ARGUS - Wishbone Ash

 Still a little joy bursting from the Moth Traps as overnight temperatures stick doggedly to mid-range double figures, producing the likes of

AUTUMNAL RUSTIC

along with

FEATHERED GOTHIC

both immediately added to the Year List, before what was at first considered to be something of a surprise a free flying

BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLY

thought 'out of season' until consulting the Field Guide

to find a 'flight period' of
April to September
but very thin on the ground this year, unlike the

GREYLING BUTTERFLY
which continues to be plentyful.
Having been all-to-many days since our last report we popped in to se how the juvenile

LITTLE GREBE
is progressing

now fending for itself in part as this very short clip shows

but still being

chaperoned

by one of the parent birds

the other being absent.

You can never find a 'willing' male when there's work to be done?
Closer to home, and the

HORSE CHESTNUT TREEs

are sagging under the weight of fruit but we are yet to spy a single Acorn,

while juvenile

PHEASANTs
have become numerous, released we suggest.

Almost back to base, the full contingent of 2 adults and their c7 progeny just possed for the Canon

while overhead irresitable

STARLINGs
were in preening mode with all being completely unphased

by the

 presence of a

 

returning

KESTREL

Pribilof Islands - Part III

 While those tiny islands, stuck in the middle of the Baring Sea are most notable for their Wildlife, particularly birds, there are also other very profitable businesses going on alongside. St Paul's, my destination for a full week, was also reknowned for featuring in the TV documentry

DEADLIEST CATCH
 which featured the King Crab Fishermen of the Island but out of season during my stay.

However, what was in progress at that time

were the Long-Liners
(seen here coming alongside to off-load their catch)

focused on
HALIBUT.

cranes at the ready

it was almost in the blink of an eye

that the almost bursting hold were emptied

and immediately dispatched to the
Processing Factory
again maned almost exclusively by Philipino workers.

with very few or any

restriction on viewing before heading off

Back into Town

to visit both the

CATHEDRAL

MUSEUM

being shown around by a most attentive
WENDY

Lighthouse Lens

Unfortuneately, being mesmerized we forgot to take many more images.

Elizium - Fields of the Nephalim

They are Goths as well and worth a listen!

With overnight temperatures having now captured 'double figures' expectations have been high with medium rewards!

THE GOTHIC

reached the exclusivity of the
First For the Year Club

joining another recent addition by way of

FROSTED ORANGE
(just couldn't resist this second showing)
along with the most dainty of

CRANEFLIES

A brief stop at the Main Pond saw the return of the
MUTE SWAN FAMILY

still in tact and featuring as ever the

ALBINO / LEUCISTIC CYGNET
or whatever catagory it may come under?
While again considering them to have abandoned ship a small

SQUADRON

of

MISTLE THRUSH

were found among the Solar Panels,

while at home the

GUINEA FOWL

(maybe better behind bars, continue to thrive) while the

ROSE HIPS

are close to bursting, while it was only a sudden and unexpected 'rush of blood to the brain' that brought about the
La Piece de la Resistance!
Leaving early to flash up the Moth Traps on the Heath we did a full inventory and while the county (Dorset that is) is showing a few specimens across the board we located our very own

WRYNECK

a bizarre member of the Woodpecker family

and our 4th over the last 4 years with the appearances of 2008 and 2009 being a
4 Woodpecker Day, the others being Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker, considered quite an event, while we end with an Archive Shot of one being

processed at the Portland Bird Observatory - bet you remember that event Martin!