Memories Are Made of This - Dean Martin

Cor Blimey, now Sinatra's mate has got in on the act!

Completely 'Out of the Blue' this weekend I received an e-mail, complete with Link, from my German friend

BRUNO WALTHER 

a permanent resident of Taipei with his Taiwanese wife Emily. Met through my Birding Pal

VICKY CHENG

all 3 were pivotal in showing me a Great Time in that

Fabulous Country, reminders of which will be found by

'clicking' on each of the LINKS below.

 Selected Post from Taiwan - 2012 - Part I

Selected Post from Taiwan - 2012 - Part II

Bruno's contribution was some brilliantly filmed footage of the

Endemic Birds of Taiwan
 and while by no means was he claiming to be the cameraman there
was a familiar feel about a large part of the film.
To me it seem to have the hallmark of Vicky's taxi driver friend

 WU
who's photo did appear with the Link and who transported us to the

Dasyueshan National Forest

on the penultimate day of my 12 days stay in the country.
Despite the ease of 'clicking' the 2 LINKS above and accessing the full picture,
the desire to upload my personal Top Four Species of that particular trip was irresistible.

 BLACK_BILLED SPOONBILL
of which it is said, only 1,500 now exist in the World.

 RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL

 at least 2 of these little charmers have graced Dorset soil.

JOHNSTONE'S ROBIN

WHITE-BROWED (Taiwan) ROBIN
some authorities consider this to be another 'Endemic'.
The Asian 'Robins' and allies really are one of the best families in the world!

Meanwhile, back at the Moth Traps and

 VESTAL

 continue to arrive almost daily as my desire to publish images doesn't falter.

SPRUCE CARPET

SHORT-CLOAKED MOTH

and
MOUSE MOTH
were about the extent of the Macro interest today,

while in Microville there was this single example of what is believed to be
BROWN CHINA-MARK
If that is correct, all that can be said is
"Thank Heavens for Sterling".

All else within was what is thought to be the
SPIDER
PARDOSA NIGRICEPS

While great care is taken not to damage, let alone kill, any of the contents,
there is always an "exception to the rule!"

VINE WEEVIL
is destructive to many varieties of plant with the Larvae (caterpillar)
particularly partial to 'root stock', while the adults (which cannot fly)
concentrate on foliage.

Apart from the odd family visit or dinner date life is pretty much a 'spur of the moment' event for me, but while mussing last evening it was decided to pay a visit to Merritown Heath today for no other reason than I Love It! That was until news met my ears of a potential September Tick that would fill a long outstanding gap in the 'ongoing' list. The report said 40+

MANDARIN
(this a male)

had been sighted at Merley Park, no more than a 15 minutes drive from the caravan site. I was there in 5 (only joking) but after a full 45 minutes search, of what is a relatively small lake, there was no sign of 'ONE' let alone '40+'. There were about 150 Mallard, a scruffy looking Gadwall along with a couple of Moorhen but not a Mandarin to be seen. It was thought with so many present just yesterday there would have been a straggler or two? but that's BIRDING. 

After paying the Speeding Fine and attending a Road Awareness Course, I returned to Slight Return II only to find, checking my records, that 'dozens' have been seen in successive September's in Dorset. Just a bit of advice, "don't get senile".

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