Ladybird - Tears For Fears

Again we woke to leaden skies, but the forecasted rain showers came to very little. The Moth Trap once again showed scant returns, in fact there were far more other insect species than Moths this morning, among others were:-

7-SPOTTED LADYBIRD

BURYING BEETLE again

FOREST SHIELDBUG

and HARLEQUIN (species) LADYBIRD.
 
 SHARP-ANGLED PEACOCK
was the only Moth worth publishing.

Water levels are very much reduced at
LONGHAM LAKE

but for the want of a 10 minutes drive it was worth a look for a

Wood Sandpiper that has been reported in the last few days.

SOUTHERN HAWKER DRAGONFLY

GREENFINCH

Another 'Dragon' that was doing far more flying than perching only
allowed this very poor shot. If anyone can confirm ID it would be
much appreciated.

DUNNOCK

COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY

LAPWING right and no not another perched on a branch,
but the rather similar looking MAGPIE.

By far the most numerous species at the lake today was
TUFTED DUCK

mostly in the shape of newly hatched young. Already 'diving' for
their own food it was impossible to make an accurate count.

As a proud Mum looked on my 'guesstimate' was 100+.

At frequent intervals along the footpaths what appeared to be
'mateing' COMMON or GARDEN SNAIL

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

SEDGE WARBLER
plenty of these along with as many Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting.
So, after a long chat with Ian the Water Bailiff it was a 15 minute
drive to the Avon Causeway.

There was not a sigh of the 300+ Mediterranean Gulls reported
there just a couple of days ago, with all of interest being
EGYPTIAN GEESE
numbers of which only just reached double figures.

Back for a quick scout around the Parley Ponds to find most of
the Damselflies of recent days along with

a few CARP (Sp?) not often seen here these days.

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In Dreams - Roy Orbison

Something must be afoot as things go from bad to worse with the Moth Trap. Just 7 'macro' Moths last night despite having it away from any buildings or any other interfering light source. Anyroad, we can only turn it on and hope for the best as others, further west in the county, catch such beauties as Saltern Ear and Antler Moth. Indeed it was a very quiet day throughout, although the weather stayed bright with some decent sunny patches, but just as we decided to draw a line under it the unexpected turned up.

but firstly a return to yesterday and the

DREAM CATCHER.

I have NEVER shared one word of my vast memoir with anyone, not even nearest and dearest, but it was thought easier simply to copy a diary entry for the day my daughter Lisa and I spent in Nashville, Tennessee. This was part of a Coast to Coast adventure in the USA during the Spring of 1995, journeying by Greyhound Coach from New York to Los Angeles taking in small parts of Canada and Mexico en-route.

First stop was at what I would call an ethnic shop specialising in traditional North American Indian memorabilia. There were a thousand things I would love to have bought but the problem was getting them back home. Here we met a lovely Shoshone lady KIMANA (Butterfly) who was more than happy to talk to us and who noted my obvious interest in the 'dream catchers’. Before leaving UK I had bought one as a present for a friend, but was not totally sure of their origin, I was about to find out first hand. The lady told me that Indian children would have one made for them, individually, at birth and this would stay with them throughout life and be buried with them at the end of their days. During the persons lifetime it would be adorned with various sentimental items or just things that caught the eye such as feathers and beads. The story goes that a small child found a Spider in the tepee one day and not caring for its presence was about to squash it when stopped by the Grandmother. She quietly explained that Indians only kill what they need to sustain life and that all creatures were sacred telling the child to set it free. Now, as these fables go, this was no ordinary arachnid but one of 'magic' which thanked the old lady for her kindness and said it would do something in return. Creeping to the top of the tent, on reaching the 'smoke-hole' it spun a web across the circular outlet then told the woman of its magic powers. From now on you will all sleep in peace as the threads of the web will catch any bad dreams while letting the good dreams pass through the hole in the middle. The Dream Catcher is made of Willow which is bound with finely tanned animal skin, the web is made of 'gut' or other thread which is often dyed red. Small beads are threaded onto the web to represent 'bad dreams' which are burnt-off by the first rays of the morning sun. Leaving there our next stop was to be The Crazy Horse Saloon a huge pub selling beer brewed on the premises and playing some fine Blues.

