Angel of the Morning - Juice Newton

 Given the recent weather we have been much confined to barracks but, despite the lowest Hit Count across the whole of our history (just 77) we still endeavour to please hence the following is something of a 'filller'!

Refugio Paz is a private farm in Ecuador inherited by Angel Paz and converted into a nature reserve. The farm was subdivided among the children through inheritance. Angel preserved his land while his brothers largely cleared their tracts. His land remains mostly forested and in quite pristine condition. Angel has gained substantial fame for developing a technique for conditioning extremely rare Ant-pittas and other rare birds to come out onto the trail. There is also an active Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek part way down the trail to the river. The trail is quite steep and often muddy so it can be difficult for people who have ankle or knee problems. Visits must be arranged in advance, as Angel strictly limits the number of visitors allowed on the property each morning so as not to disturb the birds. This is just a small part of my day there!

from left son Vinicio, Moi and Angel

ANDEAN COCK-of-the-ROCK
(male)

female
one of only 2 of the family group the other being

GUIANAN COCK-of-the-ROCK
recorded in Suriname some years later.

BLACK VULTURE
constantly circling overhead.

GOLDEN TANAGER

INCA JAY

GREAT THRUSH

NAZCA BOOBY

WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN

OCHEROUS PIHA

SURFBIRD

BLOOMS

GREY-HOODED GULL

TRICOLOURED HERON

TURKEY VULTURE

RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD

Race With the Devil - Gun

A gloomy start to the day also included the occassional light shower but a wandering

CORMORANT
started the day's Wildlifeing on the right note with it, or another, on the windswept

Main Pond

However, from the Moth Traps, "when we got there the cupboard was bare" save for a brace of

DOR BEETLEs
and unexpectedly a

DEVIL'S COACH HORSE BEETLE
while also within the Compound a couple of

LAPWING

before spending some time along the Sewerage Works Fenceline and for our efforts finding a male

BULLFINCH
a pair of

FIRECREST

(female)
and this

GREY WAGTAIL
with all else being confined to
Home Turf

with a feeding

GREEN WOODPECKER
on the tennis court and what, given the 'rings', we put down to

RACING PIGEON

on the Farm House roof. The Away Day was also a Great Success but only 'touch and go as for being published at all given the low interest of our readers - we shall see??

Same Old Story - Rory Gallagher R.I.P.

But all that should change in days to come as once again we make an early start taking to the highway for yet another

Away Day!

Before getting anywhere near the Solar Panel Compound and the Moth Traps within we again stumbled upon the escapee

CATTLE
this time on the main Bridleway and perilously close to the main road!!

We are quite aware that you have seen them all before, Moths that is, but in need of a little padding we again we attach the only c3 representatives of last night's catch in reverse order!

MOTTLED UMBER

WINTER MOTH

DECEMBER MOTH
and hoping that the relatively high overnight temperatures continue into the New Year
and the first Moth of 2023 - What Will That Be??
Otherwise, another returning species to the now open waters of the Irrigation Pond

as this rather rowdy

CANADA GOOSE
was making its arrival known,

while our own arrival at the traps, after recording

a lone

MISTLE THRUSH,

coincided with that of the same Cattle.

Returning on the reciprical course with a short stop at the

Gravel Pit

we were rewarded with a pair of
WIGEON
(female above)

while at the Puddle of Mud

a more than welcome

COMMON SANDPIPER

and had it not been for the lone and considered 'same'

FIELDFARE
of recent days there we would have drawn a 'blank' from across the Southern Sector!

There is rumour of an Away Day maybe across the weekend, which is still to be ratified!

Following the Snail Trail

 A day or 2 adrift we did wake to a fine

MORNING
and the yelps of what sounded like dozens of Herring Gulls and while we did capture a number of Moths it is doubtful our audiance will want to see another December Moth for a while! Almost on the doorstep this unexpected 

GARDEN SNAIL
while at pond-side this unfortunately dead

EUROPEAN EEL
but on the bright side indicating that we still have them here while from both north and south another 'fall' of

FIELDFARE

dining well across the

southern paddocks

but by and large static across the

Solar Panel Compounds.

It looked rather as if the day was going to end on the 'wet side'
but not a worry to one of the local

HELMETED GUINEAFOWL
which didn't materialize but instead an

all to brief moment with this female

SPARROWHAWK
on the tennis court.
To end we publish this magical image of an albino

BOHEMIAN WAXWING
sent to us by a well-wisher just as a matter of interest.