Thursday 9 July 2020

Cali'fawn'ication - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

After yesterday's little hiatus, which seems to have been enjoyed by one of our regular readers (see comments), we feel a little more 'back in the saddle' Particularly as there was a bit to be seen.
Unfortunately, that wasn't from the Moth Traps as far as New Insects are concerned, but even then there was a small flush of what might be considered  'second generation' Moths!
Best on Parade included

 IRON PROMINENT
 BARRED YELLOW
 NUT-TREE TUSSOCK
 and
 PEACH BLOSSOM
It is something of a sad sight to see the 
MUTE SWANs
on the main pond just sitting there day after day, heads under wings,
after 4 attempts at breeding and all resulting in failure!
A bit of a surprise, although we don't know why it should have been, as we reached the
 Irrigation Pond
 to find a 
SWALLOW
 busily collecting nesting material for maybe it's own
Second Generation.
It is from here that the tractor and bowser collect water on dry sunny days
to keep the dust levels down in the Eco Works and in so doing forming
the perfect collection point for th Hirrundine!
It was at the Gravel Pit that things turned musical not being able to resist whistling the 
Intro Lick to
Smoke on the Water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ZF2xaNhyw

We all came out to Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile we didn't really have much time
Frank Zappa and the Mothers were at the best place around
But then some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground

Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
Smoke on the water

then that catchy riff again!
From the album Machine Head - Deep Purple - as if you need telling.
However, it might be relevent to say that this was a Rock 'n' Roll moment that actually happened while Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were playing the Montreux Casino, Switzerland!
We visit the pond daily and have been trying to capture a few snaps/clips of the progress of the juv
 COOT
which is one of only 2 Waterfowl that have survived this year,
it's usually nearer 15 to 20?
with Mum.
It is now 3 years since we discovered the first and for all that time only
 PYRAMIDAL ORCHID
before finding 8 'spikes' of
BEE ORCHID
last year
which all suffered the same fate of being destroyed by those who should know better!
There has been no signs of re-generation this year!
Other Plant Life
included a fine example of
BIRCH TREE CANKER
Flavoparmelia caperata
a.k.a.
COMMON GREENSHIELD LICHEN
HEATH SPEEDWELL
along with bursting
GREATER REED MACE
in our wildest dreams we are now awaiting the arrival of c2
'masked denizens' of reed-beds
 BEARED TIT / REEDLING
and
PENDULINE TIT
both about as likely as me getting the drinks in!
Once again we find it totally impossible to pass-by either a juvenile
 MISTLE THRUSH
 or for that matter a
 yet another juvenile
STONECHAT
but stand advised they will very quickly become adults.
Thinking they were irresistable soon somewhat paled as inside the
Solar Panel Compound,
looking outwards to the path we had just trodden, we found this extremely young
ROE DEER
with no sign of a parent first of all
standing up
and then heard getting fractious on this clip.
Although about a week adrift we can also tell that
RYANAIR
are also undertakeing shedualed flights from / to
Bournemouth International Airport