Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush

 

Out on the wily, windy moors we'd roll and fall in green.
You had a temper like my jealousy too hot, too greedy.
How could you leave me when I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I loved you, too!

Since the introduction of the new, Ill Thought Out, Draconian and not discussed entry to the Heath we have paid it scant attention in recent weeks. However, being in the vacinity of the 'new rules' access gate we did spend a couple of hours wandering, but with little more than the expected to report but of course the Moth Traps were first priority

showing no more than a single

GREY SHOULDER-KNOT
along with ditto

SETACEOUS HEBREW CHARACTER
during which time there was a fly-past of a squadron of

LAPWING
which our own attempt at a count amounted to nearer 50.

Across the open Heath we found 3 of the more expected Bird species starting with a

DARTFORD WARBLER

before happening upon the first, but by no means last,
Wind Blown Carnage

with the top-hamper of this favoured perch for may a bird reducing it to half its former height.

STONECHAT

but surely worth turning the

COVERS
without a Reptile in sight but didn't leave empty-handed.

A real bonus to find this

NEST
and attendant

FIELD VOLE
still active under one of them and this smart looking

SNAIL
glistening in the sunshine under another.

More minor damage which we had to clear as we made to leave,

but if note we may have missed the

WOODLARK
among the Heather at the side of the track before snapping the ripe

PRIVET BERRIES

along with the
RARE BREED GOATs
that were hidden on our arrival.

Bits and Pieces - The Dave Clark 5

 It’s part of the gig really to stand on the doorstep any time around about the Witching Hour listening for nocturnal migrants or more local birds for that matter. It was such last night when c2 tiny and ghostly apparitions scampered across the lawn which surely could only have been

GREY SQUIRRELs? but otherwise no Birds.

Midnight on the water (doorstep),
I saw the ocean's daughter.
Walking on a wave she came,
staring as she called my name.

And I can't get it out of my head,
no I can't get it out of my head.
Now my old world is gone for dead,
'cause I can't get it out of my head no, no!

Further to that, at daylight we were also hampered in our ability to manoeuvre as the

STRANGE ROVER

had to be consigned to the Sick Bay under the care of our skilful pal Gerry but not before a lightning dash around all areas where it was pretty much a recap of previous days with the likes of

the

COOT

c3

LITTLE GREBEs

along with the female

TUFTED DUCK
all continue to occupy the Gravel Pit

Breakdown on the shoreline,
can't move, it's an ebb tide.
Morning don't get here tonight,
still searching for her silver light
while new arrivals elsewhere included this bonny looking

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
on the football pitches

and a fly-in

LITTLE EGRET
which landed on the margins of the Golf Course for only a matter of seconds while the ornimental

KNOB-HEADED GEESE
were hosting the return of just part of the presumed localy bred

MUTE SWAN
family on the Main Pond.
Otherwise, hoping not to over-egg the custard we are inclined to post the 'full monty'

on the local

female

KESTREL

perch above the pond and being so obliging

n'all.

An update on the Moths will follow in due course should there continue to be any.

And I can't get it out of my head,
No I can't get it out of my head
now my old world is gone for dead,
'cause I can't get it out of my head, no, no, no no!

E.L.O.

The Geese and the Ghost - Anthony Phillips

In the first instance, HUGE APOLOGIES for the absence of a Post yesterday due to day long Internet issues which will put us in arears until things level out. However, due to the persistance of our Valued Readership we did clue-up with more 'HITS' than usual. Thanks for persevering! 

 The delights of the continuing beauty of the

Early Morning Skies
warranted a mention on last nights BBC weather forecast while the wildlife

Heralds of the Daylight Hours
featured this very small skein of

GREYLAG GEESE
which alight just briefly no more than a couple of hundred yards away.

Returning to the Moth Traps we were to find yet another modest catch, but good for the time of year, starting with c2

RED-GREEN CARPET

yet another
MERVEILLE du JOUR in close company with a BLACK RUSTIC,

LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING
and surely close to the last of the year

CADDISFLY?

while in the wider-world it took no time at all to find the c2 escapee

BELTED GALLOWAYS
were still on the loose.

While transiting the Solar Panel Compound we took in the eyecatching and skeletal proportions of the now leafless Silver Birches, before having to utter a quiet BINGO to ourself

as the slight movement that caught the eye turned out to be one of the wayward

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE
absent for a number of months now

but matching very nicely with the one found 'down south' no more than a few days ago!
A slow amble back found no more than this couple of nicely plumed

STARLING
on the overhead cable in company with no more than a lone but equally fine looking

WOOD PIGEON
which comes nowhere near comparison with the
13,750 south-west of Studland, a further 12,750 close to Abbotsbury along with 5,950 at West Bay on Wednesday!

"At the Sign of the Prancing Pony"

 J. R. R. Tolkien

Where There's Muck There's Brass

 If truth be known had we not a Sewerage Works as part of out Recording Area there would have been little, or no activity to form a Post today - Saved by the Bell! But we get a little ahead of ourself with Moth Traps to visit firstly and despite our first 'minus' digit temperature even though just singular there was a second

CHESTNUT

along with a considered migrant and rather dark form of

SILVER Y

The dense hedgerows around the Works (looking west) form perfect Winter sanctuary for small Birds such as our first find of the day,

a small group of

CHIFFCHAFF
which usualy reside here throughout the season reliant on the emerging Insects produced due to the  warmer (man-made) conditions. Just a single

HERRING GULL
on the day which is not at all usual while the

COLLARED DOVE

is a year round resident as are most, if not all of the folowing.

(looking east)

WREN

DUNNOCK
or in 'old fasioned'
Hedge Sparrow although not a Sparrow at all!

STOCK DOVE

The diminutive GOLDCREST which is

our smallest Bird along with the Firecrest which have not shown themselves yet, while

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
are only occasional

while finally for the day was a rather handsom

GREY WAGTAIL