As Sure As Eggs is Eggs - Genesis

Over the past couple of nights the weather conditions
for Mothing have improved fairly dramatically,
but no one seems to have told the Moths as catches
have remained mostly unimpressive. The Best of the Bunch
for Tuesday included

SOUTHERN WAINSCOT

PEBBLE HOOK-TIP

along with the deminutive

SATIN WAVE
none of which were additions to the Year List.
The attendant identifiable Micro Moth (if we have it correct) was
BROWN CHINA MARK

and additionally the traps also contained

 two variations of the most kaleidoscopic of all the 

British Ladybirds

 HARLEQUIN
At the Irrigation Pond,

 and contrary to our previous report, it would now appear that the

COOT

are now making alternative arrangements for their continued 

procreation by building a new nest altogether.

A bit of a Monster to say the least.

While they are about it the Pond continues to be shared by a

 COMMON SANDPIPER

which seems to become more confiding as the days go by.

At the Irrigation Pond the action deminished somewhat, seemingly
down to just the single and continuing semi-resedent

Juvenile 
LITTLE GREBE
Just before leaving a tiny movement was noted very close by and while

 it was enough just to stand and witness, at close quarters, a female

EMPORER DRAGONFLY

'ovipositing' (laying its eggs), additionally we capture her not only on stills

but on video as well. However, what followed next was a snippet of

Wildlife Magic not witnessed by myself before.

 Firstly one, then a second

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

hove into view and started 'bombarding' the Mother to be

before this one decided that she would make an ideal 'PERCH'!
As Sure As Eggs is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet) 
An excerpt from the Genesis magnum opus that is
Supper's Ready from the album Foxtrot.
Let the Link run to hear the full work!

Here also are the short clips.

Finally, there were a couple of aircraft which we have not noted before in
Our Airspace,
with the first of which looks innoquous enough while the other looked
a danger to itself!

 We don't have a clue what this one is

and we don't know what this is either.
We have tried to research the pennant letters. M-ONTE without success.
Except to say, on closer inspection, that it is either
flying backwards or someone in the hanger has lashed the
engines on in the wrong direction.
We hand this fine pair over to Mr Roy Norris.

Entry

	Pageviews
United States	547
United Kingdom	372
Germany	68
France	26
Italy	25
Estonia	18
Canada	17
Gibraltar	15    Great to see you back!
Australia	14
Brazil	13

Old Lady - Sinéad O’Connor

It was an altogether short day in the field yesterday as there was a pressing engagement in Weymouth that was simply unavoidable. With my Visa and Passport both in correct order it was a quick turn around which took no more than 2 hours 20 minutes door to door and we also managed to squeeze the Moth Traps in prior to departure.

New for 2016

OLD LADY

and for size comparison.

Ditto

FROSTED ORANGE

and another 'monster' this time a female

OAK EGGAR

Yes, 'common as muck' especially here in the breeding season,
but it was thought this short series of images of a

COMMON BUZZARD

 carrying out its ablutions on the Solar Panels

 may be seen as both interesting and amusing.

Firstly a little ear picking

and talon clenching,

followed by surveying its domain

before jettisoning a little ballas!

 It's coming

 ahhrrr that's better!!
At the Irrigation Pond most things were much the same, except

for whatever reason the female

COOT

has returned to the ancestral home, surely not to attempt another brood?

The Juvenile Coot

meanwhile stretching its legs,

and a different

ROE DEER

Back at Slight Return II

there was much activity from above as an

AIRBUS A400 ATLAS

once again paid us a visit.

One has never been seen to land or take-off from Bournemouth International Airport,
simply spending the day steaming backwards and forwards directly over our heads.
Our theory is that they are carring out Radar or other Gadget Calibrations?

