It's been a while, but this morning the weather broke before daylight with pulses of heavy, windswept rain driving in from the south. However, the southerly airflow brought with it a scorching 15°C at dawn but thus far the attendant rain has prevented us getting into the Moth Traps to see if we have benefited from that. From yesterday, a relatively dismal showing, comes a
COPPER UNDERWING (type)
and we say (type) as there were suspicions that this may have been
Svensson's Copper Underwing
pushing the limits of my knowledge and experience of such a creature.
After cooperatively posing for the photos it seemed to have had enough
and flew off - we'll never know!
Along with that was another
flavescens form of
SALLOW
However, other Insects came to the rescue as far as interest was
concerned, throwing up a
LONG-WINGED CONEHEAD
an Ophion species of
ICHNEUMON WASP
EMPIS TRIGRAMMA
a species of
Dance Fly
and
copulating
(if indeed that is the correct word for such actions in Insects?)
CRANE FLIES
As may be obvious to many dedicated readers, John Gifford has had
a hand in this part of the Post sorting out
some of the identifications for us.
MANY THANKS JOHN!
Continuing with Sunday, a calm day with a fair share of sunshine,
returning one of the Moth Traps to the vicinity of the 5th Tee on the
returning one of the Moth Traps to the vicinity of the 5th Tee on the
PARLEY COURT GOLF COURSE
there appeared to be a fair amount of Common Bird Activity.
Just sitting quietly in the St-Range Rover firstly this
WREN
appeared
followed by a foraging
GREAT TIT
then
DUNNOCK
and finally a
BLACKBIRD
We also spent some time on that beat of the River Stour searching for
the now 'elusive' Cetti's Warbler without success, so maybe just a single
wanderer looking for suitable winter quarters?
We also spent some time on that beat of the River Stour searching for
the now 'elusive' Cetti's Warbler without success, so maybe just a single
wanderer looking for suitable winter quarters?
A nearby
HAWTHORN
overborne with fruit
seemed worthy of a couple of 'clicks'
but the next 'click', which is of some significance, ain't going to win
no Oscars!
Some may simply have to take our word for it that this is a
RAVEN
with the significance being it was the first and only to have been seen
perched in a tree withing the Harbins Farmhouse Garden.
Passing Parley Pond a couple of
MOORHEN
were showing well, so click, click while further on at the
Irrigation Pond
it was previously thought that only 2 of this years brood of 14
MALLARD
had survived,
but given that these are likely one and the same we'll settle for 'five'.
Not quite a 'blank' at the Gravel Pit but only this strange looking plant
which at first baffled us before realising it is the unopened flower buds and
seed cases of
EVENING PRIMROSE
Ever onward, and having walked the Sewerage Works Hedge
found the gate to the horse field beyond unusual to be open.
Investigating the 2 large fields which make up the north west corner of
Parley Court Farm,
these 2 fellas were found 'strimming' the single Gorse bush and a
few small saplings.
A further conversation with the Foreman revealed that this was in
preparation for the
Third Phase of Solar Panel Farm.
As an aside,
while surfing 'SOLAR', we came across this link which was thought mighty nifty so was
immediately sent off to my 4 Grandchildren and now to be shared with you!
SOLAR SYSTEM
Children's Learning Device LINK - Pass It On
As an aside,
while surfing 'SOLAR', we came across this link which was thought mighty nifty so was
immediately sent off to my 4 Grandchildren and now to be shared with you!
SOLAR SYSTEM
Children's Learning Device LINK - Pass It On
He informed me that the Herpetologists had spent time scouring the area but had found only a single Common Toad which was removed to the sanctuary of another field. What we envisage here, after the build, is yet another sanctuary for Wildlife which along with the others we hope to gain access. We will keep you posted of progress. Before leaving we found, among the horse droppings a couple of examples of
PSILOCYBE (Species)
of Fungus.
All else to report from the day was a brief sighting of a vocal
SEDGE WARBLER
which is a very scarce visitor to our neck of the woods,
only the second of the year, with the image
only the second of the year, with the image
having been lifted from our archive.
Finally from yesterday and today, like the Cetti's not a single Hirundine has been seen, although undoubtedly still in the country for a while yet, but on the up side the/a Merlin is still hunting the Solar Panel Compounds.
