Hole In The Ground - Bernard Cribbins

The overnight temperature Thursday into Friday was, according to my weather station, more or less a constant 16°C raising early morning hopes of a little more to be reckoned with in the Traps. At a first glance into each it was clear there were Insects within with enough Craneflies to fill the Albert Hall, many dozens of Caddisflies and plenty of Hornets and Wasps, but where there any Moths? Indeed there were, at least more than in recent days with totals reaching 42 species of Macro x 537 Insects. Almost first out was an addition to the Property List a splendid male

FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN*

 the sex of which I had never seen before.

 There had been a female at the

 Portland Bird Observatory

a few years ago.

 The beautiful

MERVEILLE du JOUR

 was a 'first for the year' as was

 L-ALBUM WAINSCOT

and an interesting contribution from our friend Dave Foot

who after last week-end took this

 LARVAE

 home to nurture. Not responding to the food provided Dave fully

expected it to have been invaded by

 PARASITES

(it had!)

Dogged by frequent pulses of drizzle and some increase in the force of the wind, the Traps took a little longer than has become usual and I was champing at the bit to head north to see what had been decided on the future of the North Pond.

Hole in the Ground - This Will Take You Back A Bit

 With the distinctive 'tracks' of Heavy Plant leading to the gate it was

plainly obvious what the decision had been,

 and the arrival of a Slew (Digger),

 3 powerful Water Pumps

 

 and associate pipework.

 works were already well underway.

 Lord Lawney had been unable to sway the Solar Farm people, not

just because of the liability of accident but adjusting the relevant 

paperwork that attends such a large project.

 Already the Diggers had got to work on the 'hard standing' between 

the 2 ponds with mounds of poor quality gravel already extracted and ready to transport.

 While the holes that already remain looked very deep there was much 

more material needed than that laying in wait!

 A few loads had already arrived with the

 BULLDOZER

now hard at work

 and for the rest of the day

 the Lorry's

 just kept coming.

 They tell me that in total it will take about 5 - 6 days to complete the 

 operation, during which time you will be kept updated.

On the up side at the Irrigation Pond (future yet to be decided)

today, Saturday, 

 TEAL

numbers have increased

 from this 'first sighting' mid-week to c6 today.

 MALLARD

 have gone from what has become a regular 'pair'

 to the highest c8,

 STOCK DOVE

 are both feeding and bathing her,

 PIED WAGTAIL

have reached 'double figures' while

 young

HOUSE MARTIN (left) and SWALLOW

 have turned up 'mob-handed'

 to enjoy a good rest, preen and meal

 before setting off on that long journey south.

Next Stop Africa!
It has been a little remiss of me not to have mentioned both
Dave Foot and John Gifford
for all their help over the past week or more.
My Knowledge has certain been extended
THANK YOU! 

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