The Geese and the Ghost - Anthony Phillips

 The 04:30 +4°C only lasted as far as the Heath this morning where it was at a rock bottom ZERO, but we get a little ahead of ourselves. 

At ‘lighting up time’ last night

 

a second occurrence of exactly the same as the night before when just a single

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 

was seen on the main track across the Heath then, unusually, took to the wing and flew until it was out of sight. Usually reluctant to fly at all these were the first and second times we have ever seen them do so here!

Even before stepping outside the singing and calling of a lone

CHIFFCHAFF

could be heard but not for long as this

Augusta Westland Helicopter representing
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Service
thundered overhead. More familiar calls from the banks of the River Stour were investigated

to find c2, as ever quarralling,
EGYPTIAN GEESE on the far bank. 

At the Gravel Pit only a reminder of yet another Genesis lyric

Inside, a long rose-water pool is shrouded by fine mist
Stepping in the moist silence, by a warm breeze he's gently kissed
Thinking he is quite alone
he enters the room, as if it were his own
But ripples on the sweet pink water reveal some company un-thought of!

as c2 more Geese of a different species were seen on the way to the Moth Traps, this time

GREYLAGs
The collective from the traps didn't amount to much, and certainly nothing new but 

Best in Show ammounted to

DEEP BROWN DART

L-ALBUM WAINSCOT 

along with a

DARK SWORD-GRASS
While sorting what few Insects there were today's 'tappings' did in fact eminate from a

NUTHATCH

and not yesterday's Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
and a little later in the game it was found that either

the same

SWALLOWs

No, we are not going to bury you 'neck-deep' in images again!

had stayed over, or replaced with another small flock?
It was also plain to see that with no signs of the Kestrel today the

MEADOW PIPITs

had also broken cover again.
STAY SAFE and THANKS FOR TUNING IN!