Tuesday, 15 December 2020

All in a Mouse's Night - Genesis

 With all sorts going on we have fallen a little behind so without dates todays Post covers the last couple of days or so. We can however tell that the last of the (max of +12°C) attracted something of an incredible haul from the Moth Traps.

No signs last night of the Geminid Meteor Shower despite a reasonably open sky but a

WANING CRESCENT MOON

on Saturday and the first 'finger-nail' of the New Moon would have appeared had yesterday had weather conditions allowed. However, overnight temperatures have continued to remain unseasonably high as on Saturday morning out of c7 species there were singles of Yellow-line Quaker, Dark Chestnut and Red-line Quaker, all highlighted in recent days, c7 Winter Moth (ditto) a single

possibly immigrant
SILVER Y
c3
MOTTLED UMBER
and an outlandish
c157
DECEMBER MOTHs
Fear not as Donald Trump has already demanded a recount or legal action!
As if there were time for more we found the/a returning
KINGFISHER
on the Gravel Pit with no more than the c3 Little Grebes for company.
The also slightly overwhelming run on Mammals also continues all likely 'bunkering' fat to sustain them through the Long Sleep to come which also started on the Heath with what might have been the
same
BADGER
at the same location as recorded back in the Summer?
BADGER GRUBBINGs
A last look back at a still slightly misty Heath before being met at the
Solar Panel Compound gate by 2
GREY SQUIRRELs
one posing, the other camera shy. What have been a scarce so far this year are Northern Thrushs so c4 in total
FIELDFARE
were a most welcome sight, Again given the mild weather why would they want, or need, to transit the 450 odd miles or so from Scotland to the coast of Dorset
while there are still likely stacks of groceries in Jock-ville.
On our way back to pay our 4th visit to the
River Stour
since recieving all those reports of sightings from the local anglers we found the second NEW
Eddie Stobbart Lorry Lady
tucked up in a lay-by before spotting c2 of the c3
iceberg-like
OTTERs
from the bank side.
A mixed day of some curiosities ended in the same vein when we found this
WOOD MOUSE
gorging in the bottom of a deep Pheasant Feeding Bin which may have qualified for
hapless had we not happened along. With a pinch of the tail it was released to the
Wild World once again with a couple of handsful of corn to go with it.
ALL's WELL THAT END's WELL!