Clutching at Straws - Marillion

Yet another period of heavy overnight rain, about the 5th
in a row by my calculation, the only advantages being a
Guard and Steerage,
 the Royal Naval expression for an extra lie in the bunk,
and not having to water the Strawberries.
ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE!
From the Moth Traps, and all New for the Year, we had

 CABBAGE MOTH

 CYPRESS CARPET

 DARK SWORD-GRASS

 DWARF CREAM WAVE

 not a particularly inspiring looking bunch but all grist to the mill.

The Dark Sword-grass is likely an 'immigrant', always welcome!

Not a lot of action to show for the first part of our wander today in fact the Wildlife was more of a 'static nature' than the mobile (Bird/Mammal) kind. A wander round Parley Pond threw up

 WHITE CAMPION

 RAGGED ROBIN

and

RED CAMPION

and then something of a lull until reaching the Irrigation Pond where

more a case of Clutching at Straws than anything else

we recorded one of the

COOT

patrolling the nest.

On the way round to the Heath we took a closer look at the

 ROWANS

 which are now all in full bloom and again the realisation of just how many 

GREENFINCH

 we have here. 

A large and healthy population which seem to have had

a terrific Breeding Season.

and we simply title this clip

"The Grass is Always Greener"

While it is general practice to monitor the

Reptile Covers

every second Sunday, sometimes it become all too much 

of a temptation to take a peek which was the case yesterday

when the (just) 2 that were turned produced a thriving

 ANT COLONY

plus a rather chunky

SLOW WORM

 For no other reason than it looked attractive we captured this

BRAMBLE of BLACKBERRY

 What followed next could be described as a 

Mini Purple Patch

as in quick succession 3 things not seen here before were noted.

Instantly recognised, due to many years spent on Portland,

where it is prolific,

 VIPER'S BUGLOSS

was something of a surprise but only 2 stems.

 The next we are told by our friend John Gifford, who worked at the Airport
for a number of years, is not unusual here a

 BROWN HARE

followed, as if there needed to be 'icing on the cake', by a

 KINGFISHER

 at the recently dug

Balancing Pond.

It should be note that thus far we have resisted the temptation to start a

Balancing Pond List, 
but now more's the pity!

 Our final location for the day was the

 Eco Recycling Works,

or perhaps more correctly the rubble-strewn area behind,

 where we quickly picked up on one of the 'many dozens' of this years

PIED WAGTAIL

 but as usual our main target were the

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

which, due to the continuous 'location calls' of the parent birds

are rarely difficult to find.

Our final record for the day concerned this pair of

STOCK DOVE

cavorting on the roof of one of the large sheds.

As promised in a previous Post we can now bring you

footage of the completed

SOIL BUND

(open to visitors Monday to Friday £20 per head

but please don't let the Dampney Family know

they are sure to want a 'discount'.

Entry

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