A Winters Tale - David Essex

With that single record of Barn Owl, from the final evening of November, still firmly fixed in my mind a few sorties to that end of the farm, at the appropriate time of day, have been made. Unfortunately, all have come to nought as far as Owls have been concerned, but driving back along the Bridle Way undercover of dark the path suddenly became alive with Moths. Only those of the small and delicate type, it was now a mission to identify them. With the 'ever handy' Butterfly net c4 were quickly 'bagged' and gently confined to the folds of the net. Back at Slight II the net was unfolded to find not a single Insect with, where the flip have they gone thought I? A little disappointed the net was returned to the car, where all 4 were found perched on the windscreen - Thank Heavens. Kept in cool conditions until the following morning it was soon revealed that they are in fact

WINTER MOTH
and first for the Year.

The strange thing was each, during its fluttering, would alight in, or
at the at the edge of one of the many puddles along the track.
It is though, as with some Butterfly species, that they were likely seeking
minerals or maybe just the water itself? Bit of a conundrum!
We have been running a single Moth Trap on the occasional warmer night

and have thus far captured

c6 LARVAE (Caterpillar) of who knows what?

a few
YELLOW DUNG FLY
Scathophaga stercoraria

along with lots of
DANCE FLY
Empis tessellata
but no Moths yet.
Over the passed 2 or 3 days we have been getting away from the Farm

with the first Port of Call being

LONGHAM LAKES
where immediately on arrival

POCHARD
and

GADWALL
were added to the County List
while

KINGFISHER

was new for the Year.

Water levels are about as low as I've ever seen them but this is

closely regulated by pumping water from the Rivers

Avon and Stour as required.

Just a couple of passing shots with no real significance included

BLACK-HEADED GULL

CHIFFCHAFF

and a bevy

of very smart looking

HOUSE SPARROW

It was at that moment the Sheik decided to fly overhead in his

JUMBO JET
not to the liking of the Wildlife.

It looks every bit as though the sheets of roofing felt placed on the
southern bank to attract hibernating Reptiles etc have been abandoned,
also suffering from the weather. A very quick glimpse revealed

c3

SMOOTH (Common) NEWT

along with good numbers of 

GARDEN SNAIL
Helix aspersa

Thought most likely to be the Eggs of the above, but

could be Slug's Eggs
There followed a quick look around the Solar Panel Farm where

SONG THRUSH

along with loads of

CHAFFINCH

were utilising the perch, while a

ROE DEER
was seeking shelter.
Moving on to the Eco Recycling Works and a great surprise by
way of another 'First' for the Property

c2 female

SHOVELER

were in company with a male bird.
Another First for the Year was relocating the 2014

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF
and to make up the Hat Trick a skein of c47 Greylag Geese also flew overhead.

A quick drive down to the
Avon Causeway
in pursuit of Egyptian Goose came to nought by in the far distance

another, or the same, party of Greylags in flight.

Totalling 48 it was thought likely to be the same bunch except nothing
was seen of the 'albinos' at the first viewing??
Finally, and the most bizarre discovery of the day

GOLDFISH
(type once known as Comet before mankind started tinkering with genetics)
Strangely found dead on Avon Bridge, maybe dropped by a Gull??

and for your amusement
Willie Wine on the loose.
We also thank John Gifford for his assistance with identifications.
Cheers Matey. 

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High Flying Bird - Jefferson Airplane

Returning briefly to my recent visit to Kingston-upon-Thames over the New Year period, it seems certain that one of the highlights was Grandpa Bagsy's own adaptation of the Christmas Classic "When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney". With just a few lyric changes (When Grandpa Bagsy got stuck up the chimney) my singing of the song was met by squeals of delight by the Grandchildren. It certainly left an impression on one little boy

2 Year's young BENNY

Even before dawn it was looking as though I'd be able to continue swinging in the hammock and  still add to the Bird Lists at the same time, as a kerfuffle outside had me reaching for the blind. Even at the unearthly hour of 04:30 a male

 PHEASANT
was going berserk but as he brought up another Year Tick I returned
the Purdey to the gun cabinet - only joking! 

 It was at a far more sensible hour that we caught up with the female.
As so many small birds have taken to the untouched weeds within the
solar panel it was thought impossible to miss the most numerous species
of them all 

 MEADOW PIPIT
but that is just what happened on our first visit of the year to the
north part of PCF.
Not a single one was seem during almost a full morning there, but Hugh
returned with tales of dozens. That, fortunately, was redressed and duly added to the lists.
At the Sewerage Works there was a sight for sore eyes as at least 40

 GREENFINCH
 had congregated there which must be the highest individual count here.
 
 SPARROWHAWK,
or perhaps that should be plural, are still terrorising the flock of
about 50 birds at the Harbins feeders, after which they are named.
Also appearing on the rapacious scene for the first time this year

 KESTREL

It is a short drive around to the gate leading to Merritown Heath

where there were 'certain' to be 2 more addition for the year?

but this is 'Birding'!

after a hour long walk around the Heath
just a single male

 DARTFORD WARBLER
was seen, with another, unsexed, heard but not a
'GUARENTEED'
Stonechat in sight. Behind Eco things picked up a good bit with a

 GREEN SANDPIPER
flushing at my approach while there was also a single

 STOCK DOVE
among an estimated 100 Wood Pigeon which also took to flight
from the large area of Canadian Fleabane.

 COMMON SNIPE
is as the name suggests 'common' here, but there is a great reluctance
flush them so was pleased to see a couple take to the air before getting
anywhere near to them. Starting a walk along the bank of the
River Stour a single

 CHIFFCHAFF

was found feeding deep in the vegetation close to Janet's stable
but there were also c6 others seen scattered across the farm.

 CETTI'S WARBLER
have either been absent or simply mute along this beat where they are
usually, at least, heard daily. Lucky then to see one!
Still no Kingfisher and the Otters keeping well out of the way , this

 SKYLARK

was considered to be the final addition of the day, but you never know!

My attention was now drawn to the sky and a couple more 'odd' flying machines.
Never having clapped eyes on either, both qualified for a bit of research.

 NORWEGIAN AIR SHUTTLE BOEING 737-8JP

Each of the Airlines aircraft bear tail-art of a Scandinavian 'Hero'

this lady is

Swede, Elsa Beskow (née Maartman) 11 February 1874, Stockholm – 30 June 1953, was a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books. Among her better known books are Tale of the Little Little Old Woman and Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender.

PILATUS PC-12/45

part of the Churchill Aviation 'Private Charter' Fleet

Right at the Last Knockings and just as you think all is lost the elusive

 STONECHAT

 turned up with

her 'partner' who was far less obliging.

A Good Day on Home Turf

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