Feathers from around the world are all that adorn mine, except for a NAZCA ARROWHEAD (right of centre) to which are tied the pinion feathers of a

GREY-BREASTED SEEDSNIPE

both found in Northern Chile. Unfortunately, the injured bird died
unlikely a 'road casualty' not up here in the Alto Plano.

Others include (at 2 'o' clock) Hoatzin primary, base of which points to Black Guan, the grey one below Galah, (10 'o' clock and 9 to 6 close to rim) Golden Eagle, (5 to 3 'o' clock with white patch) Madagascar Nightjar, (orange and pointed blue above) Scarlet Macaw, plus Helmeted Guineafowl at 1 'o' clock. The longest of all is Common Pheasant the only one I ever shot and ate.

Taking an early evening wander around the ponds a stranger shape
than the attendant Mallards caught my eye.

Despite careful approach these 2

female MANDARIN DUCKS

took to the water but otherwise stayed close by.

The Lord of the Manor (Hugh) was summoned by which
time the birds had returned to the bank.

After what must have been our 14th barbecue of the year, 

the Ducks seemed to have flown.

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GREAT to see a return of Latvia and Guatemala to the ratings!

Crazy Horses - The Osmonds

A better showing in the Moth Trap today after a dry, still and balmy night produced about 40 Macro (larger) Moths including one new species added to the Property List*.   

LIME-SPECK PUG

PEBBLE PROMINENT

ROSY RUSTIC*

Likely indicating a healthy population here.

4 EAR MOTHS

All else in the trap today was this rather attractive FLY.

 Sooner or later I must decide some direction for the next phase of my life, but things are all too comfortable here with little sign of anyone wanting rid of me. Perhaps if the 18:00 daily arrival of a pint of Adnams Broadside along with a bowl of Kettles Crisps, followed by dinner, which always includes 'home grown' vegetables, accompanied by a decent Burgundy, Claret or New World 'red' were to dry up then some incentive may be found!

A step in that direction was mustering those few things on my now short list of possessions, things I would find impossible to dispose of. Under that heading come a number of Native North American (Indians) trophies which have either been given or purchased during my travels to all 50 States of the USA. None are purported to be authentic 19th century relics, but all hold a story or two in the acquiring. The 'white fluffy thing' is a MANDALA, the Sanskrit word for circle, a type of Sacred Shield which introduces us to the great circle that we find in life, as well as the universe. For some this circle is sacred, for others it signifies creation and our journey, for others this Great Mandala is used for healing. The Great Mandala is found everywhere on the planet, throughout various cultures, bringing for its people a great sense of peace and understanding. Native American mandalas are no less than any other, found across the country in every tribe. More ancient than the world renowned Tibetan mandala, one such Native American mandala comes from the Shaman. Within the centre of the mandala is the healing power of the circle. Black Elk found the sacred healing within the balance of the four directional points of the circle, referring to the mandala as a Sacred Hoop. This can be seen, for instance, in the medicine wheel of the various tribal cultures. The 'sporting' Bow and Arrow was purchased from Sarah Passing Cloud of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe while staying in Rapid City on my way to 

 MOUNT RUSHMORE

Washington, Jefferson, T Roosevelt and Lincoln.

 and the CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT

 Some idea of scale can be obtained by looking at the 

'heavy plant' just below the chalk outline of the 'horses head'.

 Some say the monument will never see completion!

Oh they of little faith.

CRAZY HORSE 

1840 - 1877

 In Lakota Tȟašúŋke Witkó in Standard Lakota Orthography 

literally "His-Horse-Is-Crazy" or "His-Horse-Is-Spirited"; was a 

Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota Tribe.

 So there would be no confusion as to the boundaries of the

'OGLALA LAKOTA' HOMELANDS

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