The Bagsy Blog: 07/04/15

Saturday, 4 July 2015

Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins

Moth-wise, Tuesday night was undoubtedly the most productive of the year so far, so why then wasn't the 'actinic' battery trap activated on Merritown Heath? I'll tell you why, as having driven over there with a fully charged battery I got so engrossed looking at the Woodcock and Nightjars crossing the evening sky that the trap was completely overlooked - Yes, we know what's next!! Anyhow, the others all performed well and while there wasn't an addition to the PCF Moth List the Year List fared much better with

PRIVET HAWK-MOTH

simply appearing as such a splendid specimen

and a 20 pence coin for size comparison.

By contrast

ROSY FOOTMAN

is a tiny thing while

SILKY WAINSCOT

is said to be 'scarce' and 'localised' in the County.

DUN-BAR

CLAY

and

SMALL BLOOD-VEIN
are far more common and widespread.
A small selection of the others included

BARRED STRAW

The 'second' this season and just had to Post this 'Stunner' again

CLOUDED BUFF
and

SMOKY WAINSCOT

Onward to the Irrigation Pond from where we can report that

c3 of the c7 COOT eggs have now hatched

and the young taking to their first home like
Ducks to Water.
My arrival at the Solar Panel Compound

was met by a cacophony of
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER calls
but not those of the resident parent birds.

No, there was a usurper seemingly displaying to the female

and certainly having a tussle with the male bird.

The youngsters continue to progress.

A stealthy (as usual) approach to the Gravel Pit

met with a birds head pocking above the bund and quickly recognised
as that of a

CORMORANT

Over the breeding season they have been noticeable, here at PCF,
by their absence

so this will count as the first returning individual.

It soon took to the water and performed a couple of 'dives'

which were monitored carefully to see if this watercourse has
acquired any fish.

None have, or are likely to be, released but the power of Ducks and
other Waterfowl picking up fish eggs in their plumage and transporting
them is not unusual.

A few

CORMORANT

clips

for your entertainment.

The

LAPWING

'youngsters' is continuing to grow

and seem impervious of the human presence.

Breeding numbers have been reported to have fallen dramatically
here in East Dorset over the past few years, so let's hope these and
the other 5 or 6 pairs here start an increase again!

This is the 'set-aside' where the owners planted saplings some years
ago. The ground is covered with old Pine Tree stumps and a
variety of wild plants, I have a bet on that
Great Grey Shrike will appear here within the next few years??
Here's Hoping.
Behind the Eco Recycling Plant
another Butterfly to add to the Property List this time