Sunday 31 August 2014

Watcher of the Skies - Genesis

It was intended to feature the exciting album
In the Plain by Savage Rose 
as Today's Headline but wouldn't be able to put up with the GROANS
 Watcher of the skies watcher of all
His is a world alone no world is his own,
He whom life can no longer surprise,
Raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown.
While it is certain the Mountain ain't going to Mohamed we are determined that the Bournemouth Air Festival will come to our readership. The Air Space around East Dorset has been full of the powerful sounds of an eclectic mix of aircraft forcing me into phoning the Noise Abatement Society twice. Anyway, with a little help from a friend (Andy, a teenage enthusiast, who is staying at the same Caravan Site as myself) we will try and put the 'correct' label under each of the images, and if not Janet Read and Roy Norris be at the ready please!
 Despite some mighty powerful and historic machines hereabouts over
the weekend it is without doubt that the
RED ARROWS
are the 'crowd-pleasers'.
 APACHE HELICOPTER
 EURO-FIGHTER
TYPHOON
 The Hawker Hunter
MISS DEMEANOUR
a 'dramatic bit of kit' this.
 HM COASTGUARD RESCUE LYNX HELICOPTER
 SEA VIXEN
HURRICANE
 Great Britain's
LANCASTER BOMBER
 unfortunately the only other flying example of this mighty aircraft,
owned by the Canadians, was grounded due to technical difficulties.
TUCANO T-1
Another
HURRICANE
 METEOR
 SEA VENOM
DON'T KNOW
(Roy/Janet)
 The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
TWIN OTTER
OIL-SPILL RESPONSE AIRCRAFT
IN-FLIGHT TRAINING SIMULATOR
 HERCULES TRANSPORT
Royal Navy
MERLIN HELICOPTER
LYNX WILDCAT
During most of this helicopter activity I was hidden under the table,
thinking that they may have come to take me back to the Oil Rig.
 DAKOTA
Dare I say
SPITFIRE??
 and to end today's show a 'final pass' by the
 RED ARROWS
 There are more photographs in the Editing Process which, with a fair wind and high cloud base, we might be able to get to you tomorrow?? - ENJOY!
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Friday 29 August 2014

DAYDREAM - The Lovin' Spoonful

 And even if time ain't really on my side,
It's one of those days for taking a walk outside.
I'm blowing the day to take a walk in the sun,
and fall on my face on somebody's new mowed lawn.
Over the past 2 or 3 days Time, Internet Access and reliably Good Weather have all been at a premium, but that doesn't mean we haven't been out and about. The New Ponds at the north of Parley Court Farm have now captured my imagination so much so that 'hours' are being spent up there. The results of these vigils will have to wait for another day, but it can be said that all 3 common Hirundines (Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin) all seem to be utilising the airspace above to stock up before crossing the English Channel. Mallard are starting to move in, Green Sandpiper are now daily (c5 at the last count) and the previously reported Cuckoo was considered a great bonus.
At the Moth Traps
 VESTAL
 a 'migrant' has been captured on each of the last 3 nights, while
OAK NYCTEOLINE
has been the only other noteworthy capture.
The Harbins 'grass' tennis court continues to attract a few birds
with the new Line Judge being this
MALLARD
Not quite 'on court'
but 
GREEN WOODPECKER
is a regular visitor.
Not sure about this
AEROBATIC TEAM
except what it says on the 'underwing'.
BLACKBIRD
COLLARED DOVE
Young
GUELDER ROSE TREE
already showing 'red berries'.
BISTORT
MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY
MEADOW VETCHLING
Young
COOT
CREEPING THISTLE
DRONE FLY
Enstalis tenax
on
CREEPING THISTLE
WOOD PIGEON
GREAT TIT
WATER MINT
LONG-TAILED TIT
Juvenile
MOORHEN
and
SLOE BERRIES
also ripening.
Not the most elegant photographs of
ROE DEER
but we didn't want it getting away with it - did we?
CHIFFCHAFF
GATEKEEPER BUTTERFLY
THORN APPLE
Opening Bloom on
THORN APPLE
LEOPARD SLUG
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Moldova
                   10  don't remember EVER having had MOLDOVA as a member of the readership, so an especially 'warm welcome' to them all. Jogged a few memories of my  visit to  the capital city ChiÈ™inău and much of the countryside back in 2012. Welcome Aboard and please pass on the LINK to all your Countrymen/Women - Thank You!