Saturday 25 April 2015

Prominent Men - Velvet Underground

It must have been that the Traps were placed in a PROMINENT position, quickly on me thinks........
A Pentangle of Prominents.
First, foremost and an addition the the PCF List,
not even seen before.
GREAT PROMINENT
 a welcome addition!
PEBBLE PROMINENT
 PALE PROMINENT
SWALLOW PROMINENT
and 'close cousin'

LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT
additionally a non-too prominent
DARK SWORD-GRASS
all additions to the Year List.
 
The usual gathering of
ROE DEER
across the River Stour
guess they must be females, they're out of here!
Followed by a very vocal
WREN
also on the riverside.
With the Maize now sewn and several acres of disturbed ground
there had to be something of interest?
 
YES!
first up our 'second'
WHEATEAR
 
of the Year.
There was also a Whimbrel calling from somewhere, which remained a ?
Then a Tree Rat appeared.
GREY SQUIRREL
Also a First for the Year
HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY
then the marauders arrived, Mob Handed.
I'd had something of a joke with these 3 Lumberjacks from Scottish and Southern Energy, but the laughing quickly came to an end when they announced why they had come. The intent was to cut down a Field Maple Tree and the surrounding hedgerow as it was thought to be too close to the overhead cables? Over my dead body! They said they were willing to help with that as well. Bee Line for the Lap Top and a contact number of which there were dozens, but none relating to environment. Deciding on any random 'Free-Phone' number I could not have been any luckier that to be answered by Harry in the Glasgow Office. Stating my case, he went on to tell me he was an Accountant and only dealt with Customer Relations so considered my bolt was shot. Oh no, good old Harry seemed to be as determined as me to bring this ILLEGAL practise to an end and although knowing nothing about nature he promised to get back to me. Shortly he did, and reported that one of the workers 'on site' would phone me, but cut in saying that would not be one jot of good. Again he said he would make efforts and again true to his word he got someone else to call who would neither state his name or his position in the company. He assured me that every survey possible had been carried out and was at pains to try and convince me that there were no birds nests along the stretch involved, at which point I stopped him. I informed him that I trudge that track just about every day of my life and to the contrary there are nests along with other Wildlife showing an interest. He was not convinced and said the works would have to take place at which I played my Ace. He was told that my personal finances fall a little short of those of S and S E, but there are sufficient fund available for me to take out a Private Prosecution as contravening the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If that is not enough, I lied, a Press Photographer could soon be on hand to record all of these ILLEGAL happenings.
Yes. the predicament was clear to see, the hedge is going to foul the
overhead cables long before Spring is over and couldn't possibly
wait until the Winter months! Yeah Alright.
The lads from Smoke Generation R-US were not seen again!
Meanwhile I got to thinking that there had not been sight or sound
of a
YELLOW WAGTAIL
when almost to order a 'pair' hove into view.
This a
FEMALE
and this a
Male
Now, I could go on telling you how I ply this track each day, but in
addition would have to point out just how unobservant I can be.
Not as though it isn't big enough, this small Jetty
has never been noticed before!
What chance a Grasshopper Warbler?
A fly-by
MUTE SWAN
was all else before heading north where, on the
Irrigation Pond there were
LITTLE GREBE, COOT, LAPWING and MOORHEN
all together.
There were also a couple of
GREYLAG GEESE
but no sign of either
Little Ringed Plover or Green Sandpiper
they'll be back.
In the largest of the
Solar Panel Compounds,
where I enjoy unrestricted access, our 'third'
WHEATEAR
of the Spring was found.
Unlike the Coastal Fringes and more particularly the headlands such as
Hengistbury Head and Portland Bill,
we don't the vast numbers of migrants that are often seen there,
so such things as Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler etc are a
BIG DEAL
on
Parley Court Farm.



WHEATEAR
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