Chilled - 9 Below Zero

Trivia - 9-Below Zero features Irish Bass Player Jerry McAvoy
who had long association with one of my Guitar/Blues Heros
Rory Gallagher
On both Wednesday and Thursday this week the
early morning temperature has shown Zero C
on the van

Thermometer

so little wonder that the returns from the Moth Traps have been low. Never mind as things are given to improve in that direction, but stand advised there are likely to be a few showers of rain! 

 06:30 is now becoming a little too early to visit the traps as the residue Insects, clinging to posts, palings and stables alike, have to be 'potted' awaiting more light. However, I was glad to have arrived at that time to note some signs of precipitation to the south west. Indicated by the faintest arc of a

 RAINBOW
closer inspection, via binoculars, showed that this particular one was

 ALL 'RED'.

Not a phenomena I have seen before and unfortunately not captured

in its full glory (another run {OK steady stroll} to the car for the camera)

showing the strange colouration .

Where the Moths have failed us the Birds seem to have taken over with 2 new records for the property, one new for the garden and the continued presence of other reported in recent days. It should be qualified that these positive records are only assumed 'firsts' as the more common among them must have entered PCF airspace at one time or another. Best efforts are made, by asking around, to see if any have occurred before. It was Wednesday again when a male

 PIED FLYCATCHER
alighted on a small tree,

 had I been a little more fleet-footed an original image may have
been secured, but that's just what us FFB's have to put up with!
Always a bonny bird to see but on Thursday, while sorting the traps,
something of a more scarce nature here in Dorset.

 TREE SPARROW,
now to my knowledge extinct in the County, is a good record even

 though only identified on 'call'

 and seen that briefly that it could just as easily have been a
Bluebottle.
 Images once again from the Backroom Boys.
This morning, again at the traps the serenade of a Willow Warbler
was most welcome, but as far as photographs are concerned only

 CHIFFCHAFF
a close cousin 

graced the viewfinder.
Also during the week a very brief visit was paid to Portland

no more than a disappointing look for the

Hooded Crow,

and an unidentified (foreign?) warship

cum'on ROY you can do it!

and something far more familiar the old

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

SIR TRISTAM

latterly a training ground for the

Special Boat Service.

a

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY

did put in an appearance and as quickly back to Parley.

Just a very quick peek at the new north pond to find the

GREEN SANDPIPER

as ever very distant (but at least it's there)

and then just common fare.

Young

PIED WAGTAIL

now reaching good numbers

still partly reliant on parent birds

along with similarly good numbers

of

GOLD FINCH

A small technical hitch precludes the inclusion of the Garden Tick

which will appear on a Blog, close to you, really soon.

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