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!
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
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!
