Black is Black - Los Bravos

 With the expected arrival of a family from Derbyshire and fellow caravaners at any time, we set out with a few expectations on a rounds which threw up nothing new but captured our attention throughout.

Kicking off next to home and to the cawing of opportunist juvenile

ROOKs
muscleing in on the chicken feed we arrived up north to find an unexpected

EGYPTIAN GOOSE

on the Gravel Pit while at the same time bringing to you the daily update on the
Prospective Parent

LITTLE GREBEs
with no change as the 'dark' bird continues incubation (we hope).

Once in the Forest the

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERs

were not slow to show as were

WHITE-TAILED BUMBLE-BEE
along with one of a decent number of

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLIES
Back at base not only did the Woodpecker theme continue with a

couple of

GREEN WOODPECKERs

along with the Tilley's who considered it too late for 'angling' but
champing at the bit for a sortie into the Wild World.
Totally convenient as within a hour or so of 'lighting up time' and as shaping up for the main gate

an overflying

LITTLE EGRET
Having not seen this part of the Recording Area before

Grandson Sam along with Ruth and Ian seemed mightily impressed

as Yours Truely also managed to edge his way into the Lime-light as well

and with the traps flashed up we headed off to make the most of the fading light.

Also to their liking the confidence of the

ROE DEER
which were well within 'naked eye' viewing but the binnoculars also brought to bear,
but the game wasn't yet over. Passing through the very same gates, south about, c2

GREYLAG GEESE

flew overhead before landing in a nearby horse paddock.
To end the session a couple of

BLACK ARCHES
moths had been held over to show the diversity even within the same species.

The book tells us that "specimens suffused with more black (right) have been noted from many localities including the New Forest, Hampshire where it is not an uncommon form. Our recording area fits into this geographically as once in that county before the boundery changes but remains the same for moth recording.