One of the 5
COBHAM JET TRAINERS

(so close we couldn't get it all in the frame)
mostly used for practise on In-Flight Refuelling
and what these days they call the
Thursday War with the Royal Navy.
Back in my day this one day of the week was set aside for
Naval Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Firings for ships involved in
Work Up, prior to joining the Fleet, out of Portland.
In those days it was known as the Wednesday War but no one is spared when it comes to
Government Cuts!
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN 'AIRCRAFT IDENTITY'
PLEASE VISIT THE ROY NORRIS COMMENT ON 28/08/2016
GOING HOME - DIRE STRAITS!

Entry

	Pageviews
United States	538
United Kingdom	363
Germany	69
Italy	22
Canada	20
China	15
Oman	11
Ukraine	10
Australia	7
Netherlands	6

Helicopter - Bloc Party (a little Indie for a change)

As we peeped out of the 'porthole' at 06:00 yesterday morning all the signs were that it was going to be a Bank Holiday Sunday, it could just as easily have been a Monday but we'd had the fore-thought to check the diary. The anemometer was whizzing round at about 20 knots, it was still partially dark and the rain clouds were gathering apace which were 3 good reasons to hoist myself back into the hammock! Within one minute the first rain drops were drumming on the roof of Slight Return II, a sound which is thought most theraputic, which simply increased and persisted for a further full 90 minutes. Not even a consideration to monitor Moth Traps in such conditions, unless you want everything soaked and egg trays scattered to all points of the compass, so also time for a leisurly cup of coffee.

Over the last week we started to catch the delicate and tiny

VESTAL

but don't let the looks fool you as this is a serious
Long Distant Migrant

which on occassion can travel from as far away as the
Sahara Desert.
Our annual total has now reached c21 with a pulse of c10 yesterday morning alone.
Also within were

CYPRESS PUG

TAWNY BARRED-ANGLE

YELLOW BELLE

HEART and DART

and the deminutive, but no less attractive, Micro

 PYRAUSTA AURATA

was also in one of the traps.

At the Irrigation Pond one of the adult

COOT

 was at the favoured mid-water preening perch,

while the only remaining juvenile has taken to suning (wot sun)
on the banks of the Island.

 Also taking it easy there was a moulting

 ROE DEER

before taking to the hoof and nicking some of the local groceries.

Finally. the juvenile

LITTLE GREBE

 surfaced right before our eyes,

after which it only showed very intermitantly.

The Gravel Pit only threw up this single

RABBIT
 as they say on Portland!
Merritown Heath showed a little more of interest as
'not before time'

 GREYLING (Butterfly)
was seen for the first time this year nectaring on the
Bell Heather.
 
 Continuing in that vein, signs are already visible that

 Tim and Adam's
spreying regime is taking effect and it is hoped

that in years to come this whole area will be rejuvenated with

ERICA

 There were also a good number of very mobile

 COMMON DARTER

on the wing, making them a little difficult to get to grips with,
but with the 'flyers' that followed life was made a little bit easier.
During that 90 minutes 3 differing 'service' Helicopters put in a show
starting with what is thought to be a

ROYAL NAVY MERLIN

COAST GUARD
 who have, unfortunately, been extremely busy this Summer Season.

The local

NATIONAL POLICE HELICOPTER

 stationed at Bouremouth International Airport seems to put in a
collosal number of flying hours hopefull detering
'those who do not wish us well'.
It is always worth a look behind the
Eco Recycling Unit
especially as full permission is in place with the only proviso
being to activate hazzard warning lights whilst on site.
Here there is an ever ready water supply, albeit from puddles which
rarely, if ever, dry out. My plan for the winter is to have a meeting with
Justin Dampney with a view to making a few small adjustments which it
is hoped will benifit next years migrants and breeding wildlife alike.

 On the day we found the first Autumn arrival juvenile

LAPWING

not thought to have bred here as they have been absent for a while now.
There was also a rather coy looking

STOCK DOVE

 It was noticed on the way back that the

HIMALAYAN BALSAM

was again in prolific growth despite the slashing and spraying

that took place during May.

Entry

	Pageviews
United States	581
United Kingdom	394
Germany	70
Italy	24
Canada	20
China	16
Gibraltar	15
Oman	11
Ukraine	10
Australia	9