longham Lakes that have been watched
all through the nest building process now appear to be incubating eggs,
while in the distance c3 Common Terns were flying at great altitude.
By the time I reached the other side of the watercourse
c2 of them had taken up perch, one on the
Depth Gauge,
where last weeks Sandwich Tern had been,
while the other seemed content
 
on this 'span' between two buoys.
Still determined to 'prove' Lesser Spotted Woodpecker breeding at Parley Court, and also in an attempt to secure a dinner invitation, I returned to the northern section of the farm and as ever made a cautious approach to this
puddle, which never seems to dry out completely,
where I was sure that one day a decent bird was going to show up?
Today was the day as the movement at the near edge proved to be a
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
while a second movement was a
GOLDFINCH
The photographs of the Plover turned out to be of
decent quality and representing some action
so it was decided to
indulge myself
and share all of them with YOU the Readership!
Also at this sight were a couple of ever present
PIED WAGTAIL
the usual small flock of c7 Stock Dove, Linnet and a pair of copulating
RAVEN
being harassed in their pursuit by c2 Carrion Crows.
Unfortunately, it has to be reported that there was no sign of the
Woodpecker (only a male has been seen thus far) but the second ploy was fruitful
another of Janet's fine puddings, no wonder I'm a FFB!
Merritown Heath
is easily accessible from here so to end this Post one or three
Heathland Plants.
MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED,
hosting another female THICK-LEGGED BEETLE, along with
HEATH SPEEDWELL
and
WOOD SPEEDWELL
Once again much of the credit must go to John Gifford for his help with identifications.
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