The Moth Man Cometh

Regardless of whether there are any unusual birds there or not, both Longham Lake and the Avon Causeway have grown on me as most interesting 'birding' sites during my short period of exploring them. Over the past couple of days there has been little by way of change at either except at the lakes where some

WILLOW COPPICING
has taken place. Some have been left in place, as may be seen distantly,
while in the cropped area views of the watercourse are much improved.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

here have now attained breeding plumage, while

their 'ballet' like display is well worth the watch.

Various GULLS have also been prominent here of late with
this group being mainly Black-headed from which the 'call' of
Common Gull was also heard and the was at least a single
Mediterranean Gull.

Also returned to the lakes c2

SHELDUCK
which are the first noted this year.

REED BUNTING

The previously flooded meadows to the north are now draining rapidly attracting plenty of bird-life, seemingly feeding well, such as c8 Little Egret, c3 Grey Heron, c2 Bullfinch, c3-Chiffchaff a number of Canada and Greylag Geese but unfortunately still no Egyptian Geese sighted of late!

MALLARD

DUNNOCK

and part of what is left of the good numbers of

TUFTED DUCK with MUTE SWAN.
Onward to the Avon Causeway where there was a most welcome
yet unexpected surprise.

A man I can only describe as a 'Most Eminent Entymologist'

BARRY GOATER
(author of a good many books on the subject)
along with 2 of his ex-Pupils.
Not surprisingly, like myself, they were looking for the over-wintering
(American) Green-winged Teal and while none of us could find it,
one of the younger men did spot a distant 

EGYPTIAN GOOSE
(conveniently on the Dorset bank of the River Avon)
which fitted nicely onto my 'ongoing' Dorset March List.
Otherwise among a throng of Wildfowl Greylag and Canada were
also here along with no fewer than 8 species of DUCK.

MALLARD

EURASIAN TEAL

TUFTED DUCK

PINTAIL

WIGEON

SHOVELER (male and female)

GADWALL

and

GOOSANDER

LAPWING
are numerous but not here in the same numbers as

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
(this one in Summer Plumage)

At one point a Sparrowhawk flew overhead, clutching prey, followed by c2 Peregrine which put just about every bird to flight especially the Waders. This gave a much clearer indication as to the number of birds but with no hope of counting them. My estimate was about 200 Lapwing and twice that of Black-tailed Godwit but a wonderful sight for all that. Finally, we had the

 'fourth Moth' of the year.

PARSNIP MOTH

Depressaria radiella

Hopefully, with mild weather forecast over the next few days,
we might capitalise on this.

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Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas

There are some who do not believe in coincidence, but try this! While composing yesterday's Post, which strongly featured the beautifully interesting city of Omaha, Nebraska, I was eagerly awaiting the World Boxing Organisation Lightweight Title bout between

 US contender TERENCE CRAWFORD (left) and 

World Champion Scot RICKY BURNS

While no aficionado, it was easy to see that Burns was making heavy weather of his defence even during the early rounds, and went on to lose on a unanimous decision to a far better fighter on the night. The surprise (and coincidence) came when it was revealed that Crawford not only hails from Omaha, but was born, bred, brought up and still lives in that city. He is the only man with that credential to win a World Boxing Title - a CREDIT to his hometown! Congratulations go to Terence while Ricky deserves similar as a Sporting and Magnanimous loser.

For those of us in Kingston, London it was firstly a walk along the

RIVER THAMES

and to view the Town Bridge.

Although sunny, FRED was wrapped up against a cold wind,

as were Mummy LISA, BENNY and ALEX.

Don't forget GRANDPA BAGSY!

What are believed to be (magnificent) WALNUT TREES

line the banks, they didn't look quiet right for London Plains?

A long walk requires nourishment, so off to

Marks and Spencers

for toasted sandwiches, coffee, crisps, fruit and juice - Yum, Yum.

Lots of restoration and other works going on in the town,

but looks like it will bring great improvement when completed.

You cannot move far around here without encountering a

RING-NECKED PARAKEET

or so followed by a few 'snaps' from Lisa taken during my all too short visit.

Meeting the boys from school.

Fred and Alex.

Heavy Plant seems to be a big favourite with all 3 of them.

PLAYDOUGH

time with BENJAMIN and

ALEXANDER

while FREDERICK contents himself with the Wooden Train Set.
Spend the money wisely Lads and enjoy the Chocolate!
Love Grandpa Bagsy.

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How the West Was Won - Led Zeppelin

The relatively small city of

 OMAHA, NEBRASKA

is unlikely to spring to mind when thinking of the USA as a whole.

Its distinction probably lies with the excellent

 (just one exhibit)

 or

 but much more likely the incredible exhibition of

 Life Size

 'BRONZES'

 tastefully placed around the town.

 

 On arrival I immediately dubbed this fabulous spectacle

 'How the West Was Won'

 Just gaze at those faces!

However, during the wanderings of recent days through a fairly extensive archive of World Bird Photographs, one species has stood out among the others 'for reasons as follow'. Not a remarkably colourful bird the

BROWN THRASHER
(photographs taken in Omaha, Nebraska)
((State Bird of Georgia))

somehow holds a mystique for me and probably many other 'birders' in Great Britain as well. Not at all a 'rare' species in its homeland, mainly the United States of America, where it is by and large confined to the east of the Rocky Mountains, but is a 'skulker' often difficult to see. Of the many dozens I must have seen during extensive travels in the USA the one shown was, without a doubt, the most obliging and seemed worthy of more exposure. Back in the UK there has only ever been a single documented record and that is where the mystique to other 'birders' here comes in. Known as a 'blocker' in birding circles, there cannot be that many who have this enigmatic bird, which lingered in the Durlston Country Park, Dorset from 18th November until 5th February 1966, on their GB List including myself! Of this 12 inch long beauty Doctor George Green in his comprehensive reference work 'The Birds of Dorset' notes, On some occasions this bird could be very skulking, but on others it took little notice of observers and could be watched at close range. It was trapped, ringed and photographed on the 23rd November. The Brown Thrasher breeds in Central and Eastern North America from Southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and winters in the Southern half of this range.

This post has been part of the thought process for a month now, so coincidental that the 

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