Because They're Young - Duane Eddy

Communication Breakdown
of the serious kind has precluded
our attendance - Apologies all round.
As the Headline Says Link

some water under the bridge since we bought the

Guitar Man Album

A return to the weekend, and while the weather was less than desirable it didn't dampen the spirits of my visiting friends Paul and Tess, nor my own. Both days were utilised to the full, showing them the full extent of the Recording Area here, with most prominent on show being 'Young Birds'. With so much to see and so many images it might be that we have to split this into 2 separate Posts. Of course on both days early attendance at the Moth Traps was priority but even there we could not escape 'The Young' (not that we wanted to). 

 Heralding some of the less clement weather and with my

Meteorological Days

behind me

 I couldn't put a name to this 'strange formation'.

 At the Stable Trap it was likely this youngster had nicked all the

good stuff off of the palling wall.

 ROBIN

A decent catch on both days produced an interesting selection of

Insects, including

 LACKEY

 SMALL FAN-FOOTED WAVE

 the eye-catching

 BLUE-BORDERED CARPET

 GREY PINE CARPET

 RIVULET

a pristine 'first for the year'

 V-PUG

BORDERED PUG 

and

SCORCHED CARPET

At Parley Pond a young

 GREY HERON

has established a regular feeding spot.

 A 'host' of juvenile

 COLLARED DOVE

 we met as we drove through the 

Eco Recycling Plant and before entering the

Solar Panel Compound

this 'complete fluke' image of a parent

 CHIFFCHAFF

feeding a youngster was secured.

 Once the gate was bolted to keep the Sheep within 

 we quickly 

picked up on a number of recently fledged

SKYLARK

which even lingered long enough to become 'Movie Stars'.

While they have been showing an interest in the Compound for a

number of days now

 a family party or

 'UNKINDNESS'

of

 RAVEN

 now seem to have plucked up the courage to venture inside.

 Initially thought to be of c2 parent birds and c3 juveniles,

there are in fact c6 individuals in total.

They also were in for a 'shout' at the Oscar's.

All the small, passerine type birds have done well here

over this Breeding Season and none more so than 

 MEADOW PIPIT

but appear to be the least confiding of them all.

 STARLING

now congregate in many dozens but no sign of a 'murmuration' yet!

It was unanimously agreed that the
HIGHLIGHT
of the weekend was the visit

and very 'close quarters' views of the

SAND MARTIN
colony behind Eco.

 Initially, about a dozen birds

excavated and looked to be tending c7 'active' nest holes

before disaster struck as part of the 'reclaimed' soil bank

collapsed beneath them.

 Undeterred, these tiny Hirundines set about excavating

new nest holes which in itself was a miracle of nature to witness.

Seemingly taking it in turns, each would perch on the outer edge of

 the intended hole and frantically 'shovel' the loose earth behind them,
but only 3 guesses as to who didn't have the foresight to video this
'magical happening'.
Answers on a Post Card!

Although difficult to count, on the day of our visit the original dozen
or so have now increased to between 30 and 40 individuals, all
'on the wing'.

Of these there are still c3 (pairs) attending nests.
and the
Avian Oscar
goes to
SAND MARTIN
There are some Family Happenings on the horizon which shouldn't
preclude us from bringing you
Because They're Young - The Sequel
in a couple of days time.

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