We Are Family - Sly and the Family Stone

We met round the Harbins Farmhouse dinner table, a couple of Sunday's ago, on the occasion of Gramp's 84th birthday, and it would be true to say that there was something of an instant mutual attraction. Bee Keeper, Upholsterer and now a part of this extended family Chloé (getting to be a bit of a dab-hand at this accented é business!) had been forewarned about my penchant with Moths particularly and all other Insects beside, and appeared to be champing at the bit to get a look at a Moth Trap. A beautifully sunny pre-dinner stroll down to the garden pond and her wish was my command, and mightily impress she asked if she could accompany me one morning.

We are now back to the present and that's just what she did, not only showing extreme enthusiasm but also working as a Lucky Charm, producing the following Firsts for the Year on here inaugural visit.

 a pristine

 PINK-BARRED SALLOW

 MALLOW

 it's not intended to rhyme, and

 

another Autumnal special

BEADED CHESTNUT

and a migratory

GEM

A fantastic start to the day was extended by an appointment to meet again next week for more (just goes to show what excitement does for you, may even remember to to get a photo next time) but time was pressing as there was another meeting with a family member. For long enough now Hugh and I have been discussing the advantages and prospects of 'scraping' the southern shore of the Gravel Pit but with a vibrant business to run the timing had been put on hold. No problems with Plant here as there are more tractors, diggers and bulldozers than in the collective backyards of Messrs Balfour and Beatty but skilled, certified operators are a little like rocking horse droppings! Enter the next family members Loz, partner of the lady above and his Dad Martin, who between them could probably re-build the Great Wall of Chine in a couple of weeks, so 'small beer' a Wader Scrape. By the time I got up there, having stopped at one or 2 locations en-route, Martin had already put in a full shift but my tally had included

 LITTLE OWL

 and

 

 CETTI'S WARBLER

 both going vocally bonkers close to the River Stour post dawn,

 and a

 COMMON SNIPE

 square in the middle of the Heather on the Heath.

Plan had been to to take Before and After photographs but with work

in progress we did what we could.

Looking North

 and South

 the starting point the

North East Corner

In addition, this is the self-made

 Strange Rover Track

leading to a small subsidiary pond close to the Irrigation Pond.

Even perched as high as the driver's seat the water can hardly be seen,

so a little clearance work here will be undertaken while the digger id on the ground.

My personal prediction for this spot has always been

 WATER RAIL

but not so far anywhere in our Recording Area!

We will bring you the Finished Article in days to come, and THANKS for tuning in!

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A Horse With No Name - America

Some excitement on the agenda for this Post, but firstly, as ever, the Moth Traps
in what looked like a sure sign of rain? Starting with a

First for the Year

AUTUMNAL RUSTIC
and what in days gone by may have been considered a 'late appearing'

BEAUTIFUL HOOK-TIP
but some authorities state that they are now being noted throughout September.

Two variations of
LUNAR UNDERWING

and a slightly better example than the previous migratory
GEM

Looks like the Fungus Fest has started here with a species of
LEPIOTA

Although permitted and open to my gaze this is pretty much a neglected track

as far as our daily rounds are concerned,

but yesterday a beeline was made for it with very good reason.

Given the 'heads-up' on the arrival

of some very special new residents by Gary Clarke the Cowman, today

we were prepared to walk the extra 9 yards!
A Horse With No 'MANE' (sic) Link

A small clutch of 'predated' Wood Pigeon eggs found on the final gatepost

before clapping eyes on the

New Arrivals.

c4 EXMOOR GELDINGS

brought in to keep unwanted vegitation down.
It was thought an idea to photograph and introduce each individually.

Thankfully these usually

Wild Mammals

have not been given names.

HERE'S HOPING IT STAYS THAT WAY!

The videos are a bit of pot-luck as there has been no time

to edit or delete so must be taken as seen.
While the Horses are going to be contained alone in the area known as
The Island

their well established neighbours

were not going to let them have all of the

LIMELIGHT

The Calf

and the awkward one which would not let me pass even though
in a hurry to get back to
ANTARCTICA!

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Shenanigans - 'Green' Day

Tuesday started well enough with an eye-catching

SUNRISE
but only stayed rain free until noon by which time we had

cleared the Moth Traps and completed our Rounds.

 It's starting to get late in the season but still an addition to the

Year List

 BRINDLED GREEN

and continued good fortune with the migrant

VESTAL

All of note at the Irrigation Pond was a single

GREEN SANDPIPER

Likewise at the Gravel Pit it was left to another single Wader

 to take the plaudits

  but a good deal closer

COMMON SANDPIPER

The rest of the morning only found common fare at the 

Solar Panel Compound

a distant

 KESTREL

 preening and close by a

PIED WAGTAIL

Not dissimilar to the past few days, the Heath was more or less 

devoid of life save for this single

 STONECHAT

 where only last week there were thought to be as many as 30.

FLEABANE

an attractant for many Insects at this time of year including

SMALL WHITE BUTTERFLY

 Early afternoon and not unusually c3 females were strutting outside my door.

As usual they were

PHEASANTS
Yesterday, as no doubt was noticed, was our Day Off and
Memoir Time where we have just reached the
Falkland Islands - that exciting we may produce some images later.

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