It's A Mystery - Toyah

Covering a 2 days period once again the Post is focused on being 'Out and About' Night-time temperatures are improving, showing larger returns from the traps, but it didn't help when the Farm Yard power dropped out last night. Despite that there was a good capture yesterday

with the very last Moth out of the final trap being something of a
'scarcity' here in Dorset and a 'first' for the property
BROWN-SPOT PINION*

which according to the County Records has only appeared
a little over 400 times since records began.

 LESSER TREBLE-BAR
still on the wing at Merritown Heath, caught in a sweep net.

 GIANT DIVING BEETLE

Quite a size in comparison with a 5p coin?

Also at Merritown, I have never noticed these (one of several)
fenced off areas before.

The 4 images above are of just 2 separate Insects, of the same species
FIELD GRASSHOPPER
in two variation of colour and pattern.

Plenty of
SMALL HEATH BUTTERFLY
also there along with Greyling, both Whites and Red Admiral.

Now the next bit might just take a bit of believing, as at long last I

took the bull by the horns and made off to visit the Flight Pond at

the south edge of the property.

Despite having visited PCF regularly since 2006 and even lived here for a year this pool remained a 'mystery' to me. So many times I have said to myself "I'll do that today" and then just as quickly overlooked. Seems the wait was worth it as en-route I encountered Mousy the Gamekeeper who was filling butts at the horse trough to water the saplings at that very site. What better company, as he helped to dig the pond years ago and since has nurtured it. As we approached a small Wader sprang fro under our feet and was airborne long enough to be identified as a

 JACK SNIPE

These 2 images area all from the archive and taken on the Buchan Alpha Oil Rig where annually we would pick them up exhausted from the heli-deck netting at night and transport them to safety on the next available helicopter. Hugh tells me he does see the odd one from time to time.

 While Mousy continued with his chores

 I took a look around and found it hard to remember that just 6

short months ago 'flood waters' were covering these fence posts.

 Last year I was told this water was covered with Wigeon and the year

before Mallard, both disappearing as soon as the serious rains arrived.

Along with Greater Reed Mace and Bulrush there is also a small amount 

of Common Reed and lucky for you and me

John Gifford

has identified the following as well.

PURPLE MOOR GRASS

another BULRUSH Sp

YELLOW WATER LILY

and a 'cultivar' Gaillardia.

I feel sure my birding mate Vaughn Ashby will be happy to allow

me to use his fine shot of a

JACK SNIPE

to illustrate today's sighting, and by return a 'free advert'.

Birdfinders Link

Trust you and Svetlana are in good health and continuing to do what you do best

ENJOYING LIFE!

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	669
United States	202
Germany	110
Russia	89
France	83
Estonia	33
Canada	13
Romania	13
Taiwan	5
Australia	4