With reference to the feedback (no pun intended) Thursday evening was a great success, when at long last
HUGH, JANET and YOURS TRULY
got together at Slight Return II for that long awaited dinner.
Roast Thai/Peking Duck with my own slant on Susan Sauce for the men,
and Fete/Tomato Tart-let for Jan, all with a medley of 8 vegetables followed
by (the first) Luxury Christmas Pudding with Madagascan Vanilla Custard.
Wine from two 'Fifth Growth' Chateaus of Bordeaux.
1993 Ch d'Armailhac and 1994 Cantemerle
All accompanied by The Division Bell - Pink Floyd
(charcoal rubbing of the original Jimi Hendrix' grave in the background)
By the time they made to leave I was so hyped up, over such an enjoyable evening, that there was NO chance of swinging into the hammock. Returning once again to the Bose Wave and another bottle, just about every classic by Led Zeppelin was played at high volume followed by snippets from Dave Meniketti (Lone Me a Dime), Joe Bonamassa (Tea for One), Alvin Lee (The Bluest Blue) and finally a sip of Grunge before bed from Pearl Jam, without doubt the finest track from their debut studio album 'TEN'
On to the Moth Traps and an early morning temperature of a
sub-tropical 14°C was a promising start, and even better for
the 5th consecutive morning there was a
MERVEILLE du JOUR
clinging to the side of one of the traps.
Not an uncommon Insect, but a Bobby Dazzler for all that, and
c5 taken this morning.
SPRUCE CARPET
is new for the year
and for the second day in succession another
OAK RUSTIC
this, along with yesterdays individual, have now been show to be
the only 'inland' records ever taken in Dorset. This surely proves
this Insect is extending its range further from the coast!
RED-GREEN CARPET
is also new for 2015
LARGE WAINSCOT
of two contrasting hues and
FOLDED-WING CRANE-FLY with COMMON CRANE-FLY
It is not often we go 'off-piste', no need really, but once in a while the mood takes us, as was the case yesterday, and off we go. The destination was Blashford Lakes, just across the County Border into Hampshire, but first a quick look at our own ponds up the Common. May as well have saved the diesel but we were soon back on track until just a mile further on the traffic came to a halt. There had been some earlier indications of disaster as Police/Ambulance sirens were activated in all directions. It took a full 15 minutes to reach the Airport traffic lights and a further 10 to the Hurn roundabout when it suddenly dawned on me that this was not an accident at all. Since early September this is what all commuters, heading towards Ringwood, have had to suffer as the Borough Council slowly re-surface the A338 Bournemouth to Ringwood by-pass. Lucky then that a quick once round the bollard, aborting any further attempt to reach Hants, it was decided to try Longham Lakes instead. Not expecting anything but 'common fare' the diversity here can be somewhat different to that on the Home Patch, this is what we found including (status on our own Recording Area for comparison):-
BLACK-HEADED GULL
(common particularly in winter)
(common particularly in winter)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE
(not known to have been recorded on the Local Patch)
CORMORANT
(Usually absent during the breeding season, but otherwise common
but never numerous)
but never numerous)
TUFTED DUCK
(decidedly scarce)
Only 10 minutes into the walk and the first shot of what became a fusillade
Only 10 minutes into the walk and the first shot of what became a fusillade
putting the
CANADA GEESE
CANADA GEESE
and most other things to flight
(breed on the property)
(breed on the property)
Now what do we have here, is it a
Birdwatcher or an Angler
no much too active for either.
(Whatever, never seen at Parley Court Farm)
Birdwatcher or an Angler
no much too active for either.
(Whatever, never seen at Parley Court Farm)
COOT
(also breed here)
(also breed here)
GUELDER ROSE
ALDER MAST
and a lovely view across to Hampreston looking much like a
GEORGE STUBBS
WREN
(a common breeding species throughout)
(a common breeding species throughout)
and then more disaster the perimeter path around the larger lake
was completely fenced off. At a subsequent meeting with my friend
George Green, it was found that Pot Hole Filling was taking place.
was completely fenced off. At a subsequent meeting with my friend
George Green, it was found that Pot Hole Filling was taking place.
Distantly on the Island could be seen
(occasional visitor more frequent during winter)
(ditto)
(breeds)
(more or less daily and thought to breed close by)
male
female
(infrequent visitor)
and around the bend and almost out of sight
(occasional in winter)
then more gunfire put up
Not quite the day expected but, always expect the unexpected, we'd seen some birds
so back for a Smoked Salmon sandwich and Coffee.
