Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

followed by dinner at the Wickham's!

Before we go any further, there is an apology for being more than a little remiss with our editing as these first few images should have been published long ago. An invitation to the Hansel and Gretel 'house in the woods' for a traditional Farmhouse Sunday Roast Dinner is never refused, and it is now 2 Sundays past since visiting Janet's Mum and Dad.

The vista that opens before you as you drive up the pot-hole filled driveway,
which keeps the riff-raff  out  (except for me) is a joy to behold,
but on closer inspection

 the huge garden is simply a dream particularly

 the fine range and display of

 ACERS

along with magnificent

'BLACK' TULIPS

Thank you John and Joyce for you own special brand of hospitallity,

plus a HUGE Thank You for the GARDEN PEAS!

While all about me people have been asking, have you seen the 

MALLARD

family yet? I had not until first thing yesterday morning as they plodded 

around the perimeter of Hugh's Tennis Court.

and while this sort of thing happened to me regularly and often
when I was at sea, we didn't expect a Moth Trap to get strafed.

All to report from within was just one addition to the

Year List

CHINESE CHARACTER

a single example of these splendid

and rather large

 

GIANT WATER BEETLE

plus a single

RED ANT

MAGPIE
surveying Bournemouth International Airport.

GOLDFINCH
collecting nesting material.

 COMMON STORKSBILL

 along with

GROUND IVY
are now blooming everywhere.

 Across the Moors River, Farmer Greg has released his
CHAROLAIS CATTLE
from their Winter Quarters into open pasture.
Then onward to the Irrigation Pond

A most welcome visitor there yesterday,
and the first 'known' record for that site.

COMMON SANDPIPER

with a short video clip of the same Wader.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

gracing the Gravel Pit.

Video of Same.

and now that we have conclusively proved breeding, we can relax in the
knowledge that we won't fall foul of the
Trade's Description Act !

 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
In answer to the number of readers who have enquired as to the
progress of the Lapwing,

 again with no parent birds in attendance the oportunity was taken
to re-view the

 nest site close to the bridleway. Since that first and only visit, it appeared
that a 'fifth' egg had been laid, c2 Chicks were huddled close by, another
youngster was close to entering the world (top left) while another
(bottom) had pecked a small hole in its shell.
Time to beat a retreat and visit the Gravel Pit.

 SHELDUCK
were all that were on offer, but a 'great find' here any day.

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The Thrill AIN'T Gone - BB King

BB KING CAN NEVER DIE!

The Bluse's Boy is 

'FOREVER' 
The Thrill Ain't Gone - LINK

Now That's What I Call 'Quite Good' - The Housemartins

'Quite Good' my Aunt Fanny, more like Down Right Dull as the Merritown Trap was opened first thing yesterday morning to find nothing more to catch the eye than what looked to be a small snippet of

 Insect Wing.

 To be fair it did look both unusual and a little exotic, and looking
further into the bottom of the trap soon found out why!

 Our very first 'captive'

EMPEROR (Moth).
We had, thus far, seen them flying across the heath, but as I am saving
myself up for the New york Marathon just before I take on
Floyd Mayweather Jnr. thought it best not to chase after one.
A Little Delight followed, but not of the Afternoon Variety!
In the other traps, and new for the Year,

 DARK-BARRED TWIN-SPOT CARPET

 SILVER-GROUND CARPET

 BROWN SILVER-LINES

 PALE TUSSOCK

in oppose to last weeks 'early' Beautiful Brocade,

a far more seasonable

 LIGHT BROCADE

 LEAST BLACK ARCHES

 SHARP-ANGLED PEACOCK
along with a

 BLACK SEXTON BEETLE
and a 'new one' on me

GREEN NETTLE WEEVIL

When my access here at Parley Court Farm is described as 'unrestricted', there are a couple of caveats to that. Not all of the Solar Panel Compounds are open to me, although the largest and most important one is, and additionally the 'Inner Sanctum' that is the Eco Recycling Plant is also partially Off Limits. Partially, as should there be any need to enter it is a case of reporting to Justin, the Site Manager and youngest son of Trelawney and Gwen, and after the mandatory Safety Brief and issue of a High Visibility Safety Vest, Free Pratique is offered. Such was the case yesterday while scrutinising the rubble and weed strewn area behind the works and spotting a new 'breeding species' for PCF.

CANADA GOOSE
love 'em or hate 'em they are on the British List, so count here as well!

My attention was further attracted to the inordinate number of Hirundines, on the wing, in the area and that among the Swallows and House Martins were somewhere in the region of a dozen Sand Martins as well. A 'scarce' species here at any time, but these birds seemed to be paying more than a passing interest to the piles of Product in the Sorting Yard. Among much other waste, all of 3 Counties 'garden and park' refuse is brought here and the system dictates what is personally considered the most 'canny' business venture in the world. Councils, Gardening Firms and private individuals 'pay' to dump this waste which is then sorted and turned into a number of products, such as compost, and then sold often to those who brought it here in the first place! Nice one Del Boy, by this time next year..........

 Looking in part much like a War Zone,

 it is probably best not to let the looks fool you. Much is going on here,
hence the focus on safety at my arrival to see Justin. There is an enormous
amount of 'heavy plant' zooming around, so the next precaution is vigilance.

 This pile holds much of the macerated tree and shrub deposit
and this was where the

 SAND MARTINs

 were, taking tiny bits and flying off with them to this

 bank of reclaimed Top Soil.

 Seen to be peppered with

tiny nest holes, I'd found myself a

 SAND MARTIN COLONY!

 Blinkin' Ek.

Totally transfixed, I was 'tooted' twice

 to get out of the way

 while the next consignments were delivered.

Just 'by-the-way', preening

COLLARED DOVE

 HOUSE MARTIN

House Martin Video
and as if to place all of the 3 common Great British Hirundines
within a 50 yard Breeding Radius here
(which might also be a Dorset Record for all we know)

 nest building

 SWALLOWs
 

joined the throng.

Swallow and House Martin
It'll be 'great' when I find something to do with myself around here!
and while we are in 'RED'
another Thank You to John Gifford for assistance with some of the ID's. 

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