It's Only a 'Hobby' - Don't Take It Too Seriously

Only 3 speicies of Birds today, but maybe a chance to look into their 

Private Lives!

 In the first instance a

 MEGA RARITY

in these trying times as a Jet Airliner crossed the early morning sky.

What might very well be joining it in the none to distant future is the 

LAPWING 

which was once a prolific breeder here but like so many other places seemingly no longer.

 We don't search purposefully for nests, keeping very much to the beaten track,

 but do every so often come across one.

 This pair are 2 of only 6 of the species we have recorded so far this year,

whereas in days gone by it has been difficult to keep a tally as so numerous!

 In the short grass and gravel tracks across the

Solar Panel Compound

nesting sites were easy to spot but the birds just are not here this year.

They are not alone in this as the likes of Sand Martin and Little Ringed Plover,

and even though our glass is always 'half full' (but not for long), we have just about given up

on the former as usually the first migrant to return.

 It may have been noticed in the picture above that there are c2 hatched juveniles, one still emerging along with 2 eggs that are about to crack.

If these are all of the same clutch / brood it is unusual as Waders in general build a crud nest on the ground laying just 4 eggs which are usually possitioned pointed ends inward.

 The images were taken across a number of days from a distance that would not

disturb the birds until this

 CHICK

was found fallen into a hole in the ground and worth saving.

Kids, who'd have 'em  not like me when growing up so angelic!

 So we leave the parents to nurture the youngsters in the hope that it is they 

who return next year to procreate........

 LITTLE OWL

 may also be a lost breeding status across the Recording Area but

difficult to say categorically, this was once their nest hole.

 We have heard them singing a couple of times but only seen the once this year,

so let's hope these often secretive beauties are at it again?

 However, one nest we are very unlikely to see is that of the

HOBBY

Always with our 'eye to the sky' at this time of year this small, enigmatic bird of prey is

Hit and Miss

during any return.

Yesterday's find was, as can be seen, at great distance with the highest priority being
to video a species never committed film before. Additionally, we only held a few silhouette
shot, which have now been consigned to the 
Great Delete Bin in the Sky!

We did make a nervous attempt at edgeing a little closer but as it strated

fidgeting we cut our losses and stayed put.

Going throught just about every function

during the full 45 minutes

it was on view

 it will surely go down as on of the

Magic Bird Moments

 of the year!

They don't come that often

so best enjoyed to the full when they do.

Here's hopeing yours comes sooner rather than later!

Trivia:-

It would seem that birdwatcher and inventor Peter Adolph of Royal Tumbridge Wells
had no qualms when patenting his Table Football game back in 1946. 

 Hoping for great success with his newly invented hobby he decided to name it in 
honour of one of his favourite birds - fittingly the Hobby!
So what better name than

SUBBUTEO
which is taken from the Latin name of that bird
Falco Subbuteo

If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary

Another reasonably fine day with a rainless

(for us)

 FRONT

chugging up the

English Channel

 while the only New Moth was a

 RUSTIC SHOULDER-KNOT

Little (nothing) to capture our attention at any of the Ponds

we headed directly for the Heath, where again it was quiet but nt without its moments!

 Our favourite of the Rare Breeds Cattle 

the brown and white 

SHETLAND

was waiting for me at the gate as a

 COMMON CARDER BEE

 was as busy as one.

We make no appology for more

 WOODLARK

 images as they will all to soon be gone,

 so once they grace the viewfinder its

Click, Click, Click

 An inordinate number of

 BROWN-LIPPED SNAILs

today showing themselves for the first time this year

 while close by there was only the second Reptile for 2020 another

SLOW WORM

Even the

 EWES

are now in Summer Plumage as this years Lambs will not be cropped until next spring,

but then at the Airport Fence

 the easily recognisable song of a

 LESSER WHITETHROAT

 but in what was considered a strage place.

 A contribution from Jim the Medic in Beveley, Yorks but don't know where he got this one from.

Bournemouth International Airport

a little more crowded that Weymoth Bay.

That's when we thought we heard a second Lesser Throat, but adjusting the

Sensory Organs change our mind in favour of

 YELLOWHAMMER

 A most welcome species here these days  as gone are the times

when they bred in what might be considered 'flock' proportions.

Since our residence began in 2013 this is only the 3rd record putting this

smart little songster squarely in catagory of

RARE!

It also brought up the 100th species for 2020 across our Recording Area!

Watcher of the Skies - Genesis - Part II

APOLOGIES FOR LATE DELIVERY NO CONNECTIVITY UNTIL NOW!
Things still remain a little too quiet but when you rise at 05:00 to such a

Skyscape

who's counting

New Kids on the Block included

 SPRUCE CARPET

and an early

 PEACOCK

before heading off in search of more

Wild Things

You Make My Heart Sing, You Make Everything Groovy 

The Troggs

 At last the nest is built with one prospective parent incubating

 while the other is having a bit of agro with the neighbours, them pesky

 CANADA GEESE

 New Generation 

SCOTS PINE CONES

 along with the old brigade.

 The only bird of interest on the Heath and only because it was

 Dealing with Earthworm Prey by the looks of it

 while 2 overflying

 SHELDUCK

not far away at this time of year can be indicative of new arrivals.

 A Fine Quartet

 with

Proud and watchful Parents

 and to sign off, news from a little further afield

Weymouth Bay

in fact where Paul Harris (©) took these images this week.

He went on to say that the reason they are there is because

Southampton is Choc-a-Block!

(which is when a tackle is hauled to its utmost)

Janet Reed also kindly contacted me to tell of the situation with the caveat that

“ being an Old Salt you would not be impressed with the line-up”.

My reply to that was simply that to a Submariner there are but 2 types of ships,

SUBMARINES and TARGETS

Now that would make some hat-trick “Fire One!”

 VENTURA

 QUEEN MARY 2

ARCADIA