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.

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