Yesterday was the archetypal Uming and Ahing sort of day with the wind still reaching gale-force proportions, the rain easing off to sporadic bouts of drizzle and the ‘rare bird’, that was hoped would linger until the weekend, still present at Longham Lakes. During one of those breaks, in the unweelcome elements, we were able to attend the 2 home-bound Moth Traps but only to find another
SILVER Y
a 'dark form' of
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
along with a couple of varying
BEADED CHESTNUT
A fairly much curtailed rounds of the local patch was restricted to the banks of the Moors River where c25 Mallard were found, the first and only family
A fairly much curtailed rounds of the local patch was restricted to the banks of the Moors River where c25 Mallard were found, the first and only family
'regatta' or 'bevy', if you please, of
MUTE SWANs
along with and perched on its favoured gate a local
GREY HERON
now viewable because of so many fallen leaves.
With nothing else locally to entertain us it was the distant 15 minute drive to Lakeland.
The object of our desire had been reported 'present' by the Dorset Bird Club for all of Saturday and with no problems in finding it as bumping into 'long lost' fellow birders
With nothing else locally to entertain us it was the distant 15 minute drive to Lakeland.
The object of our desire had been reported 'present' by the Dorset Bird Club for all of Saturday and with no problems in finding it as bumping into 'long lost' fellow birders
Jackie and Nick Hull who, having not been seen for over a decade, had their telescope firmly fixed on the totally undewhelming and not moving a muscle
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (right)
(doubt there is much point in addressing all the other excusses such as gale force wind directly into the ol' boat-race, reeds constantly blowing across the lens and at long distance) so we won't bother!
(doubt there is much point in addressing all the other excusses such as gale force wind directly into the ol' boat-race, reeds constantly blowing across the lens and at long distance) so we won't bother!
We have however received
concerns from Steven Spielberg as he is part way through his own latest
production! A small Duck from the America's of the same proportions as our own and common
EURASIAN TEAL
The most prominent identification feature seperating the 2 are the white leading and trailing edges to the 'speculum' which is the usually brightly coloured patch, most visible in flight, on the wing such as in this
The most prominent identification feature seperating the 2 are the white leading and trailing edges to the 'speculum' which is the usually brightly coloured patch, most visible in flight, on the wing such as in this
MALLARD
which shows horizontal on our local ducks and vertical in
which shows horizontal on our local ducks and vertical in
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
but that, although the target bird, was only just the begining. c3 species of Egret in a row and quick succession was started by the 'big daddy' of them all
but that, although the target bird, was only just the begining. c3 species of Egret in a row and quick succession was started by the 'big daddy' of them all
GREAT WHITE EGRET
now well established at this site
and never shy of
craning their necks.
Next another scarce Egret that is quickly establishing itself in the county
CATTLE EGRET
The ever present
That was by no means all, with a 'tale of the unexpected awaiting in the wings, but
given the unstable weather patterns at the moment it is thought prudent to save that
for a second post, hopefully tomorrow.
given the unstable weather patterns at the moment it is thought prudent to save that
for a second post, hopefully tomorrow.
