Didja' Ever - Elvis Presley

 Didja' ever get one of them days, unlike the Elvis GI Blues
when nothin' is right from mornin' till night,

when the feeling is things are going to go well?

Today's Post relates to Tuesday 5th inst on a day that the Spring-like weather continued and took me to another area of Dorset not at all familiar to me. The tiny village of

always conjures for me thoughts of a small Moth, the
Bloxworth Snout 
first recorded in Great Britain at this location, on an outhouse door 
of the rectory, on 21 September 1884. I have yet to catch one.

The mission was to find a bird located last week at a sight known
as Oak Hill, not found on Google maps!

As ever Ordnance Survey was reliable but then the was just the
small matter of overcoming the 'obstical course' formed by fallen trees.

Just before reaching Oak Hill there was an area looking every bit
like an Elephant's Graveyard, but that was soon disregarded as
the very first bird seen at the 'hill' was the

GREAT GREY SHRIKE

Approaching the 'clearing' from the north the sun presented a
nuisance so repositioning became important for a better view.
What has to be one of the sweetest bird-songs on the GB repertoire
was coming from 2 directions, both the sound of

WOODLARK
(eyebrows meeting at the nape)

Better views with the sun behind but no closer as this bird

 

was very flighty. Never mind, a fantastic sight and new for the year.

Time then to take a wander around this section of the Wareham Forest, and what a pleasure. The cropping of Pine trees make perfect habitat for the species above, but both that and the standing trees attract others seen there including

singing MISTLE THRUSH

equally vocal GOLDCREST

BULLFINCH

TREECREEPER
first to be seen in the County this year

COMMON BUZZARD getting grief from a CARRION CROW
plus Meadow Pipit, Jay, Siskin, Crossbill, Coal Tit etc.

Can you name the Mammal? - Nor can I.

However, these 2 lovely people were familiar as I turned to leave.
JILL and PAUL RENDELL
on the same mission.

At Poole Park the model Yacht Race had just begun

with No 49 first to round the Alpha Buoy.

Not in any race at all this female

GOOSANDER

was Close to the Edge (Yes) but again the sun was taking its toll.

HERRING GULL

GREYLAG GOOSE
before I encountered Film Production Assistant Patricia Hutny,
a young German lady

part of Bournemouth University filming in the park.

CORMORANT

BLACK-HEADED GULL

The London Waterloo to Weymouth Train Service.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

COMMON GULL

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER

CANADA GOOSE

This OAK TREE just looked 'the business' so why not?

GREATER SCAUP
and despite not seeing the long searched for Iceland Gull,

the antics of the 'displaying'

BLACK-HEADED GULLS

made up, in part, for that!

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The Moth Man Cometh

Regardless of whether there are any unusual birds there or not, both Longham Lake and the Avon Causeway have grown on me as most interesting 'birding' sites during my short period of exploring them. Over the past couple of days there has been little by way of change at either except at the lakes where some

WILLOW COPPICING
has taken place. Some have been left in place, as may be seen distantly,
while in the cropped area views of the watercourse are much improved.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

here have now attained breeding plumage, while

their 'ballet' like display is well worth the watch.

Various GULLS have also been prominent here of late with
this group being mainly Black-headed from which the 'call' of
Common Gull was also heard and the was at least a single
Mediterranean Gull.

Also returned to the lakes c2

SHELDUCK
which are the first noted this year.

REED BUNTING

The previously flooded meadows to the north are now draining rapidly attracting plenty of bird-life, seemingly feeding well, such as c8 Little Egret, c3 Grey Heron, c2 Bullfinch, c3-Chiffchaff a number of Canada and Greylag Geese but unfortunately still no Egyptian Geese sighted of late!

MALLARD

DUNNOCK

and part of what is left of the good numbers of

TUFTED DUCK with MUTE SWAN.
Onward to the Avon Causeway where there was a most welcome
yet unexpected surprise.

A man I can only describe as a 'Most Eminent Entymologist'

BARRY GOATER
(author of a good many books on the subject)
along with 2 of his ex-Pupils.
Not surprisingly, like myself, they were looking for the over-wintering
(American) Green-winged Teal and while none of us could find it,
one of the younger men did spot a distant 

EGYPTIAN GOOSE
(conveniently on the Dorset bank of the River Avon)
which fitted nicely onto my 'ongoing' Dorset March List.
Otherwise among a throng of Wildfowl Greylag and Canada were
also here along with no fewer than 8 species of DUCK.

MALLARD

EURASIAN TEAL

TUFTED DUCK

PINTAIL

WIGEON

SHOVELER (male and female)

GADWALL

and

GOOSANDER

LAPWING
are numerous but not here in the same numbers as

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
(this one in Summer Plumage)

At one point a Sparrowhawk flew overhead, clutching prey, followed by c2 Peregrine which put just about every bird to flight especially the Waders. This gave a much clearer indication as to the number of birds but with no hope of counting them. My estimate was about 200 Lapwing and twice that of Black-tailed Godwit but a wonderful sight for all that. Finally, we had the

 'fourth Moth' of the year.

PARSNIP MOTH

Depressaria radiella

Hopefully, with mild weather forecast over the next few days,
we might capitalise on this.

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Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas

There are some who do not believe in coincidence, but try this! While composing yesterday's Post, which strongly featured the beautifully interesting city of Omaha, Nebraska, I was eagerly awaiting the World Boxing Organisation Lightweight Title bout between

 US contender TERENCE CRAWFORD (left) and 

World Champion Scot RICKY BURNS

While no aficionado, it was easy to see that Burns was making heavy weather of his defence even during the early rounds, and went on to lose on a unanimous decision to a far better fighter on the night. The surprise (and coincidence) came when it was revealed that Crawford not only hails from Omaha, but was born, bred, brought up and still lives in that city. He is the only man with that credential to win a World Boxing Title - a CREDIT to his hometown! Congratulations go to Terence while Ricky deserves similar as a Sporting and Magnanimous loser.

For those of us in Kingston, London it was firstly a walk along the

RIVER THAMES

and to view the Town Bridge.

Although sunny, FRED was wrapped up against a cold wind,

as were Mummy LISA, BENNY and ALEX.

Don't forget GRANDPA BAGSY!

What are believed to be (magnificent) WALNUT TREES

line the banks, they didn't look quiet right for London Plains?

A long walk requires nourishment, so off to

Marks and Spencers

for toasted sandwiches, coffee, crisps, fruit and juice - Yum, Yum.

Lots of restoration and other works going on in the town,

but looks like it will bring great improvement when completed.

You cannot move far around here without encountering a

RING-NECKED PARAKEET

or so followed by a few 'snaps' from Lisa taken during my all too short visit.

Meeting the boys from school.

Fred and Alex.

Heavy Plant seems to be a big favourite with all 3 of them.

PLAYDOUGH

time with BENJAMIN and

ALEXANDER

while FREDERICK contents himself with the Wooden Train Set.
Spend the money wisely Lads and enjoy the Chocolate!
Love Grandpa Bagsy.

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Sweden	10