Look Through Any Window - The Hollies

For reasons that may be disclosed at a later date I have been 'Confined to Barracks' today. Chance then to catch up on some notes, edit photographs and make a couple of amendments to previous posts. Of them, Steve Smith kindly pointed out that my claim of melanistic Dark Arches on Wednesday were in fact Straw Underwing which is simply down to 'misidentification' on my part. While comments and corrections are always welcome, this was of particular value as it was an addition to the Property List - Thanks Steve. Similarly on the same day, Duncan Walbridge drew my attention to what was more a case of 'Dazed and Confused' (Led Zeppelin) than anything else when I captioned the first Moth on the page Bordered Beauty rather than the very common CLOUDED BORDER - Tempus Fugit Duncan! Otherwise, I was also gainfully employed answering the telephone while taking the odd photograph from the bedroom widow of anything that graced the viewfinder. 

This particular beat of the
RIVER STOUR
is my favourite, and shrouded in fine mist from this elevation
makes for a fine image indeed.

 GARDEN POND
complete with unused Kingfisher perch.

STARLING, HOUSE SPARROW and GREENFINCH

at the main feeding station directly below my room. It has become one of my duties to keep the 'groceries' topped-up which is a Labour of Love in itself. I have undertaken a small survey as part of this to see just how many 'fat balls' are consumed on a daily basis, the average looks to be in the region of 20!

 

There you are see, another feeder emptied!

This telegraph pole, directly outside the en-suite,

is a preferred perch for many of the birds around here.

These shots of COLLARED DOVE

were taken while laid on the bunk.

 Further down the same pole on the Ivy a flit of blue caught my eye

which materialised into a 'second brood'

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY

COAST GUARD HELICOPTER
a regular visitor to Bournemouth International Airport
 

 BOEING CH-47 CHINOOK HELICOPTER

 Brief glimpses of the ALPACA on the island,

the CHICKEN COOP

and a HOUSE SPARROW

 As the day grew longer this

 GREEN WOODPECKER, 

which has been frequenting the lawns during the past few days,

 obligingly perched on a nearby fence post.

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"Out on the Wiley, Windy Moors" (River) - lyric Kate Bush

 Another fine day ended yesterday with another fine barbecue.

DARYL at the controls giving me a break from
Walking On Hot Coals - Rory Gallagher.

 All meals this time of year, including BBQ's,

come with vegetables straight from the garden.

 Ever in attendance, the latest canine addition to the family,

FLIPPER

 aka Flipmeister and For Fox Sake Flip!

With the revelation from Brooks' 'Dragonflies FG' reference Orange-spotted Emerald still firmly in my head, an optimistic attitude and another bout of fine weather it was thought worthwhile to visit the Moors River again. As with most other rough pasture on the farm the easiest access was via this

HORSE PADDOCK
something I didn't feel quite as confident about.

 

Nevertheless, we reached the watercourse safely and began the search.

'Dozens' of BANDED DEMOISELLE on the wing, this one a male,

outnumbered at least 2 to 1 by
The Female of the Species - Space 
A 'cracking' track.

How anything in nature can turn from an insignificant
Black Blob

to this I don't know.
PEACOCK BUTTERFLY

SMALL WHITE
A rustling in the reeds drew my attention to this family of

 

MUTE SWANs

A few BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES

and a bit further on the first
ACORNS
seen on the property in 2 years.

BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER

MEADOW BROWN BUTTERFLY
not that often 'opened winged'.

Heard long before spotted, this distant

COMMON BUZZARD
was quick to fly off.

REDSHANK
not to be confused with

REDSHANK
which wasn't seen today.

Also called Persicaria, Lady's Thumb or Willow Weed,
it is a common and invasive weed throughout Great Britain.
John Gifford must be thanked for the identification.
With no disappointment and certainly no  
Orange-spotted Emerald
it was time to move on to the

AVON CAUSEWAY
where, even from the car parked some distance away,
'hundreds' of Gulls could be seen resting, preening and feeding
on the meadows.

Closer inspection showed that the majority of these were
BLACK-HEADED GULLs
with just a sprinkling of
MEDITERRANEAN GULLs.

Closer still and the c19 EGYPTIAN GEESE came into view
along with a few Mallard, c2 Lapwing and a single Little Egret.

Back at the Parley Pond there seemed to have been something of an invasion as the recently discovered 'new arrivals' had been joined by even more unwelcome 'invaderss'. Mostly Khaki Campbell, a breed of domesticated duck that originated in England and are valued for their high level of egg production. The breed was developed by Adele Campbell of England at the end of the 19th century with the "Khaki" portion of the name referring to the duck's typical colour. It may well be their value (or now lack of it) that has brought them here, likely the laying has ceased and an irresponsible owner has dumped them here. Along with the predominantly white Call Ducks they look attractive enough, but I have had some personal experience of some of the damage they can do, particularly to the 'truely wild' Mallard population. My prediction - they won't see Christmas! Oh yes, let me be first to wish you A Merry Christmas - BAH HUMBUG!!!!

Among the above is this 'dapper chap' which, had it been a

(male) SMEW
particularly at this time of year, would have caused a real stir.

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