Friday 14 May 2021

All in a Mouse's Night - Genesis

Bearing in mind all things come in 3's it would seem we published 2 Posts on the 14th but rather surprised there was no reactions from our peers reference the content? Reissued today, best brace yourselves for Senior Moment 3 coming to a Blog near you SOON!

Overnight Thursday, yes we are still in arrears, was about as good as it has been so far this year with the lowest temperature being +10°C, 8 okta’s cloud cover and not a breath of wind, but it wasn’t a mammoth haul of Moths that started the day! No, far from it as about to issue a Post while starting up with that 05:30 cup of coffee and then hearing

3 x 30 second reeling breaks from from the doorstep of an unseen
TURTLE DOVE
somewhere close to the River Stour just 70 yards away!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl9fSA58kks

An avian that thus far had not reached our Recording Area List and a full 2 years, almost to the day, since the last which amounted to a brace of

COMMON CRANE
flying in a North Westerly direction and being relocated by others the following day in NW Dorset. By no means a disappointment even though the expectations were higher than 2 f.f.y. with
SPECTACLE
makes you wonder where and why they drum up such names sometimes
along with the by-product of a
DOCK SHIELDBUG
while
MAIDEN'S BLUSH
is added again just for its delicacy and sheer beauty!
On the west edge of the gravel Pit there is a short promontory where, with a little stealth the
Potential Parental Activities
of the
LITTLE GREBEs
can be viewed at closer quarters having seeming already abandoned this nest, of which they can sometimes build 4 or more,
but are meticulous in construction stamping down as they go and
already have
one or more eggs, usually covering them with
Pond Weed.
In sharp contrast to all of that and passing the now dead remains of
DANDYLION CLOCKs
we decided to turn the Reptile Covers a couple of days early, but finding no Snakes or Lizards
but did get lucky with a
rather nippy
LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE
with pockets of
RED CAMPION
and
LORD ROBERT
(thanks John)
seeming to have sprung up overnight.
Finally, at 'lighting up time' we came across this
FOX
in the twilight as
PIPISTRELLE BATs
(borrowed image)
of one denomination or the other were intent on reducing our catch of
MOTHs.

Days of Future Past - Moody Blues - Part I

 What with gallivanting to the very extremities of this Sceptred Isle, waltzed with a Walrus (metaphorically speaking) and suffering a serious generator breakdown no wonder we have gotten behind with the Posts - so here’s something of a ‘catch-up’!

With this not being exactly the best image we have ever taken (while our readership as better judges)  probably believe it is, it certainly qualifies as the most emotive of the month thus far! The chestnet face and white spot at the base of the bill might help to show it as a
LITTLE GREBE
but not only that, it is sitting on a NEST while the other potential parent bird kept obbo
from close by.
There has been none of the usual singing, dashing from one end of the pond to the other in display, no sign of copulation nor that of nest building. Otherwise in Moth-Ville additions to the Year List
include the delicate looking
GREY BIRCH
the far more bulky looking
along with a
PEBBLE HOOK-TIP
while this
BLACK SLUG
 was providing breakfast for this Mossie and a
LEMON SLUG  also within

In exactly the same way as it, or another, did so last year a f.f.y.

LESSER WHITETHROAT
has been frisky while knocking out the vocals
at the root of Chapel Lane
PIED WAGTAIL
have also started building inside a
CONVERTER CABINET
in the
Solar Panel Compound
but don't know if this
almost static stance is anything to do with courtship?
While this Lamb, looking 'brown bread', is very much alive and just snoozing.
We very nearly captured these 2 (pair?) of
SISKIN
collecting nesting material but too slow on the video function but quickly redressed when this
Buck ROE DEER showed up to feed and finally, for now at least, the only
WHIMBREL
to have graced our turf this year - more tomorrow we hope!