Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer - Nat King Cole

Firstly an item of 'catch-up' for Thursday which was Ladies Night Out leaving Hugh and I to enjoy a BBQ and a decent bottle of Claret together. I have to emphasis that only a couple of glasses were quaffed as at about 22:00, as we were clearing up, a NIGHTJAR entered the garden did a short circuit then disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. That makes 3 'sighted' new species for the property this week and also another Year Tick for me!

 Unfortunately, I have never been lucky enough to photograph 

Nightjar in this country the nearest was this

MADAGASCAR NIGHTJAR,
which I doubt many would have realised had I not come clean,
but just gives some idea of the bird to those not in the know.

Next an apology for no Post yesterday which saw me spending most of the day in Portland and Weymouth mostly catching up on some long outstanding business. There was little time for visiting and knowing the consequence of having been a Man About Town there for so many years the trip was sure to be punctuated by meeting people en-route. Those events will be published tomorrow.

With the bright, sunny weather continuing for another day we are already hearing complaints of "it's too hot" only days after it was too cold. Except for the Moth Trap today has been both quiet and lazy with yet another 'barbie' planed for this evening.

 We have seen BARRED STRAW here before,

 as we have CORONET.

There were c9 small COCKCHAFFER

 plus a couple of interesting looking MICROs.

 Additions to the Property List include this uncommon

 SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP

 and perhaps even more scarce a

 FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN.

 Sure to have been present before the list was started
GARDEN TIGER

 A wander along this stretch of the River Stour produced a
Family Party of LONG-TAILED TITs
which have been absent since my return.

First signs of bloom on these river plants,

 YELLOW WATER LILY

 Across the river the neighbouring farmer seems to have a bumper
HAY CROP this year, while this side it has also been bountiful.

 Just a couple of the multitude of GRASSES grown here.

TUFTED VETCH - Thanks again Roy.

Big John - Johnny Cash

With the Moth Trap now fully functional it was thought that despite the great success thus far a change might be as good as a rest. Last night the trap was moved from the shade of the

SILVER BIRCH GROVE,
close proximity of a few FIR TREEs and VEGETABLE GARDEN
(I sense a Death's-head Hawk-moth among those spuds)

a little closer to the Garden Pond between the WILLOW and
the ALDER.

 BUFF ARCHES

 SILKY WAVE

SPRUCE CARPET

 BROKEN-BARRED CARPET
(these 2 'Carpets' really did it for me, what beautiful creatures?)

 DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG
were all additions to the Property List
and other Cweepy Cwalies in the trap.

 Many 100's of these tiny Insects and

another MICRO

After what has now become the most important function of the day, Janet accompanied by her Mum Joyce has driven off for their weekly coffee and chat, I decided on a bit of a tête-à-tête myself with her Dad. John, at 80 still plays a huge part in 'haymaking' (1,600 bales on Sunday alone), mile upon mile of fence laying and still chops all his own firewood. This remarkable man also has a great story to tell completely captivating me while keeping our eyes on the dozen or so 'bird feeders'. Lots of young birds are now visiting these along with parents including

 ROBIN (juvenile)

 (adult) CHAFFINCH

 BLUE TIT and NUTHATCH (juveniles)

 the latter was most interesting to me as I had never seen the
young of this species before.

All to wily for this bumbling lad the biggest miss of the visit were the c2 juvenile Jays along with a parent bird, and in addition we also saw Greenfinch, Blackbird, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Buzzard (not on the table I hasten to add) while a Goldcrest was vocal throughout.

Learning to Fly - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

A 'serious tragady' occurred last night as the timer for the Electric Dustbin didn't activate at 22:00 and even with my wealth of 'electrical skills' the darn thing remain off all night - it can also be reported that the big toe of my 'kicking foot' is slowly feeling less painful. No matter, the Cavalry turned up just in time to save the day as my Mate John Gifford sent word of Little Ringed Plover at Blashford with 'chick'! Just a 15 minutes drive, as soon as the 'Truck' became available, I was down there but after a full hour at the given site and discussion with others it was given up as another 'dip'! Nil Desperandum, as there is always 'something' to see at  this fine Nature Reserve even, as in this instance, common to some of us.

EGYPTIAN GEESE

c15 in all were proving bold except when a lady asked what had

been seen and they had temporarily disappeared.

LAPWING

lots of

GREYLAG GEESE

along with even more juvenile

BLACK-HEADED GULLs

and this 'Crest Fallen' LAPWING were on show,

a busy 'summer plumage'

LITTLE GREBE,

PIED WAGTAIL,

an 'in flight' Egyptian Goose

and one in company with a POCHARD.

juvenile Black-headed Gull,

COMMON TERN

then in flew c2 REDSHANK perched briefly before

flying to another bank and

settling. It was a fairly brief visit but on my return Hugh was able
to give me the answer to "why so many photographers yesterday"?

Turns out a SEA VIXEN was visiting

Bournemouth International Airport
but after landing spent the rest of the time just taxiing

up and down the tarmac.

I was just in time mid-afternoon to see this Old War Horse
take to the clear blue sky of Dorset.

MOUNTAIN RINGLET

Just received an e-mail from my Mate Dave Higginson-Tranter

aka
Fungal Punk

informing me of his conquest of 'every' Butterfly on 'mainland' UK - a great achievement Matey! If your interested in anything wild and dangerous (and that's only the music) this link is strongly recommended.

PS - After a long bout of TLC the Electric Dustbin is all set to GO tonight.

 Diagnosis - The safety breaker on the wandering lead had tripped.