We are neither Nigel Mansell or Lewis Hamilton so generally stick well within the bounds of the Highway Code, which was the case last evening. For no reason of logic it suddenly came to mind that we would check the time it takes for the round trip of flashing up the traps on the heath. It would have been 30 minutes 'on-the-nose' had it not been for the unusually high volume of traffic as we attempted to turn into the main gates, but had it not been so we would have missed the ghostly apparition of a
BARN OWL
cutting our track from right to left across the main pond
before disappearing across the Golf Course.
A late, but always welcome addition to the Year List!
At first light there were no prizes for guessing where we were as in the first insyance a couple of
A late, but always welcome addition to the Year List!
At first light there were no prizes for guessing where we were as in the first insyance a couple of
CLOUDED DRAB
were plucked from the traps followed by similarly 'first for the year' c4 in number
DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG
While emphasising once again that "we don't do Micro Moths", who wouldn't break with tradition when finding such a beauty as
While emphasising once again that "we don't do Micro Moths", who wouldn't break with tradition when finding such a beauty as
ACLENIS LITERANA
within? Add to that a dozen or so Dor Beetles and but a single
within? Add to that a dozen or so Dor Beetles and but a single
MINATOR BEETLE
left and sporting the horns the day had started with a bit of a bang!
Long overlooked, it used to be regular practice to monitor the
left and sporting the horns the day had started with a bit of a bang!
Long overlooked, it used to be regular practice to monitor the
COMMON or SMOOTH NEWT
under covers at the Irrigation Pond before returning to the water after their
under covers at the Irrigation Pond before returning to the water after their
Winter Hibernation.
A natural progression from that was surely a visit to the Solar Panel Compound and the only site we know of for
A natural progression from that was surely a visit to the Solar Panel Compound and the only site we know of for
COMMON LIZARD
before they also dissapear in Spring.
At the Gravel Pit there was to be a further addition to the list as a
REED BUNTING
betrayed its own presence with a series of short vocals while the picture turned to 'gloom' on the
betrayed its own presence with a series of short vocals while the picture turned to 'gloom' on the
HEATH
but nevertheless one or 2 things of note
but nevertheless one or 2 things of note
such as the return of the presumed female
KESTREL
of last year looking none the worse for the
Winter Sabbatical.
With still no signs of a Dartford Warbler and the Linnet's seeminly having abandoned ship
With still no signs of a Dartford Warbler and the Linnet's seeminly having abandoned ship
it was left to this overly obliging
STONECHAT
to pad out the page while keeping the other eye on our
to pad out the page while keeping the other eye on our
first signs of nesting with feather carrying
LONG-TAILED TIT
then returning via the Moors river and a small pod of
MALLARD
to find firstly c2 juvenile
to find firstly c2 juvenile
MUTE SWANs
followed by a trio
and finally a full
QUARTET
Considered strange as for the first year ever we found no signs of successful breeding right across The Recording Area!
Finally, a little Food for Thought!
"What odds do you think Ladbrooks might have offered against us capturing such a clip"?
Considered strange as for the first year ever we found no signs of successful breeding right across The Recording Area!
Finally, a little Food for Thought!
"What odds do you think Ladbrooks might have offered against us capturing such a clip"?
Through the Caravan Window!
