Stone Free - Jimi Hendrix

Plan 'A' had been to wander down to Portland to pick up the new power cable for the Bose Wave, which has now been sourced by my dear friend The Secret Lemonade Drinker, but........

This was the scene at

 HARBINS
and

JANET'S STABLES
so bring on Plan 'B' which will be another rounds of the farm in the
hope of something 'rare' having been pushed down from the north.

Last night I watched a short TV programme about the detrimental effect Solar Panels have on the environment, how they block out the light, nothing will grow, wildlife won't survive etc. What the so called experts had to say flies in the face of my own 'on the spot' experiences over the past 12 months, including construction and hook-up. All these RSPB's, English Nature's et al wallahs I feel sure just sit in their comfortable offices and make it up as they go along. For example, yesterday in one 15 acre SP unit alone I recorded 3-400 Chaffinch, a sprinkling of Reed Bunting, 3 Stonechat, 2 Common Chiffchaff, a single Siberian Chiffchaff, c15 Song Thrush perched on just 3 rows (and there were many more), c29 Meadow Pipit, a Common Buzzard, c5 Wren, c13 Pied Wagtail, ? number of Goldfinch a single Grey Wagtail, c11 Robin, uncountable (due to movements) Redwing and Fieldfare, all the more common Corvides and a Green Sandpiper just on the periphery. Add to that c5 Roe Deer and endless active Mole Hills all taking advantage of the prolific and untouched weed growth throughout. Hardly worth bothering going up there!! Except for the odd days maintenance these areas remain fenced from all human traffic and I for one am looking forward to Spring and Summer as if it were Christmas.

Anyroad, before heading up there again, a chance to catch up with a
Post from last week. After our most enjoyable visit to Slimbridge our
homeward track took us through the Magical village of

Avebury and its Stone Circles

rather than try and describe what the area is all about, clicking on the
Link above will reveal ALL.
The rest will be mostly a pictorial.

Ye Olde Village Shoppe

RECTORY?

Thought to be
DORSET HORN

Just loved this Hillock with BEACH TREE

showing fine Root Stock.

Ye Olde Farm

The Concrete Obelisks have been placed in lieu of missing stones.

PUB

HOUSE
and

POST OFFICE
an Ancient Relic in itself in small villages these days!

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Sugar, Sugar - The Archies

Since the finding of the Woodlark on Tuesday last, quite a bit of time has been spent around the Merritown Heath area, with neither the Lark or a 'dreamed of' Great Grey Shrike being seen. However, it has been by no means dull as a 'drumming' Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has been heard, a fourth pair of Treecreeper for the property located, the highest total this year of c8 Stock Dove recorded, c6 'fly-over' Crossbills plus a single pair each of Ravan and Stonechat. c37 transiting Lapwing caused a bit of a stir as it was thought they might be returning to 18 Acre, but no they decided not to linger. Tuesday night likely qualified for the mildest, temperature wise, of 2015 so a single Trap was run. Not a Moth to be seen but among the dozen or so Brown Dung Flies there was singles of

OPHION OBSCURATUS

The Spider

STEATODA GROSSA

and another much smaller

HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD

also covered in some kind of cotton/wool as was the other.

Goldberg, the Solar Panel Contractors, have requested any images

associated with the recently completed works for their 'archive'. 

There are a few that have already 'seen the light of day' through these pages.

GREY WAGTAIL

is now added to that collection.

REDWING

are still numerous here, seemingly in every hedgerow at tree-top.

It is thought the total for the property, including the flock of some 200+

on Merritown Heath, has to be in the region of 500?

ROE DEER

have also increased in numbers over the past year.

Now there's a thing, this male

GOLDCREST

holding territory in the small, mixed woodland behind the Manor House

has been displaying off and on since the beginning of the year.

Up until yesterday I had been unable to get the camera focused on it,

but for whatever reason (pishing was tried) it decided to put on a

Personal Display for me!

Around the corner is the stable yard and with so much easily sourced 

food there is always a decent selection of the more common species.

 male

BLACKBIRD

along with male

CHAFFINCH

followed by a male Horse.

This is ARCHIE

the mount of Tasha Jones one of PCF 'resident' riders.

Passing by, she saw the camera and asked if I'd snap Archie,
which I was only too pleased to do. Hope to see you both again soon.
Up at Gibbet Firs

BADGERS

were paying no heed to Historic Earthwork as it seems they may

be contemplating a new SETT on the Bronze Age Tumulus.

The view over the Solar Panels from the top of the Earthworks.

(seemed like a good idea at the time?)

and looks like the Wood Pigeons have been lowering their guard,

2 'kills' in as many paces.

GRAVEL EXTRACTION

has now resumed at the North End of the Farm

making a start on the New Golf Course in the south.

Water levels are not helping as this is the highest they have been since

the Pit was first excavated.

Mister's MOLE

have been extremely busy around the Solar Panels and

at the back of Eco.

Revered by the Jacobite's they aren't causing any problem at these locations.

In 1702, William III died of pneumonia, a complication from a broken collarbone following a fall from his horse, Sorrel. Because his horse had stumbled into a Mole's burrow, many Jacobite's toasted "the Little Gentleman in the Black Velvet Waistcoat." Years later, Sir Winston Churchill, in his A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, stated that the fall "opened the door to a troop of lurking foes^". William was buried in Westminster Abbey alongside his wife. His sister-in-law, Anne, became Queen Regnant of England, Scotland and Ireland.

 and finally, a contribution from a Regular Readers recent visit to

Rodden Hive on the Fleet near Langton Herring.

BARNACLE GEESE

(foreground)

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