Many a True Word

Uttered in Jest!

 It is true to say that there are more Nightjars on the Heath

this year than we have ever recorded before which,

on occassion, has led to the odd jape through these pages!

"Couldn't get on to the Heath last nigh for flying Nightjars" is one such quip

used a couple of times which anyone who has been paying attention will surely remember?

All of those who don't muster outside the Headmasters office at 13:00!

 To the south the Old Moon continued to wane while in the opposite direction

 prospects looked reasonable for the coming night

 with whispy cloud gathering by the minute and we did manage to access

the Heath without being hampered by Birds!

With all Steaming Lights burning brightly we started the drive back but soon found ourself

Hampered by a Nighthawk.

 There is but a single, narrow pathway between the gate and the Moth Traps 

and I for one wasn't prepared to disturbe this bird just to get back

so decided to sit it out. We did manage to get a little closer to snap these images and

 video clip of what is considered to be a 'juvenile' bird.

During what was to be a 25 minute wait, there was no signs of a parant bird

but there was one rather happy bunny who swung into his hammock later!

The usual start on the traps at first light saw nothing to get excited about, but 

just in time for this issue the ballance was redressed by our (ex) friends

in Weymouth who had been hitting into the rarities.

Paul Harris

with this

 OAK PROCESSIONARY

and

Ricky Lambert (Jammy Lammy) with a

TAWNY PROMINENT

2 fine and deserving gentlemen if ever I saw them and to whom we send
Best Wishes!

The rest of the day more or less followed the usual pattern except for showing one of the c5

 COBHAM JETS

which opperate from Bournemouth International and fulfilling rolls such as

'in-flight' refueling training and warfare training with the Royal Navy.

It works out that at about every 20th attempt we manage to secure images of any

GULLS

bathing in the Gravel Pit, wily creatures that can see or sense you coming a mile away.

It was such a day but all to brief that we clicked thes 2

 HERRING GULLs

which didn't hang around to allow any footage but were succeeded by a most welcome

 COMMON SANDPIPER

which didn't react to our being there or in fact

even see us

 nevertheless

always good to have a Wader on site.

Next we found a

COMMON BUZZARD

usually hunting for Reptiles and/or small Mammals

when found in the heart of the Heather like this.

The 

 BEEHIVE

 has only been there for 3 days

 but has already become addictive

with activity there

having increased enormousley in that short period!

Otherwise, it was left to the usual passerines to bulk up the other findings 

with this particular

 MEADOW PIPIT

 looking a little nesh around the gape still

likely indicating a well developed juvenile while

 this one

still has a

 Long Way to Go

As has this

ROBIN

That saw the fun and games over for the day, at least we thought it did, as more 

serious matters such as 

Victualling and Bunkering Ship

had to be attended to, but even at the Supermarket nature prevailed with the

Hawthorn Hedges strewn with

 HAWS

 Back to Base and the erstwhile frisky 

WOOD PIGEONs

 now seem to have settled yet again to the incubating process while

  OL' MOTHER HEN

seemed most contented in her little sand hollow.

Finally, a joy to behold as Samual returns to Derbyshire leaving me this

Wonderful and much Apreciated Note,

look foreward to seeing you in the futher Sam!