Mallow Yallow (sic) - Donovan

Not a bad weekend at all weatherwise which, in the first instance, allowed
us to get out and about in comfort and drew a couple of candidates towards the
Moth Traps.

 DARK SPECTACLE

 MALLOW
while yesterday morning had a chill start about it with

 Morning Mist hanging over the River Stour

 just a whisp of Cirus at altitude and at deck level the

 First Frost of Autumn

 The Old Current Bun soon took care of that!

The trapping was briefly interupted by the appearance of a

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

TEAL

 numbers at the Irrigation Pond had risen to c3 overnight

 which were obliging enough for a couple of

video shots (with a Mallard) which were interupted by

 c5

GREY HERON

 flying directly overhead.

 Each of these shots shows a different bird,

 but they all look the same to me!
Also remaining on the Pond the 

COMMON SANDPIPER

 still favouring the
Water Filter Platform

 as a preening perch.
Got a feeling this may be the last we see of this small Wader for a while.

 WOOD PIGEON

 in seductive pose

was also thought worthy of a shot or two, before heading for the
Sewerage Works Hedge in search of Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler et al.

Unfortunately, no such luck

but by way of compensation,
 
 among a group of at least 'double figures' a most confiding

COAL TIT

and a bathing

STOCK DOVE

While the Heath remains painfully devoid of just about everything
there was this starnge encounter with a sun-bathing

RABBIT

which at first glance was thought to be dead save fo the proud ears.
Closing to just a few feet it was seen to be well alive but swelling around
the eye-lids indicated it may be suffering from Myxomatosis.

However, on realising our prescence it bolted off like a Long Dog.
Driving back from the Heath

 and not at all expected this

COMMON DARTER

flew into the Starnge Rover, via the driver side window
which is a 'first' for us from this particular source.

Late afternoon and as ever there was a single

GREEN WOODPECKER

feeding on the Tennis Court, while all else from the
Gravel Pit Trail Camera were

CARRION CROW and MAGPIE

and
STOCK DOVE

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And Then There Were Three - Genesis

A dull start to the day on Friday, which persisted throughout, and may have reflected results from the Moth Traps in recent days had it not been for a sudden flush of excitement. Despite a paltry catch of just 81 Insects of 15 Species the catch included a trio of Firsts for the Year.

 First up, and only the 3rd Insect to be taken was

 BLAIR'S SHOULDER-KNOT

followed by, and only of novelty value, 2 variations of

 LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING

 There was then a short intermission before

 LARGE WAINSCOT

was coaxed from the egg trays

 immediately followed by the

 'Catch of the Day'

something of an acrobatic

MERVEILLE du JOUR

and as we were lucky enough to catch its far less common cousin

 'SCARCE' MERVEILLE du JOUR

in the Spring we are able to offer that up by way of comparison.
Finally on the subject, there was also something of a rather tardy

 LESSER BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING

which usually ceases to be 'on the wing' by the end of September.

Also starting to adorn the early morning sky on a daily basis are both

GREYLAG

and

CANADA GEESE

Skein counts thus far have reached 25 and 36 respectively.

All else of note during the past 2 days has been a moderate 'fall' of

 MEADOW PIPIT

 along with

 a 'first' showing of Autumnal

SISKIN

There has also been what can only be described as a 'large' increase of

 JAY

 across our Recording Area

 but all too wily to get a decent shot (or any shot at all for that matter)

 until last evening that is.

 Deciding to spend a hour either side of sunset on the Heath, in hope of 

a very late Nightjar, a returning Short-eared Owl or maybe just an

ever-present Woodcock,

 En-route, we caught this pair of Jays (complete with Acorn) and 

a single Magpie unawares and

despite the gloom did get away with these few discernible shots.
YES, WE DID NOTICE THAT THE UK OVERHAULED THE USA
FOR JUST ONE, ALL TOO BRIEF, DAY 

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