Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones

At long, long last there was a little more meat on the bone today,

but not quite enough to invite you all round for a

Sunday Roast

Certainly a ‘game of 2 halves’ between the Moths and the Birds

with the former outstripping the later as far as

First’s for the Year

were concerned by 6 to 2!
Of the former Mohamed only got half way to the Mountain before finding the first of these

WHITE ERMINE

 clinging to wet grass a couple of yards from the trap
similarly a

 CINNABAR
a daytime flier was doggedly holding onto one of the baffles

 yet another Prominent and our 5th of the family group this year

 IRON PROMINENT
was getly teased from the egg tray

BRINDLED PUG

FLAME SHOULDER 
and a brace of

 RUBY TIGER's

coming out of torpor and bringing up the ½ dozen

 In addition to the above and still close to home the first

COWSLIP
of the year was found in the most unlikely of places, the
Chicken Coup
We say unlikely, as these varacious feeders will eat just about anything but they may feel
like myself not exactly attracted to eating anything that has been in a 'cows mouth', no I would much sooner stick with 
EGGS!
With the hackle up we were certainly buoyant about capitalising on the traps
and didn't have to wait long as passing the 
Eco Recycling Works 
the refrain of a Garden Warbler which was not seen but this, over the years, has become a
Traditional (Breeding) Site
At the Irrigation Pond and for the second day running the only difference has been the
abcense of one of the c7 juvenile Coots, hoped to be just hiding away
Next at the Gravel Pit first to hit the lenses was a 

 GREEN SANDPIPER

never knowing if these are newly arrived birds

or those that we have been seeing sporadically across the winter months
 That was the moment the first

 SWALLOW
flashed overhead

 and seeming reluctant to land

considered an absolute 'must'

after such a long flight?
A further c2 

 GARDEN WARBLER's

were seen / heard briefly along the bridleway but

 for further clarity

Martin Cade
Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory

can be relied upon to come up with the goods!