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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