The morning fog has persisted over the last couple of days, not making it at all easy to see much, but seems to have brought with it continuing higher overnight temperatures and by definition still a few interesting Moths. Best of that bunch has been a fairy nice condition
GEM
and both
RED-LINE QUAKER and YELLOW-LINE QUAKER
continue to be caught nightly.
Another
VESTAL
was more than welcome, little beauties in our view,
but this time a much 'paler' specimen than the one caught
at the end of last week.
Shown here again for comparison.
The trapping was interrupted briefly by a small pulse of
GOLDCREST
passing through Harbins garden, involving an estimated
20 to 30 individuals.
Returning to the traps another
GEM
was found but this time one in a rather tatty state.
Last out was another firm favourite which is being caught again on a
nightly basis, with a maximum one night take yesterday of c6.
MERVEILLE du JOUR
As has been highlighted in the past, we don't get a huge amount of
migrants pass though our little patch, but soon after the Goldcrest
had disappeared it was the turn of
SISKIN
to pass through in similar numbers.
By the time we reached the Common there had been no thinning of the fog
although this image of the Gravel Pit belies the density.
Here, it is always a case of sneaking up as quietly as possible in the
St-Range Rover which, if any birds are in residence, usually
meets with success. On the face of it there was nothing to see until a
tiny splash on the other side revealed this
LITTLE GREBE
our first returning bird.
A pair did look as though they were willing to breed on the
Irrigation Pond in early spring,
but the arrival, soon after, of 2 pairs of Coot
soon put paid to that,
since when they have been absent.
Only the tiniest movement in the corner of the eye uncovered
something even better, but unfortunately at a much greater distance.
While Little Grebe are an annual visitor to this end of the property
KINGFISHER
has only been recorded here on a 'single' occasion, so
imagine the feeling when c2 were first heard, then sighted
before these videos were produced. OK, we ain't talking
Steven Spielberg here but on close inspection the bird in the
top clip can be seen clubbing a Minnow to death, while the
second was seen to make a plunge.
Merritown Heath, or more accurately Bournemouth International Airport
it was a case of
HOORAY and HALLELUJAH
WE HAVE A WATERCOURSE!
The dam at the western end has been breached and the pumps removed,
allowing the natural flow of the small tributary
along the 'rocky' section and as far as
the eastern end of the site where that dammed area remains in place.
The 'spur' can be seen running to the south and already filling with water.
From this eastern end the water continues to be diverted to allow
continuation of laying the culvert in the foreground,
as the Factory continues to take shape.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
WORKS IN PROGRESS
