Because They're Young - Duane Eddy

Communication Breakdown
of the serious kind has precluded
our attendance - Apologies all round.
As the Headline Says Link

some water under the bridge since we bought the

Guitar Man Album

A return to the weekend, and while the weather was less than desirable it didn't dampen the spirits of my visiting friends Paul and Tess, nor my own. Both days were utilised to the full, showing them the full extent of the Recording Area here, with most prominent on show being 'Young Birds'. With so much to see and so many images it might be that we have to split this into 2 separate Posts. Of course on both days early attendance at the Moth Traps was priority but even there we could not escape 'The Young' (not that we wanted to). 

 Heralding some of the less clement weather and with my

Meteorological Days

behind me

 I couldn't put a name to this 'strange formation'.

 At the Stable Trap it was likely this youngster had nicked all the

good stuff off of the palling wall.

 ROBIN

A decent catch on both days produced an interesting selection of

Insects, including

 LACKEY

 SMALL FAN-FOOTED WAVE

 the eye-catching

 BLUE-BORDERED CARPET

 GREY PINE CARPET

 RIVULET

a pristine 'first for the year'

 V-PUG

BORDERED PUG 

and

SCORCHED CARPET

At Parley Pond a young

 GREY HERON

has established a regular feeding spot.

 A 'host' of juvenile

 COLLARED DOVE

 we met as we drove through the 

Eco Recycling Plant and before entering the

Solar Panel Compound

this 'complete fluke' image of a parent

 CHIFFCHAFF

feeding a youngster was secured.

 Once the gate was bolted to keep the Sheep within 

 we quickly 

picked up on a number of recently fledged

SKYLARK

which even lingered long enough to become 'Movie Stars'.

While they have been showing an interest in the Compound for a

number of days now

 a family party or

 'UNKINDNESS'

of

 RAVEN

 now seem to have plucked up the courage to venture inside.

 Initially thought to be of c2 parent birds and c3 juveniles,

there are in fact c6 individuals in total.

They also were in for a 'shout' at the Oscar's.

All the small, passerine type birds have done well here

over this Breeding Season and none more so than 

 MEADOW PIPIT

but appear to be the least confiding of them all.

 STARLING

now congregate in many dozens but no sign of a 'murmuration' yet!

It was unanimously agreed that the
HIGHLIGHT
of the weekend was the visit

and very 'close quarters' views of the

SAND MARTIN
colony behind Eco.

 Initially, about a dozen birds

excavated and looked to be tending c7 'active' nest holes

before disaster struck as part of the 'reclaimed' soil bank

collapsed beneath them.

 Undeterred, these tiny Hirundines set about excavating

new nest holes which in itself was a miracle of nature to witness.

Seemingly taking it in turns, each would perch on the outer edge of

 the intended hole and frantically 'shovel' the loose earth behind them,
but only 3 guesses as to who didn't have the foresight to video this
'magical happening'.
Answers on a Post Card!

Although difficult to count, on the day of our visit the original dozen
or so have now increased to between 30 and 40 individuals, all
'on the wing'.

Of these there are still c3 (pairs) attending nests.
and the
Avian Oscar
goes to
SAND MARTIN
There are some Family Happenings on the horizon which shouldn't
preclude us from bringing you
Because They're Young - The Sequel
in a couple of days time.

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The Wanderer - Dion

The weekend weather didn't amount to much, with almost continuous rain accompanied by a stiff breeze throughout Sunday, but all of that was adequately countered by a visit of my dear and long time friends from Emsworth, Hampshire

Paul and Tess Lifton

Long time wanderers in their mobile home, they are recently returned from a wander through a fair section of the South of France with plenty of tails of Roller, an abundance of Nightingale, along with plenty of Golden Oriole, while for my part it was a delight to show them around the Recording Area. Much of the action from their stay is yet to be edited, cannot do two things at once, and hopefully brought to you via our next Post. For now, some images from last weeks wanderings starting with a few more Moths.

 BRUSSELS LACE

 FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN

 BROWN RUSTIC

 SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT

 SINGLE-DOTTED WAVE

 and just the odd Micro

 THISTLE ERMINE

 along with what is believed to be

Trinia semifulvella

There was something of a surprise at the 

 IRRIGATION POND

this morning, in fact 1½ surprises! Suddenly overnight it had become

 HIGH TIDE

as water, much needed for the Recycling Process, had been pumped

from the aquafer, while additionally and only a ½ surprise the

 LAPWING

which have been 100% attentive here over the past few weeks,

introduced their new arrivals to the world.

 We had predicted that Little Ringed Plover might make the

Island in the middle of the pond a nest site, but by no means a

 complete surprise the Lapwings piped them to the post.

 Thus far just

3 youngsters have been noted.

Also there an example of

MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED,

a member of the Dandelion family, along with

good numbers of

 COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

 already getting

 well into the

 Mating Game

and talking of

WILD OATS

it wasn't me Sir!

Round at the Gravel Pit, first to be encountered was

Mother MALLARD

with her little brood.

Among the Fat Hen and at what has become a favoured 

Watering Hole

for a number of species this 

 COLLARED DOVE

looked a little on the 'dark side' of the usual colour

while another looked a little pale!

BLACKCAP
have had a 'bumper year' here at PCF

 still noted daily as singing in just about every hedgerow, but

just try 'seeing' one let alone getting a shot.
This female was partially obliging.
While unlocking the access gate to the Heath yet another

 GREEN WOODPECKER

was spotted clinging to a fence post in a nearby Horse Paddock

and thought worthy of a shot or three.
Greeting came by way of juvenile

STONECHAT,

 lots of

 SMALL HEATH BUTTERFLIES

 and just a month plus a couple of days

 since seeing my very first

 SMOOTH SNAKE

 another one obliges.
On the way back, God's Little Acre came up with a new species of

Butterfly for that patch a
MEADOW BROWN

with a text alerting me to the fact that the
HOUSE MARTINs
are back at both the Manor and Gavin's House.
Must qualify that by saying as yet I have not seen a single bird but
we will be keeping an eye open.

 Puffed out and back to Base I got to thinking of trying a 'pint' of that there
PETRUS
everyone is raving about. Got to be honest, even though it was a bit old
(1982)
it was thought to taste more like Red Wine, won't bother again.
CHEERS!
from Philistines R-Us

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