The Bagsy Blog: The Final Countdown

Friday, 17 June 2016

The Final Countdown - Europe (in or OUT)

UNDOUBTEDLY, THE MOST FANTASTIC 'MANUFACTURED'

POP/ROCK RECORD OF OUR GENERATION, PERFORMED BY

THE 'PRETTIEST' BAND IN THE WORLD!

The Final Countdown Link

While the 2 days of the weekend were in the main given over to Mothing, there was still plenty of time for looking around all the likely spots across the Recording Area which we publish as the third and final part of the Unmarried Moth'er Trilogy. Having identified and logged all the Moths in the 8 Mercury Vapour Traps, a long, pleasant but painstaking job, our first stop as the Irrigation Pond, where the 'springing' Wader was immediately recognised by the bold flash of white to the rump as likely the first 'returning'

GREEN SANDPIPER

but far too quick for me, however it did head for the Gravel Pit

where it was thought to have landed, still a chance yet!

In the meantime we concentrated more on the

COOT'S NEST

while both parent birds were busying themselves elsewhere,

while we saw what looked like 7 eggs.

Before leaving a search around the margins found

WHITE-LEGGED DAMSELFLY

along with a good number of

YELLOW-WINGED DARTER

with one found to be in a 'teneral' state which is to say

recently emerged and not having attained its full adult colours yet.

There was also a

COMMON SHREW

on the path but unfortunately engaged in the everlasting sleep!

Or suspicions were right, the

GREEN SANDPIPER

had landed on the Gravel Pit edge but only at great distance.

We agreed not to waste time waiting

so these 2 images were clawed from the Archive.

Also there the pair of 'summer plumage'

LITTLE GREBE

continue to frolic with the only noticeable difference being the

'female' taking up, and maintaining this 'submissive' stance for lengthy periods?

There was no sign of copulation!

Our next port of call was the area of what could easily be mistaken for waste ground, but is a haven for all sorts of Creatures especially Insects. In the distant past a General refuse Tip which in later time some attempt was made to regenerate the Heath there. Gramps (Janet's father) and a host of willing helpers sourced and planted 100's of naturally wild Heather plants among others, but over the years the Sallows and Gorse have predominated. With no more than a dozen paces behind us this Fabulous Beauty