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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