Cut to the 'Chase' - Rush

Just what was needed a restful day under a cloudy sky, a stiff breeze and at least a 50 - 50 chance of rain. Hugh was set to coduct some business in one of Dorset's most beautiful corners today and all I had to do was sit in the Range Rover and soak up the view.

First stop were the rolling fields just north of the picturesque village of Cranborne, with Martin Down in the far distance, to check on what can only be described as the

MUCK SPREADERS

Lorries bring in the compost from local farms

which is then transfered and spread on the recently harvested fields.
This a Barley Field

and this Oil Seed Rape.
Horton Tower,
a well know Dorset landmark, can be seen in the distance.

Don't worry we will get a little closer.

Just time to find a species of Convolulous

and HAZELNUT (also called Cob or Filbert according to species)
which I have not seen in many a day.

Onward to CRANBORNE CHASE where we found Paul

hauling another load this time from Wessex Water.
Human waste is also used on the land after special treatment.

Just driving around this beautiful countryside is a tonic.

As a huge bonus Hugh spotted a field of Barley being reaped in the
traditional fashion. no 'cuboid or 'round' bales here just good
Old Fashioned 'STOOKS'

The old baling machine does bind the stooks together which are

otherwise gathered by hand. This was great to see!

A final and slightly closer view of
HORTON TOWER
before heading home after a quiet and restful day.

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	900
United States	359
Estonia	69
Canada	64
Germany	42
France	41
Poland	29
Latvia	23
Costa Rica	10
Netherlands	8

Bye-Bye Blackbird - Nina Simone

Slightly better value from the Moth Trap this morning but not quite what you'd expect at this time of year under these weather conditions. Ear Moth continues to be caught on a daily basis and with another addition* to the Property List the interest isn't waning yet (nor is it likely to). Dark and dismal overhead all on offer is as follows:-

 PEBBLE PROMINENT

 DARK ARCHES

 BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING

 two contrasting forms.

 LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING

 and the smallest of the 'Yellow Underwings'

LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING*

 HOVERFLY Sp

 Another MICRO
 As the sky blackened and the rain started so did today's
 PARLEY EQUESTRIAN EVENT..
 
 Family Friend TRACEY aboard FELICITY

 was first to start

 ably assisted by son BEN who read out the moves
from the side-lines.

 To the untrained eye it looked a flawless round

 as 'flocks' of adoring fans gathered to await the result.
"and the winner is"

 FELICITY and TRACEY
 for the second time on the trot (no pun intended).
Just look at that 'rosette'.

A proud son and helper
BEN sits astride the winning Charger.

 and I want to call this Wee Fella a TOAD but bet as soon as I do!!!!

 

 Safely returned to the pond after capture.

Some signs of the 'southerly migration' here today.

70-odd young SWALLOWs congregating on the telephone wires,

while in the nearby trees there were a couple of dozen

Willow Warbler (some in song) along with an equal number of

Long-tailed Tits, seemingly ALL in song.
A case of Bye-Bye Blackbird and anything else migratory!

The Butterfly Effect - Music by Michael Suby

Forced into another quiet day at the Ranch and the overnight catch from the Moth Trap being the most dismal yet, just

 the tiny Brown Chafer,

 FOREST SHIELDBUG

plus half a dozen more common Moths, it was decided to sit awhile in the bright sunshine close to the

 BUDDLEIA BUSHES
 in the garden.

 Both PIED WAGTAIL

 and RED ADMIRAL were recorded before being seated
and in all c9 other species of Butterfly were seen.

BRIMSTONE

SMALL TORTOISESHELL

PEACOCK

SMALL WHITE

LARGE WHITE (displaying)

COMMA left and PEACOCK

RED ADMIRAL

PAINTED LADY

GATEKEEPER

male BRIMSTONE pollinating Runner Beans.
Holly Blue again was the 9th.

the flowers of which looked startling.
Highly amusing News Snippet especially as no one was hurt.
Just One Cornetto - Glug!
at least the ice that sunk the Titanic came from outside of the hull!

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	928
United States	339
Latvia	59
Canada	55
Germany	31
France	29
Estonia	28
Poland	26
Costa Rica	14
New Zealand	7