The Bagsy Blog

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Rainbow Chaser - Nirvana

Overjoyed late yesterday afternoon when I took delivery of 2 new Moth Traps expertly made for me by my long-time 'birding' friend

DAVE FOOT

A wonderful bit of kit with more extras and lower price than from

Watkins and Doncaster the Entomologists.

For more information contact Dave as above.

Not surprisingly and like a kid on Christmas Morning there was to be no waiting 'til later of checking everything out first! Oh no, straight into it and despite the forecast of high winds and heavy rain they were both pressed into service. All 3 burning brightly all through the night, that is until 05:30 exactly when a 36 miles per hour 'squall' hit Parley accompanied by probably the heaviest rain of the year - even my bathroom got slightly flooded through an open window.

First I knew about it the clouds had rolled away, the wind moderated and a 'full' RAINBOW graced the sky. However, there was more to it than that as in my haste there had been some egg trays (used to retain the Moths in the trap) had been left loose and they were sodden and strewn all over the garden. In addition, where there is usually a lee under the veranda, the easterly gusts and rain had also managed to reach into the plastic box containing Specimen Pots, Electric Timer and other equipment, not the best of starts!

On the up-side, one trap held a certain addition to the
Property List in the shape of

RED LINE QUAKER

a HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD

plus 2 potential 'firsts' that have still to be identified.

HELP PLEASE! it's been a fraught day.

This nifty SPIDER made up the rest of the contents where totals

included New Trap 1 (not rain guard fitted) a single Large Yellow Underwing, New Trap 2 (with rain guard - don't ask why I didn't put them on both) 150 Insects including all of the above and the Electric Dustbin completely washed out. Maybe no need to ask why this post is 'late'. Additionally, in the garden

SMALL COPPER

and hey

what about that for an 'in flight shot'? Jammy or wot!

Still good numbers of

STARLINGS

and today the first Redwing for this end of the year,

plus a GOLDFINCH or 2 feeding on TEASELS while the
Barn Owl continued to 'call' loudly through the eye of the storm.

An finally from Valued Reader John Gifford this

HEDGEHOG in his garden - With Thanks.

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Friday, 11 October 2013

Enigmatic Endemics

On another bright, sunny, cool and much more windy Autumn day it is unfortunate that all of my attentions have had to be directed elsewhere. The only real item of news is of a slightly sad nature as

NODDY

Jen and Janet

has been 'sold on'.

His new home has been well scrutinised and opinions are he should be

happy there

here's hoping!

With a hope of some 'normal service' being resumed tomorrow, and not wishing to disappoint the Readership today, we give you another dozen

Endemic Birds of Madagascar.

MADAGASCAR PARADISE FLYCATCHER

(White Morph)

MADAGASCAR BEE-EATER

MADAGASCAR BUTTONQUAIL

MADAGASCAR FISH EAGLE

MADAGASCAR KESTREL

MADAGASCAR LITTLE GREBE

MADAGASCAR MALACHITE KINGFISHER

MADAGASCAR MANNIKIN

MADAGASCAR PLOVER

MADAGASCAR SANDGROUSE

MADAGASCAR SWAMP WARBLER

MADAGASCAR WAGTAIL

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Thursday, 10 October 2013

Two Little Dicky Birds Sitting On A........

Autumn proper arrived with a bit of a 'bang' today as the sun continued to shine, sky half covered with fluffy white clouds and the wind 'backed' to the north east. Having increased in strength, it brought with it a cold draft, while the leaves continued to brown and fall. No date was kept, but Moth Trapping on the Estate started early October last year with one of the first Insects caught being the beautifully marked and scarce

MELVEILLE du JOUR

today's specimen was just 2 days later this year.
Not a particularly active day for me today, in fact just a wander
around the Parley Pond in the hope for something of interest.

Male MALLARD in the Sunshine

The New 'Permenant' Bridge onto what is now

ALPACA ISLAND

GIANT TERRAPIN basking in the sun and
MOORHEN

GREEN WOODPECKERs

It's not that late yet, still time for the odd

SMALL TORTOISESHELL

One of the Goats 'Fiddling on the Roof'

WOOD PIGEON
Still in for a 'little loving' despite the change of season.

ROOK

PIED WAGTAIL

and from one of our dedicated readers this image and the
request for a suitable caption! I feel sure 'she' could have sorted it?

An e-Mail winged its way to me from sunny Portland to show the
high point of yesterday's birding there.
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE aka SPROSSER

A bird I have not yet seen on Great Britain and this is the 'third' to show up on the Island. However, it does generate a little humour value concerning the only one I have seen in the world. On a one week birding trip with both good friend and accomplished 'birder' Ken Parker, he managed to find one in bushes on the side of a deep ravine along a hillside track. Great for us both as this usually skulking bird afforded good views (long before either of us started camera packing) but to further increase the experience a small group of other bird watchers turned up. After bathing in the moment the group moved on and after another long look so did Ken and I. The conversation that followed amounted to "Sprosser, Sprosser, Sprosser", which after 5 or 6 miles started to subside, that's when I realised my telescope was not where it should have been, on the back seat! Fortunately, when we arrived back at the site there it was standing in the middle of the track which saved the insurance company, or more likely ME £1,500.

'GREAT' TITS!

(Parus major that is)
and while we are at it here are a further 6 images from
MADAGASCAR
all bearing the names of those who first found and/or described them to science.