I'm So Glad - Cream

It was thought that the Spanish who undertook Phase I of the Solar Panel farm here at Parley had buzzed off without leaving so much as a Bird Table by way of fair exchange., but how WRONG can you be! On the other hand, German know how which was responsible for Phase II introduced Barn Owl Boxes, bat Boxes, hundreds of meters of hedgerows and a number of Wild Flower Meadows. So GLAD I didn't voice any derogatory opinions on the matter, as sure enough back they came and instituted similar 'fine works'. On completion of both parts of the project, the site was handed over to the Stewardship of

Silverstone Green Energy LINK

who seem even more keen (if that were possible) to continue enhancing the Welfare of Wildlife here. To that end I was certain to 'stick my nose in' with a first meeting with Site Manager Mathew Lewis. Mathew's day to day task is to oversee everything from maintenance to security (a tall order) but has found time to tour the area with me to find out what is to be seen. His own word described it as an 'eyeopener' not having realised just what Wealth of Wildlife we have here. He has also been instrumental in providing much needed backup and in turn introduced me to his colleagues. Silverstone have recently employed an 'in house' Ecologist, Post University Graduate Holly Game who had had the great pleasure not only to meet, but introduce to Parley Court Farm. Her 'PATCH', if you could describe it as that, covers 15 other smaller installations across England and Wales reaching as far as the Humber Estuary in the north, the Norfolk Coast to the east and the very tip of Cornwall to the west - me thinks she is going to be a very busy lady. It would be true to say that we 'hit it off' immediately and she was most attentive as I enthused about some of my ideas. While nothing is in 'tablets of stone' as yet, there is much potential for many of them coming to fruition - Early Days!

We will most definitley keep you updated.

but for now

First for the Year

FLAME SHOULDER
 
LARVAE
likely
BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING
 
HOVERFLY
Eupeodes corollae
were all found in the traps in recent days.

GREY HERON

have been conspicuous by their absent for all too long now,

early nesters they have likely been at the Rookeries but
good to see them back.

YELLOW DUNG FLY
don't you just love Group Shots?

Still here, are an average daily count of a dozen
 
MEDITERRANEAN GULLs

LADY'S SMOCK
now coming into bloom so perhaps not surprisingly,
soon after this shot our first

ORANGE TIP
of the year. We say not surprisingly as Lady's Smock is a favoured
food plant.

This

COMMA
was quick to follow.

With many of the hedgerows also bedecked in blossom

it might be considered predictable that this would be where we
would locate our first

WHITETHROAT

of the Year.

Ploughing has not interrupted any breeding

but is proving an extra bonus for Gulls and lapwings alike.

WOOD FORGET-ME-NOT
and

DAISIES
just before the Green Keeper chopper their heads off!

On the farming front again, local farmer Roger was employed to
sow 18 Acre with Barley, which was just 12 days ago.

This was the same spot photographed yesterday.
We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land.

More Sheep have now been introduced to the Solar Panel Compounds

but this was the first time I have clapped eyes on these 2 strains of the
WELSH MOUNTAIN
variety.

and 5 days later and the

GOLDEN PLOVER
is still with us.

GOLDEN PLOVER

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