Bird of Prey - Uriah Heep

Considered a good start to an otherwise gloomy day

was a return or new arrival male

KESTREL

at Parley Pond.

However, his hapless prey might have been of a differing opinion but 

that's the Wild World and,

after a fine meal, only one thing for it!

As if one small raptor were not enough to start any day,

while still at pond-side talking to Hugh we spotted a

MERLIN

flying almost directly above us and a most welcome addition we would assume to anyones

Year List?

Driving over to the northern section of our area

it was noticed for the first time this year that at least one

ROOK

has made a start on nest building.

 Meagre returns from both ponds 

 as the collective total

was no more than c2 female

SHOVELER

A 'BLANK' was draw along the full length of our beat of the

Moors River

and as far as Wildlife was concerned it was also the case on the

Heath.
 Seems the Stonechat and Meadow Pipit influx have now passed through.

It was only the

 BELTED GALLOWAYS

 that raised an eyebrow as they were seen chomping away at

BROOM

Our friend John Gifford informs us that it is not unusual to see the more

hardy breeds, these and Highlands for instance, tackling more sinuous

plant varieties, giving up if they find them unpalatable.

There was also a show, of what we humans might call affection,
between the Calf and her Mother.

Our attentions now turned to Eco where the works to install the
new furnaces continues apace.

 We keep a weather-eye on these 2 areas in particular in the hope that
on completion they may once again be turned over to Wildlife.
On that particular day a

GREEN SANDPIPER

was feeding this area while 

 among those distant Gulls we found this

 HERRING GULL

 bathing with an audience of
BLACK-HEADED GULLs

now in bright Winter Sunshine.
It is of note that, despite the noise of heavy plant, Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover
are regular breeding birds across these areas.
There was a tentative plan to wander just a little further afield,
particularly as the weather was holding, but reaching the
Chapel Lane Roundabout

 this articulated lorry, carrying an aircraft fuselage,
was seen to have sort shelter on the slip road close by.
Moving further forward it looked as if there had been something of a serious accident,
given the number of Services Vehicles in attendance, which scotched our plans.

Back at Base the final contribution to our foray was found slowly slithering
up the inside of one of the Moth Traps a
GREY FIELD SLUG

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