Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman

The higher overnight temperatures are not at all consistent so there has been little by way of 'returns' from the Moth Trap. Still only one in use at the moment, just to get a sample of what is going on, but they give it being a little warmer over the weekend - now where have we herd that before? Anyroad, the first

 COMMON QUAKER

of the year has been secured but unlikely to be the last.
At the Irrigation Pond things have remained by and large the same
but the 2/3

CANADA GEESE

have been lingering there

and allowing a couple of shots with the Solar Panels in view,
Goldbecks will be pleased.

  Don't know if the pair of COOT have any intention of making the
Water Filter a nest site, but only time will tell.
Meanwhile back at the

GADWALL GAZETTE

a second 'pair' have arrived and there is much posturing and displaying going on.

 I know the feeling Mate, you're not the only

BLACK SHEEP

around here!

A very interesting meeting with ALEX the Shepherd on Sunday morning. Seems I did pass on the 'right' information about the Sheep, but not all of it. While most of them are, as reported, Poll Dorset, among them are a few of these Black-Faced efforts which he informs me are North Country Mule, sired by Leicester Rams and out of Swaledale Ewes - all a bit complicated for a bit of extra meat. He went on to say that such is the public demand these days for less 'strong' meats, most of the Lambs will find out "What you get for pretending the danger's not real. Meek and obedient you follow the leader down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel" Pink Floyd! as soon as they finish suckling. Ever onward and a visit to the

YAWWWNNNN!
another 2 Canada Geese behind Eco

and back at Parley Pond another pair of
GADWALL

  Down at the Flight Pond something has been busy.

 Ah Yes

FROG SPAWN

already laid with some, as shown by the dark patches,

  well on their way to becoming Tadpoles.

Well, at least we'll have something for tea!

This poor fella was 'brown bread' must have been all that climbing onboard?
There 'were' (until I arrived) c4 Wigeon and a Grey Heron there as well.

 The situation as regards the

 ROOK

 population here has been bugging me for a while now. With seemingly

only one or 2 nests, I ventured to the inside of Bournemouth International

Airport to check things out further.

 Sure enough in the trees that are not visible from the Farm

 there are in fact c10 active nests making quiet a neat little

ROOKERY

 These Gravel Pits were only excavated a couple of weeks ago
and already they are covered in

 GREEN ALGAE
Onward to the Sewerage Works for what turned out to be a
'Purple 5 Minutes'

 It was 'calling' from above that drew my attention to about a dozen

 SISKIN
not at all a common sight here, and as they disappeared a flicker on
the perimeter fence manifested itself into a

 FIRECREST

 which remained there for all of 10 seconds.
 Eventually it was seen, again briefly, 4 more times but great to see one
here after more than a year.
Finally, out of the west flew an

 EGYPTIAN GOOSE
 which even after a search was only recorded as a 'fly-over'.
 Late afternoon and an impromptu walk along the River Stour produced the
First True Migrant

SAND MARTIN
which was also a short stayer resulting in a 'borrowed' image from
Wikipedia

 GREEN SANDPIPER

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