Snowbound - Genesis

Lay your body down upon the midnight snow,
Feel the cold of winter in your hair
Here in a world of your own,
In a casing that's grown
To a children's delight
That arrived overnight.
And here they come to play their magic games
Carving names upon your frozen hand.
Here in a world of your own,
Like a sleeper whose eyes
Sees the pain with surprise
As it smothers your cries
They'll never never know.

Down here in the Tropical South most of us can't even spell SWON let alone get to see any falling from the heavens. Quiet a pleasant surprise then, for those of us who didn't have to get up and head for the workplace, a nice little overnight smattering of the white stuff. Interest lay more in what had arrived with it rather than the stuff itself so, forsaking the usual early morning Lap Top routine, I headed north. At a first glance all of the birds mentioned in yesterdays diatribe had gone with the

SNOWLAR PANELS

looking dismal and deserted.

Close by is the Main Bridleway through the north of PCF where usually,

at this time of day, the lady rides are encountered on their morning canter.

A little too slippery today so I was left alone to search the hedgerows and woods.

Dave Foot had paid a weekend visit during which time he found a

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF

which to my surprise was still here for its third day along with the 

c2 more Common cousins of Sunday.

It would be impossible, unless caught, to establish whether 

this is the one first found on 06/12 with IT or another being seen the 

next day (likely) and again 07/01/15. Whichever, it is a most welcome visitor.

On to the Irrigation Pond where the only activity involved more

Gravel Extraction

with Hugh issuing an apology for having to disturb MY pond again.

The most northerly of the Solar Panel enclosures.

Snow covered GORSE

To the right of this track and beyond the bushes lies the

SEWERAGE WORKS

where the resident Greenfinch flock was found along with another Chiffchaff.

The Main Bridleway again leading to the 'locked off' pathway

complete with snow-covered 

MOLE HILLS

and

MAMMAL TRACKS

Withing the compound today were a record count of

ROE DEER

numbering 6 and all enjoying the unfrozen food source beneath the panels.

Along the Moors River c2

LITTLE EGRET

seemed to be jockeying for feeding spots in the open water here.

MERRITOWN HEATH GATE

looking towards PCF

GORSE

and

BRACKEN

Looking back north across the

BRISTLE BENT GRASS FIELD

To the south one of a number of small mixed woods.

More tracks, decidedly Canine and thought to be

FOX

The favoured spot for the Moth Traps.

Bournemouth International Airport

directly ahead.

Dartford Warbler territory but only a single heard today.

HEATHER

The hard-standing where the Woodlark was located last week.

A decent quantity of Corn was spread around, in hope of a return.

The meeting of a number of bird tracks in the snow.
Walking the full perimeter fence brings you back to a frozen

ECO RECYCLING WORKS

Some of the Product with the usual

GUARDIAN ANGELS

Herring Gulls

in attendance a much favoured perch.

A closer approach and a shot after

Chicken George had left.

Not a single bird IN the weed field, but on the east margin and

adjacent trees a further c6

 COMMON CHIFFCHAFF

In the hedgerow right c3

REED BUNTING
before arriving at a seemingly even more frozen

MARSH

Here, the now blooming

HORNWORT

is showing above, and contrasting with, the snow cover 

making for small, attractive, orange patches.

 A frozen Irrigation Dike.

 RABBIT

 Reaching the

 FISHING LAKE

 c2 Common Snipe were flushed from a nearby ditch and
 
 it looked every bit as though something had tried to transit the ice here.
Most likely thought to be Mallard or Teal which are usually quite numerous here.

 The path leading back to the main Bridleway produced nothing
even though this suitable area was once again searched for a possible
Water Rail, which has never been recorded here at PCF.
 
 Getting close to noon, as can be seen from the panels the thaw was
now well underway, but there had been no concern for the small birds such as

 MEADOW PIPIT

 as they were able to feed continuously under the shelter of the structures.
Of Note:- only a 'single' Chaffinch was seen all day.
Final port of call was back down south and 18 Acre where surely,
given the conditions, the semi-resident Waders had returned?

 LAPWING
 had returned and coincidently the count was 18.

Hey there's a Snowman
Hey, Hey what a Snowman
Pray for the Snowman
Ooh, Ooh what a Snowman
They say a snow year's a good year
Filled with the love of all who lie so deep.

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