The Wanderer - Dion

The weekend weather didn't amount to much, with almost continuous rain accompanied by a stiff breeze throughout Sunday, but all of that was adequately countered by a visit of my dear and long time friends from Emsworth, Hampshire

Paul and Tess Lifton

Long time wanderers in their mobile home, they are recently returned from a wander through a fair section of the South of France with plenty of tails of Roller, an abundance of Nightingale, along with plenty of Golden Oriole, while for my part it was a delight to show them around the Recording Area. Much of the action from their stay is yet to be edited, cannot do two things at once, and hopefully brought to you via our next Post. For now, some images from last weeks wanderings starting with a few more Moths.

 BRUSSELS LACE

 FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN

 BROWN RUSTIC

 SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT

 SINGLE-DOTTED WAVE

 and just the odd Micro

 THISTLE ERMINE

 along with what is believed to be

Trinia semifulvella

There was something of a surprise at the 

 IRRIGATION POND

this morning, in fact 1½ surprises! Suddenly overnight it had become

 HIGH TIDE

as water, much needed for the Recycling Process, had been pumped

from the aquafer, while additionally and only a ½ surprise the

 LAPWING

which have been 100% attentive here over the past few weeks,

introduced their new arrivals to the world.

 We had predicted that Little Ringed Plover might make the

Island in the middle of the pond a nest site, but by no means a

 complete surprise the Lapwings piped them to the post.

 Thus far just

3 youngsters have been noted.

Also there an example of

MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED,

a member of the Dandelion family, along with

good numbers of

 COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

 already getting

 well into the

 Mating Game

and talking of

WILD OATS

it wasn't me Sir!

Round at the Gravel Pit, first to be encountered was

Mother MALLARD

with her little brood.

Among the Fat Hen and at what has become a favoured 

Watering Hole

for a number of species this 

 COLLARED DOVE

looked a little on the 'dark side' of the usual colour

while another looked a little pale!

BLACKCAP
have had a 'bumper year' here at PCF

 still noted daily as singing in just about every hedgerow, but

just try 'seeing' one let alone getting a shot.
This female was partially obliging.
While unlocking the access gate to the Heath yet another

 GREEN WOODPECKER

was spotted clinging to a fence post in a nearby Horse Paddock

and thought worthy of a shot or three.
Greeting came by way of juvenile

STONECHAT,

 lots of

 SMALL HEATH BUTTERFLIES

 and just a month plus a couple of days

 since seeing my very first

 SMOOTH SNAKE

 another one obliges.
On the way back, God's Little Acre came up with a new species of

Butterfly for that patch a
MEADOW BROWN

with a text alerting me to the fact that the
HOUSE MARTINs
are back at both the Manor and Gavin's House.
Must qualify that by saying as yet I have not seen a single bird but
we will be keeping an eye open.

 Puffed out and back to Base I got to thinking of trying a 'pint' of that there
PETRUS
everyone is raving about. Got to be honest, even though it was a bit old
(1982)
it was thought to taste more like Red Wine, won't bother again.
CHEERS!
from Philistines R-Us

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