Spirt in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Today's change of header photo is significant in as much as during my first 2 excussions to South Korea (2002 and 2004) this seriously threatened species was still extinct there after several decades. It was the same situation in Japan, where it is not known if they have yet returned! It was only as a huge quirk of fate that this pair had returned to the Sedsan Marshes a matter of weeks before my arrival. It's good to see that fine, diverse and most interesting country back among the Top Ten Stats again.

Despite the weather it has not been a bad month with some interesting Birds already on the list, but this was the first January ever that we have caught a Moth of any sort. Even back in the days when a trap was run both at Wyke Regis, Weymouth and one at East Weares, Portland did we enjoy such early success.

We didn't even have to leave Slight II before recording our first

Wildlife yesterday as this
HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
nearly dropped into the coffee cup.
A little bit of success from the single Moth Trap, which is being
activated on selective nights,

 with our second species of Macro being

 CHESTNUT

Otherwise it was down to Fly Species with this as yet still unidentifies

SMALL CRANEFLY
along with dozens of

DUNG FLIES
mostly copulating.
Early morning silhouettes have included

CORMORANT

and a medium size flock of

LAPWING

which, to the annoyance of the Airport Authorities, have taken up
temporary residence there.

PHEASANT
cavorting outside of the caravan and an annoying

ROYAL NAVY HELICOPTER
which has done nothing but fly backwards and forwards all day
and directly overhead at that. We feel it must be carrying our Radar Calibrations
or some such thing?

The farmer across the River Stour now has his (500+?) Sheep out
to graze, guess it it will be Lambing soon.
At Parley Pond

HERRING GULL

and even more what we will describe as
CALL DUCKS
which have been released there.

WREN

GREENFINCH

 With nothing to disturb on the Irrigation Pond it was thought an
ideal time just to check and count the overwintering

 SMOOTH (COMMON) NEWTS

of which there were c14, a little down on last year at this time.

LITTLE GREBE

is now back on the Gravel Pit after a short absence due to the freeze

with the ever dependant

PIED WAGTAILs
On Merritown Heath there was a little more action than in recent days

except this hunting

KESTRAL

which found success right in front of our eyes.
Maybe 'action' isn't quite the right word when associated with
Fungi and Watercourses?

but two clumps of

 COPRINUS ATRAMENTARIS
seem to have survived the cold and wet, while the never ending saga of the

BALANCING POND
continues.

Still unfinished and seemingly in a quandry as what to do next,
at least the Green Sandpiper is still paying an occasional visit.

At the very last knocking of January daylight a

SKYLARK

graced Slight II airspace,
which put the Year Total at 108
and pushed the Dorset Year List to 97.

HYGROCYBE PUNICEA
growing through
HYPNUM JUTLANDICUM
HEATH PLAIT-MOSS

At last we captured a decent image of the new
Flybe Livery
which was just in time as having arrived here less
 than a year ago they are now making plans to pull out.
Gone is the fusalage logo
Spirit of Bournemouth!

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