Sugar, Sugar - The Archies

Since the finding of the Woodlark on Tuesday last, quite a bit of time has been spent around the Merritown Heath area, with neither the Lark or a 'dreamed of' Great Grey Shrike being seen. However, it has been by no means dull as a 'drumming' Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has been heard, a fourth pair of Treecreeper for the property located, the highest total this year of c8 Stock Dove recorded, c6 'fly-over' Crossbills plus a single pair each of Ravan and Stonechat. c37 transiting Lapwing caused a bit of a stir as it was thought they might be returning to 18 Acre, but no they decided not to linger. Tuesday night likely qualified for the mildest, temperature wise, of 2015 so a single Trap was run. Not a Moth to be seen but among the dozen or so Brown Dung Flies there was singles of

OPHION OBSCURATUS

The Spider

STEATODA GROSSA

and another much smaller

HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD

also covered in some kind of cotton/wool as was the other.

Goldberg, the Solar Panel Contractors, have requested any images

associated with the recently completed works for their 'archive'. 

There are a few that have already 'seen the light of day' through these pages.

GREY WAGTAIL

is now added to that collection.

REDWING

are still numerous here, seemingly in every hedgerow at tree-top.

It is thought the total for the property, including the flock of some 200+

on Merritown Heath, has to be in the region of 500?

ROE DEER

have also increased in numbers over the past year.

Now there's a thing, this male

GOLDCREST

holding territory in the small, mixed woodland behind the Manor House

has been displaying off and on since the beginning of the year.

Up until yesterday I had been unable to get the camera focused on it,

but for whatever reason (pishing was tried) it decided to put on a

Personal Display for me!

Around the corner is the stable yard and with so much easily sourced 

food there is always a decent selection of the more common species.

 male

BLACKBIRD

along with male

CHAFFINCH

followed by a male Horse.

This is ARCHIE

the mount of Tasha Jones one of PCF 'resident' riders.

Passing by, she saw the camera and asked if I'd snap Archie,
which I was only too pleased to do. Hope to see you both again soon.
Up at Gibbet Firs

BADGERS

were paying no heed to Historic Earthwork as it seems they may

be contemplating a new SETT on the Bronze Age Tumulus.

The view over the Solar Panels from the top of the Earthworks.

(seemed like a good idea at the time?)

and looks like the Wood Pigeons have been lowering their guard,

2 'kills' in as many paces.

GRAVEL EXTRACTION

has now resumed at the North End of the Farm

making a start on the New Golf Course in the south.

Water levels are not helping as this is the highest they have been since

the Pit was first excavated.

Mister's MOLE

have been extremely busy around the Solar Panels and

at the back of Eco.

Revered by the Jacobite's they aren't causing any problem at these locations.

In 1702, William III died of pneumonia, a complication from a broken collarbone following a fall from his horse, Sorrel. Because his horse had stumbled into a Mole's burrow, many Jacobite's toasted "the Little Gentleman in the Black Velvet Waistcoat." Years later, Sir Winston Churchill, in his A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, stated that the fall "opened the door to a troop of lurking foes^". William was buried in Westminster Abbey alongside his wife. His sister-in-law, Anne, became Queen Regnant of England, Scotland and Ireland.

 and finally, a contribution from a Regular Readers recent visit to

Rodden Hive on the Fleet near Langton Herring.

BARNACLE GEESE

(foreground)

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