The Tender Trap - F.A. Sinatra

While our policy for life remains:-

"What is for you will not go by You" 

she or he who persists will eventually, and surely, reap rewards but we readily admit

there have been a few veiled 'moans and groans’ atween these pages in recent weeks.

Mainly about poor catches from the Moth Traps, which also seems representative across our home county of Dorset?

Bingo! - it happened on Sunday that we caught, in one of the traps close to home,

what is thought to be only the 20^th record ever for Great Britain of a

SHINING MARBLED

As far as the Field Guides are concerned Manley states there has been but a

single record in Great Britan on 28 October 2006 from Hereford.

Otherwise Bernard Skinner sees it like this 

concuring with the above.

However, rumour has it that a specimen has been taken on the

Isle of Portlad, Dorset

with the total across the country now standing at c20 of these delightful litte creatures?

Our only hope now for the Mothing fraternity and our stalwart readers is that the moment can be enjoyed by one and all, as we enjoy so many of other entusiast around the County!

We are by no means claiming any 'skill' be attached to this capture but

we do set a trap high on a bund, close to home, hoping for just an occassion!

EUREKA!

A little way down the pecking order came a common and numerous

 INGRAILED CLAY

 and in about the same division

 COMMN WAINSCOT

 In all the kerfuffle we almost forgot to mention the lone

 PEREGRINE

 that cut across the early morning sky, only the second of the year!

It didn't land with this archive image added for more clarity. 

Before heading north we also managed a short session with a flighty

 LITTLE EGRET

 which then became a bit 'snap-happy'

landing a couple of times along the course of the 

River Stour.

Up at the Ponds juvenile Mallard numbers have increased to 27

but gone are the days when parent birds and little 'balls of fluff'

were happy to waddle or swim by at near point blank range, hence no snaps.

However, things were a little different at the

Gravel Pit

where mist was still hanging a little low but yet another (or the same)

 COMMON SANDPIPER

was

gorging itself.

It has been a number of days now that we have been hearing

 CETTI'S WARBLERS

along the course of the

Moors River
and seem to remember that juvenile male do practice their

Vocal Skills

in preperation for next years courtships.

The other c3 Moth Traps? Don't even ask but you'll hear no complains about that

 as somebody has to wander this

Sacred Patch on a Daily Basis.

P.S.

We now have the

 original

and now a second

BEEHIVE

get the toaster going Paddigton!

Under the cercumstances perhaps best then to cut along to the 

Sewerage Works, 

likely the best place to see a

Pied Flycatcher

which, had we not drawn a 'blank', would have been only a 3rd sighting here

since records began in 2013.

However, we did not leave disappointed as

 a female

GOLDCREST

 was obliging before spotting the second

 Wader of the Day

 GREEN SANDPIPER

seemingly finding norishment in what is left of the recent rains.

Just one more treat, which may be a record breaker, before arriving back at barracks.

 Line upon line of

ROOKs

interspursed by 
Jackdaws

 more than has ever been counted here before

which,after a number of counts,

 ammounted to a maximum of

c157.

While permission is granted to enter selected bounds of 

Bournemouth International Airport

we like all other members of the general public have had that suspended

during the current situation so no counts have been possible there of the

thriving Rookery there. 
We are rather hoping for a new wave of readers today on account of
Sunday's good fortune and welcome you with open arms.
We respectfully request, if that is the case and you enjoy our humble efforts,
you pass on the link to all your addressees please.
Thank in Anticipation - Bagsy.