Weekend Warrior - Iron Maiden

Preamble:- It was as far back as 2006 that it was decided to pay a visit to the ‘Teardrop of India’ but could not have imagined what quirk of fate lay in store. For best value time-wise it was an organised visit, which we usually avoided, that was opted for and entering the hotel bar the couple at the other end seemed to be European?

SIGIRIYA ROCK

PAINTED STORK

Within a very few moments it was discovered that they too were English, but not only that as also fellow residents of Dorset, a situation you couldn’t make up in your dreams.

Barriers and walkways complying with Health and Safety Regulations!

BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER

The usual “you’ll have to come over for dinner when we get back” followed, was taken up and over the following years, despite the distance between Weymouth, where I then lived, and East Parley a firm and lasting friendship developed and remains to this very day.

SRI LANKA

BLACK-NECKED STORK

ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN PIGEON

   Across a couple of the intervening years, along with my then ladyfriend Sue we compiled a fairly comprehensive Wildlife Survey at the request of the owner which showed some rather interesting creatures but over the following years something of, like most other places, a downwards spiral, which brings us to the crux of this weeked post. Arriving at the traps on the Heath on Saturday morning and immediately finding a 'first for the year'

TAWNY PINION

we were also being distracted by familiar but unidentifiable bird calls from above.
It took a while but once clapping eyes on the we just couldn't belive our eyes to see c2, or maybe 4?

MARSH TIT

which were recorded as a pair on just 2 occassions during our inventory of 2008

and a single 'vocal' individual at the fence-line with the Airport the following year.
This, or these, weekend records

were considered at the very least to be 'scarce' but maybe that should read downright 'rare'?
In the same small copice of woodland were also found a small number of both

SISKIN

which is nothing like

'daily'

along with

LESSER REDPOLL

which also belong in the 'scarcity' bracket!
Sunday was not quite so fruitful or compelling but did have its moments with

DOTTED CHESTNUT

increasing the Year List even further in addition to this 

striking

BLACK-HEADED CARDINAL BEETLE

along with

STRIPED MILLIPEDE
also from the traps.
Later, and at far closer quarters than recent images,

we relocated

just 2 of what had become 3

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE

while keeping a weather-eye out

for the

ABSENTEE
while at

Lighting Up Time

this Jet Airliner scribing a picturesque arc across the evening sky.