The Parley Puddle

On a day when the rain has hardly stopped (even though once again they only forecast 'showers') driven home by a fresh breeze I haven't left the comforts of my (temporary) Country Home! Good job then that there is still a bit of action from yesterday hung over for today, starting with this

BROWN-LIPPED SNAIL
that was hitching a lift on my car first thing.

While the precipitation was also heavy throughout most of the night

there were still a few returns from the

Moth Traps with this stunning

PUSS MOTH
being a fine example.

LYCHNIS

WHITE POINT

and this rather magnificent

BLACK SEXTON BEETLE

made up the best of the rest.
Among the wayside plants and other wildlife there were examples of

BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL,

ELDER,

the daytime flying Moth

THE CINNABAR,

GREATER BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL,

and (likely) LONG-HEADED POPPY.

juvenile
STARLING

are now showing up 'mob-handed while this Daisy was seen to be hosting

COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY
and a female
THICK-LEGGED BEETLE
(the males have bulbous thighs hence the name)

The pair of COOT at Longham Lakes that have been watched
all through the nest building process now appear to be incubating eggs,
while in the distance c3 Common Terns were flying at great altitude.
By the time I reached the other side of the watercourse

c2 of them had taken up perch, one on the

Depth Gauge,

where last weeks Sandwich Tern had been,

while the other seemed content
 
on this 'span' between two buoys.

Still determined to 'prove' Lesser Spotted Woodpecker breeding at Parley Court, and also in an attempt to secure a dinner invitation, I returned to the northern section of the farm and as ever made a cautious approach to this

puddle, which never seems to dry out completely,
where I was sure that one day a decent bird was going to show up?
Today was the day as the movement at the near edge proved to be a

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

while a second movement was a
GOLDFINCH

The photographs of the Plover turned out to be of

decent quality and representing some action

so it was decided to

indulge myself

and share all of them with YOU the Readership!
Also at this sight were a couple of ever present

PIED WAGTAIL
the usual small flock of c7 Stock Dove, Linnet and a pair of copulating
RAVEN
being harassed in their pursuit by c2 Carrion Crows.
Unfortunately, it has to be reported that there was no sign of the
Woodpecker (only a male has been seen thus far) but the second ploy was fruitful
another of Janet's fine puddings, no wonder I'm a FFB!
Merritown Heath
is easily accessible from here so to end this Post one or three
Heathland Plants.

MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED,

hosting another female THICK-LEGGED BEETLE, along with

HEATH SPEEDWELL

and

WOOD SPEEDWELL

Once again much of the credit must go to John Gifford for his help with identifications.

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Blashford Lakes - Part II

First things first and as has now become the norm a round of the Moth Traps early morning. Not everyones 'cup of tea' I know, but this fascination sees me out of bed every morning now at 05:00 (despite the weather) and making my way to Parley Court Farm. Of late the night time temperatures have remain relatively high and so good returns have been recorded, here are just a few of them from the last few days. With Moths in mind I should make a confession regards a mis-identification on our last post. While I saw the Insect as a Square-spot Rustic it has been pointed out these are 'on the wing' much later in the year and what was in fact caught was a Small Square-spot, which as luck has it is a new addition to the Property List. We post thanks to an astute regular reader for pointing this out and the appropriate amendment has been made. * = First for the Property, # = First for the Year

LIME HAWK-MOTH*

SILVER GROUND-CARPET*

 RIVULET*
a scarce capture I am told

 MARBLED BROWN*

 ORANGE FOOTMAN*

 an early appearance of the delightful

GOLD SPOT#

 BURNISHED BRASS#
and

TREBLE LINES#

 SYNDEMIS MUSCULANA*
is added as an attractive little Insect.
 As promised, our second visit to Blashford Lakes where, like
everywhere else the place is alive with interest.

BULBOUS BUTTERCUP
now growing in a field near to you!

 COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

LUNGWORT

SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Up at the Goosander Hide the

 SAND MARTIN WALL
is already being prospected by returning birds.

Summer Plumage 

 LITTLE GREBE

 and well on the way to producing a new family the

 CANADA GEESE

appear to have formed a colony.

 SOUTHERN DAMSELFLY

SPRING CINQUEFOIL
a member of the Strawberry Family

 GREEN BOTTLE (top) with TAWNY MINING BEE

 SHELDUCK-LINGS

and even here we cannot get away from the 'subject' a daytime flying
COMMON WAVE MOTH
almost flew into the pot, allowed a couple of shots
before being released.

 Some more shenanigans of the

COMMON TERN
kind.

Keeping an eye skyward with very good reason,

here comes the old man

with courtship in mind!

Crumbs is that IT?

male

GREEN-VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY

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