The Bagsy Blog: 06/07/16

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Caravan of Love - The House Martins

a.k.a.

Welcome to Slight Return II

Things are now really starting to warm up and by definition more Insects, especially Moths, are being attracted to the Traps. Strange thought, that we wait all winter for such days to arrive and then, despite all my wanderings through the Tropics, it is thought how much those cooler days are preferred. Whatever, it is now mostly a case of my day starting at 05:00 and then confine myself to Slight Return II for the rest of the time. We started with quite a BANG yesterday as the second Moth pulled from the first Trap, and after a little research, turned out to be an

OBLIQUE CARPET
Not only a new species for the Recording Area but a
personal first as never seen before anywhere.

Only a matter of moments later a 'second record' for our area was
teased out from among the egg-trays and with even more difficulty
in identification was found to be a

GREY BIRCH

We do like to do the odd MICRO but only the easy to identify ones!

SMALL MAGPIE

and we also love to find any kind of Creepy Crawly such as

HAWTHORN SHIELDBUG

Strange how this

SCORCHED WING

has developed to perch in such a fashion?

A quick look around Janet's Stable before continuing our day showed the

COLLARED DOVES

now nesting in the opposite apex as it is thought that a local

KESTREL

put paid to what Squabs (young Doves) there were?

At Parley Pond-side there are still a couple of rain puddles where this

LINNET

was taking a drink yesterday while the

HOUSE MARTIN

were far more industrious

still nest building (on Gavin and Sam's house)

Before continuing, it was thought worthwhile to record the
chattering song of a
REED WARBLER
this is notable as, despite this area being ideal for this reed-bed bird
none have ever been seen or heard at this location.

Just look how big the young
CANADA GOOSE
has grown in just a few days.

HEDGEROW CRANESBILL
before heading off to find out what restriction the new Bund will put on
accessing the area behind the Eco Recycling Works.

There, in the Game Crop Field, we found a couple of

MEADOW PIPIT
and also found the "elusive Pimpernel"

SCARLET PIMPERNEL
They seek him here, they seek him there;
those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in Heaven or is he in Hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel.

Sir Percy Blakney and Lady Katherine Black

DOG ROSE

MISTLE THRUSHES
just seem to have sprung to life, and indication of a successful
breeding season we would think,

as numerous right across the
Recording Area.
Our final visit of the day was to the redundant plot at the side of the
Eco Recycling Works
where in years gone by there was an attempt made to rejuvenate
the Heath Land there after a period of being a Rubbish Tip.

It has naturally turned into a niche area for the likes of the