Too Low For Zero - Elton John

A fingertip numbing ZERO complete with a light grass frost met us at dawn yesterday, which was reflected by the number of Moths taken in the traps overnight, just 15 Insects of 8 Species. However, that was partly offset when Janet showed me this years

 ROBIN'S NEST

 open to view

in one of her stables. 

At the Irrigation Pond it now seems certain that the Coots have given up

their latest and third attempt to procreate, and it was found that the

CANADA GEESE

with just the single Gosling had move in from the Gravel Pit, and

Dad was having a Dhobie.

We had arrived about a hour earlier that usual and it seemed

the order, at that time of day, was bathing and preening.

BLACK-HEADED GULL

and

WOOD PIGEON

then at the already mentioned Gravel Pit

there was some indication as to why the Canada Geese had made a move.

 While it seemed strange at the time, but we had once before clapped eyes on an

EGYPTIAN GOOSE

keeping obbo from the top of the mountain (as we like to call it)

which forms an Island in the Lake, with the reason today being the 

presence of

c5 other Egyptian Geese, not hanging around for me to take photos.

The pair of Tufted Ducks had also remained with another male joining them,

and as this Duck has never been recorded here during the month of June

we are hoping they might stay - "kiss of death" or what?

Behind Eco, where the BUND is now seemingly higher and longer than the

Great Wall of China,

the long staying pair of Little Ringed Plover are still not showing any signs of

settling down to breed, but seem totally unperturbed at the array of heavy plant

under taking the works, but not so the mob of

 HERRING GULLs

 which are being deprived of both food and nesting material during the process

 and kicking up a mighty racket in protest.

 LAPWING

 appear to be suffering a small amount of inconvenience but,

only take to the wing for a few minutes at a time, do what looks every bit

like a 'display flight' before returning to the same spot which is very likely a nest?

Reaching the Merritown Gate at first glance the Heath looked a little quiet too,

so it was decided to utilise the time by checking the Reptile Covers.

 Under the first were c2
SMOOTH SNAKES

 followed by a third looking all together a different colour, and didn't have such
bold patterning (maybe a juvenile?), followed

 by a fourth which was tiny.

 The first
SLOW WORM
of the day was followed by something a little more interesting.

 The fore-wing of what appears to be that of a 'male'?
EMPEROR (Moth)

 and given the breezy conditions had no right to be just resting on top
of one of the metal sheets laid for the Reptiles.

 This was followed by certainly the biggest
SMOOTH SNAKE
in my limited experience, then a final

SLOW WORM.

By this time our count of

COMMON HEATH (Moth)
had reached 6 (9 for the day) and a single

CINNABAR
(final total 3)
which is when a 'live'
EMPEROR
hove into view. Even with the binoculars on it for a decent time it
could not be said with any certainty whether it was a

 Male
or

Female.
These are very fast flying creatures and for me impossible to catch.
However, what would be the point when photographs have already been secured
and easily lifted from the archive.
If push came to shove it did look rather more like a male?

Finally, a Trail Camera Update with a female

CHAFFINCH
and bringing Great Delight a

JAY

which lent itself to a short clip of footage.

There was a ROBIN as well.
(Start with a Robin, End with a Robin)

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