Amor-Amor-Amor - Julio Double Glazing

A Beautiful Sunrise

 belies the true conditions as the wind sticks doggedly in that

North Easterly Quadrant

not at all conducive with adequate returns from the Moth Traps.

To be fair if every Moth in the World decided to visit our traps it would

still be a case of wanting more, and in fact we ain't doin' too badly!

New for the Year have been

 DARK-BARRED TWIN-SPOT CARPET

 CHINESE CHARACTER

(looking more like a small deposit left by the local Robin)

 MAIDEN'S BLUSH

(unfortunately a little dog-eared)

 PALE MOTTLED WILLOW

 along with the first

MAY BUG or COMMON COCKCHAFER or DOODLEBUG

It had been the intention some time ago to post an update on the matter of

PROCREATION

hereabouts, but with one thing or another that had suffered the 'back-heel' until now.

 Firstly, and thought most unexpected by most of us the arrival of a

CRIA

a baby 

ALPACA

It is not known how the mother was inseminated but enquiries continue on that matter.

To continue the now long drawn out saga of the 

Gravel Pit

LITTLE GREBE

on one occasion the were found not only both absent from the nest,

but also seemingly from the entire watercourse. Knowing just how skulking these tiny

waterbirds can be there was no concern, but the opportunity was taken to view

the nest a little close, which was found to contain

c2 EGGS

At the next visit, the following day, a 'sitting bird had returned

and all seemed normal but subsequently both birds then abandoned 

 the nest completely, spending all of their time at the opposite end of the watercourse.

A final close inspection was made with the nest found to be empty,

since when we have been hoping to catch sight of chicks - but unfortunately NO!
It is considered to be a 'great priveledge' to view this 'floating nest' at such close quarters,
with the haphazard weaving of the main structure and a covering of equally wet and
green vegetation for the eggs.

........ to be continued.

It should also be report that during this period Lapwing have also appeared interest

in the shingle bed at the same end of the lake.

Meanwhile along the course of the

 MOORS RIVER

 another

 MUTE SWAN

 nest has been found, to compliment the other at Parley Pond.

Unlike that site here on the river both

REED WARBLER

(song only)

 and

 REED BUNTING

have been vocal, hopefully the precursor to breeding.

On the Heath things have not been quite so rosy with absolutely
no evidence of 

 DARTFORD WARBLER

nesting, only the gentle rasping from cover and these brief appearances from time to time.
Not even a sighting as far as Woodlark are concerned while we wait for at least
a pair of Tree Pipit to linger, there was a lone bird there last Thursday.
However, there is a slightly brighter side as

STONECHAT

 are actively feeding young.

 "Oh to be a Spider now that Spring is here"!
or is that suppose to be "in England"?

LINNET

 are sitting on eggs

and daily but distant observations continue at the

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER NEST

 Since excavating ceased there has only been one brief sign of life as the
female, thought to be incubating, came to the lip of the nest, exited and flew off

only to return 10 minutes later and quickly disappear into the cavern.
A quick snack me thinks?

It is said that "it never strikes in the same place twice",

but if you have ever bothered to read the 'small print" you will see it clearly states
"unless you are an Alpaca".

 Blimey, there's another, a BLACK one this time

which my Sherpa and in-house consultant on all things
ANDEAN
(John Gifford)
informs me are far more sort after for their wool,

which by definition commands a far higher price.

Harking back to the ponds, in more recent days, seems we were right about the

LAPWING

prospecting the Gravel Pit as a potential nesting site,

but completely wrong about the location!
This lone bird has spent most of the time at the entrance end of the lake
and by a complete fluke we located the

NEST

on our way out.
With the chunk of 'red brick' acting as an ideal indicator as to position we
can now keep watch from a safe distance without running over or stepping on it.

Taken from a distance,

with no disturbance to the bird.

However, there has not been quite so much good fortune back at the
Irrigation Pond
in recent days as the female

COOT

continued to sit, over what is considered to have been an inordinately long incubation period.

Then, all of a sudden the male bird started delivering food which was taken
by the missus and past to the hatchlings below.

Some good news at long last, but unfortunately short lived.

 Within 48 hours the nest had been cleared of its occupants,

with the parent birds remaining in the area and the nest left to the elements.

What might have redressed this was the attendance of another pair of

LITTLE GREBE

 with all the room in the world started constructing a nest
 right under the noses of the Coot

at the near right hand corner of the

Floatation Unit.

After 2 days of concerted effort they abandoned the project

to start another in the opposite corner.
Since then, that too has been neglected with the pair of Grebes now
just floating around the pond twiddling their thumbs.

So, we will finish on a high note as you can always rely on the good old

CANADA GEESE

to come up trumps.
We have seen one, or both, of the Geese on the island from time to time
but certainly didn't notice any signs of a nest or sitting bird.
During our investigations of yesterday's happening suddenly

this little lot

(Great Spotted Woodpecker
supplying backing vocals)

took to the water.

The Tardy Blackbird.

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