Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Little point in springing out of the hammock like a Thompson's Gazzelle this morning so awarded myself a 'Guard and Steerage' a Royal Navy expression for a Lie-In!

While the overnight temperatures remain in what might be considered the balmy division, 

Bournemouth International Airport

was predicting a high of +6°C while on the ground it was a higher +9°C

leading to more Moths.

However, before getting anywhere near to the traps there was the surprise of the year waiting just outside the door as this young

BADGER
was grubbing on the bund less than a stone's throw away!

We have never recorded such a thing across the southern half of the farm, let alone so clse to home but always consider it best to Expect the Unexpected!
No Great Shakes from the traps but the buzz comes from catching anything at all as

BLACK RUSTIC

CANARY-SHOULDERED THORN

SILVER Y
along with another

NOVEMBER MOTH (agg)
forming part of the day list.
Still struggling a little to find anything else in the wildworld let alone anything new we did relocate the wandering

COOT

on the

Gravel Pit
before being disturbed by c3 passing

CHINOOK HELICOPTERs
of which we only captured 2 and for the briefest of moments and before encountering a

soggy looking

SONG THRUSH
and an even soggier looking

BLACK SLUG
and while as common as the proverbial it takes some strain to resist a full blown male

MALLARD
in bright sunlight and with a back-up cast of the female

in company with the still lingering female
TUFTED DUCK
Back to Base and a surprise awaiting on the doorstep turn out to be a gift from fellow caravaners, and friends the Tilley's from Derbyshire with Ian having crafted this

HAT

and
BOWL

from Palm Fronds gathered during thier visits to the

CARIBBEAN

 and having sat outside Tescos for 5 hours netting just 14 pence, decided to call it a day but marveling at the symmetry of such fine work - Thanks to the Tilley's one and all!