Tragedy - The Bee Gees

That niggling northerly persists bringing with it an unwelcome chill which in turn seems to be keeping the Moths at bay. In the last 3 days the best on offer from the Traps has been a single

MAIDEN'S BLUSH

already added to the Year List but no less of a superb creature for all that. The stiff breeze hasn't helped out in the field either, but before we get into full moaning mode let's thank our lucky stars that we can bring you images, from the archive, promised from a few days ago.

An addition to the Year List yesterday

LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING

which had previously slipped through our fingers,

 RED-GREEN CARPET

 LIGHT EMERALD

BROWN SILVER-LINE

and far better images of a further 2 species shown before

 SHEARS
and

 WHITE-POINT

while for good measure the Micro

DONACAULA FORFICELLA

HOUSE SPARROW  

has now joined the Breeding Colony of Robin and Collared Dove 

in Janet's stable,while just outside we found a 

 a 'ringed'

 GOLDCREST

 which unfortunately we cannot make head nor tail of.

 c6

 SHELDUCK

are a record number for our area.

 COMMON GARDEN SNAIL

 and

 ROBIN

feeding young on what looks like

 SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY 

larvae/caterpillars.

On the water meadow at the Moors River a

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

 before disaster struck.

Entering the Solar Panel Compound late morning

there was neither sight nor sound of any of the

 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

these 2 being found behind the Eco Recycling Works earlier in the morning.

 A full 40 minute vigil produced no bird at all let alone

the one which has been incubation c4 eggs for several days now.

Time for a visual inspection, only to find that there are now only c2 eggs and no signs of any offspring. It is thought highly unlikely that the sheep shearing had anything to do with this, as the parent bird was 'sitting' throughout the process. It is also unusual to think that the nest has been predated as few, if any, predators would leave without scoffing the lot. Additionally, had the eggs hatch they would not have been able to travel far, and there would surely be the continuous series of 'location calls' from the adults as witnessed last year. 

A TRAGEDY to say the very least!

 Continuation of the Bund.

Juvenile STARLINGs

feeding and preening

accompanied by Page and Plant with the title track of the
No Quarter Album

From the Trail Cameras

MISTLE THRUSH
Then TRAGEDY turns to TRIUMPH
what about this
LITTLE BEAUTY?

 BELTED GALLOWAY CALF

BORN 20:15 - 02/06/2016

THE '3 AUNTIES' COMING TO VISIT

THE 3 OTHER GALLS!

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Welcome to My World - Jim Reeves

A MINI POST

To be kind, the predictions from Gary Clarke the Herdsman over the past couple of weeks have been a little askew to say the least, having already lost £35 in side-bets! However, before leaving for a family weekend up-country he did state that the Belted Galloway calf would be born in his absence, but without placing a bet - he was right. At 20:00 last night his Assistant while Absent, Alison, phone me to say that No. 18 had gone into labour but it could be the morning before the youngster would be welcomed to the world. Just 15 minutes later she phoned again to say that the calf was with us and giving me details of the location. Jumping into the Strange Rover, 10 minutes later

 NUMBER 18

was found busily chomping away at the placenta, which is usual practice.

Personally my choice of the Breast of Lamb was far more palatable.

It took a further 10 minutes to locate the calf not wishing to get

to close to Mum.

It is hoped that better images and footage might be secured

later today or later in the week when available.

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SHEEP (Part II) - Pink Floyd

With ½ a gale blowing in from the north, a dreary leaden sky (also full of many 100's of Common Swift and good numbers of all 3 Hirundines early morning) and a distinct possibility of rain we are not sure whether June came in like a Lion or a Lamb, but we are sure as Hell looking forward to the alternative!

On a more positive side, the Stat Counter pointed to a 1,500 increase in 

Hits for last month, which in no small way is attributed to those Readers who

took the time and trouble to disseminate our Link

to Family and Friends. It would be much appreciated if those

who have not already done so would take the time to make those

half dozen 'clicks' or so and send to 

ALL your Facebook, E-Mail etc addressees.

THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATION!

A continuation of our day with fellow wildlife enthusiast Dave Foot saw a few more species of Moth from the traps after which we continued our fairly extensive 'rounds' of the Recording Area.

NARROW-WINGED PUG

LIGHT BROCADE

FLAME

and

 RUSTIC-SHOULDER KNOT
 If they are easy enough to identify we do sometimes
dabble into the world of the Micro Moths, but not very often.
On this occasion both

 SMALL CHINA-MARK
and

RINGED CHINA-MARK

were fairly straightforward.
As in every single morning for the last 3 weeks

 REED WARBLER

 were clamoring away at the river side as Dave heard and we later saw a

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
close by.

 SCORPION FLIES

 were on the wing along with

 LARGE RED DAMSELFLY

 but no surprises that both male

 and female
BLACKCAP
were seen as probably the most numerous Warbler on the property.

 Always a great delight to see the year's first

 GREEN HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLY

and it is now certain that

COMMON WHITETHROAT

are nesting at most locations including Harbins Farmhouse Garden.

FERN - BRACKEN -  BRAKE FERN

 whatever you prefer to call it is now taking over much of the under-story

 but these particular plants caught the eye as maybe something
escaped from the Tropics?

Not so we are told by our more learn'ed friend John Gifford, just another
part of out varied Fauna!

Ah, another Cweepy, Cwally in the Hedgewoe?
No, just Dave plucking yet another item of Great Interest for the surrounds,
we feel another 'Master Class' is about to begin.

FOXGLOVE
too are now bursting into flower,
 and above the door of the now redundant

 WOOD SHED
 my first ever

STOCK DOVE'S NEST
The day was getting long and the dream of a ham and tomato sandwich
with a cup of coffee was overtaking both of us, 
but not before realising what is believed to have been Dave's long awaited moment.
A visit to the   

 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER NEST
Despite the limited disturbance from the distant Sheep Shearing,
what is thought to be the female Parent Bird was still incubating the c4 eggs.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
All looked well and if last year's success is anything to go by we should be seeing some
PLOVER-LINGS
very soon?
It simply could not have been a case of leaving Best 'Til Last as this

BAGWORM CASE

was not found by Dave until the very last knockings.

Before the off, it should be made clear that none of what follows is/was
part of my own knowledge or learning, but a magical eye-opener as to what is going on
Behind Our Backs in the World of Nature.

A complex story of a tiny Moth which is thought best told through excerpts from the
Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland
by
Doctor Phil Sterling and Mark Parsons as illustrated by Richard Lewington 
Inside the Bagworm Case is the Caterpillar, or Larvae of this tiny Moth

Male
Pachythelia villosella

 Similar to a Female
Pachythelia villosella

extract of text
Directed to further reading by Dave, it was found that the female has developed in such a way
as to be attractive to predators, especially Birds, in effect born to be eaten!
When this happens to the egg-bound adult female, her remains passes through the digestive tract
of the predator to be discharged as faeces at a later date. With the eggs still in tact, this process
has the effect of dispersing the Species over a wider area. Note, from the attached map (in green),
the minuscule area of distribution in Great Britain alone.
IF THAT STORY DOESN'T DO IT FOR YOU BEST GET BACK TO READING
LORD of the RINGS

Finally, the latest from the Trail Cameras.

BLACKBIRD

STONECHAT

FOX

COMMON BUZZARD

with 

SLOW WORM

He's back again

BLACKBIRD

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