WOW - Kate Bush

Part Three

of the May Day Parade certainly started with the
WOW FACTOR
when arriving at the Gravel Pit to find this

Summer Plumage

LITTLE GREBE

still in residence.

We always live in hope that they might breed one year, and this is the

nearest we have come to that.

Such a secretive little bird they can disappear in the
Blink of an Eye
and who knows the other may just be quietly sat on eggs not too far away????
Here's hoping!
and although Mallard had been recorded long before this, the

New Family
(which yesterday numbered c13 ducklings now appear to have decreased to just c8)

While talking of potential breeding birds

this is the first we have seen of the female

EGYPTIAN GOOSE
in a fortnight. The male has stood sentinel close by for all of this time
and now he has vanished. The theory continues to be a
Nest Hole in a tree somewhere close at hand?
 As yet no nests of

LAPWING

have been located but there has been plenty of activity in the
Displaying Department.

We are keeping a good look-out for any further progression.

 GREY SQUIRREL

As mentioned and recorded before

SHELDUCK
seemingly unconcerned with our presence.

PIED WAGTAIL
presented no problems at all now nesting in the Solar Panel Compound,
but there had been some pre-race doubt about recording

 STARLING
which in the event proved to be easy. However, and back to the
'pinning down' theory, we did have a couple 'staked out' nesting,

in the now vacant recess where once the
Starboard Navigation Light
would have been fixed on this now redundant aircraft.
(at least we hope it's redundant)

Similarly, a Rolls Royce Style nest site had been chosen by this pair of

STOCK DOVE
As a short diversion a

FOX

crossed our track before continuing the business in hand.

WILLOW WARBLER

had been 'heard' long before now but then showed in the flesh while

recently arrived 

HOUSE MARTIN

(with a lone Swallow)

both at the Manor and Eco set about the prime task of nest building.

COOT
meanwhile at the Irrigation Pond

are now well into incubation but the

CANADA GEESE

are still going through a period of uncertainty at the same location.
Much further North, there was a 'certainty' of a few additions at the
Sewerage Works Fence
which started with

 COAL TIT

 predictably hugging the fence which always seems to be a favoured perch.

 FIELD FORGET-ME-NOT

 LONG-TAILED TIT

 which regular viewers may remember have incorporated their nest in the
Chain Link!
We can now report that they are feeding young and best efforts will be made
to photograph the offspring.

 BULLFINCH
(male)

 BULLFINCH
(female)

 RABBIT
which are now reaching plague proportions hereabouts.
 It was only the familiar 'calling' of a passing

 MEDITERRANEAN GULL
which drew our attention, otherwise it would have passed unnoticed.
An unusual spot to be seen as only the 'second' recorded here ever.

 Also 'on the wing' one of the local
KESTREL

 while male
GOLDCREST
appear to be going berserk during this period of courting and breeding.

 STONECHAT
 (male)

STONECHAT
(female)

brings our Third Chapter to a close. We will bring to you the Final Part of the May Day birds seen tomorrow, while considering an epilogue of those that were missed or simply didn't show, if only to emphasise the value (or not) of Reconnaissance, Stake Outs and Pinning Down!

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Watcher of the Skies - Genesis

Part II of the May Day saga and initially it was more a case of
LOOK UP
what do you see? 
All of you and all of me florescent and starry some of them,
they surprise the bus ride, I went to write this 4a.m. letter.
Fields of Poppies, little Pearls all the boys and all the girls,
sweet-toothed each one a little scary I said your name.
I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
hash bars, cherry mash and tinfoil tiaras
Dreaming of Maria Callas whoever she is.
THIS FAME THING, I DON'T GET IT!

Trivia:- E-Bow is an electronic gadget which acts like a Violin Bow only used on a guitar, the sound of which opens this fantastic track, E-Bow The Letter (Link) by REM. The female voice is that of Punk Poet Laureate, Patti Smith she of 'Because the Night' fame!

In quick succession

ROOK
most unexpected as absent for more than 2 weeks now

CORMORANT

 
(3 in fact)
followed by a pair of

SHELDUCK
another pair of which would prove far more cooperative
 
behind Eco latter in the day.
Completing the profitable Aerial Display was this
 
MUTE SWAN

Continuing along the River Stour, another lucky strike as

KINGFISHER
have also been keeping a low profile lately.

The ROBIN 
which is continually trying to nick what few Moths there are

is now sitting on eggs in Janet's Stable neatly tucked away in one of
the horses feeding baskets.
While another 'parent in waiting' and

 with little likelihood of missing out on

MALLARD

this vigilant male was surely the epitome of being

'pinned down'

while guarding his female sat on eggs no more that 30 feet  from the

Garden Pond Moth Trap.

No problem with

BLUE TIT
ever present at the Harbins Bird Table while nearby

 JACKDAW
continued nest building operations.

GREENFINCH
and 

one of the Harbins Garage

SWALLOW
joined the List before something of a deviation to watch a pair of

BROWN HARE

cavorting but no sign of the prenuptial 'boxing' associated with these creatures.
A total of c4 were recorded on the day.

DUNNOCK

 CHIFFCHAFF

and

WHITETHROAT
they all count, and then at the still frosted over meadow known as
First Parley

our 'first of the year'

 WHIMBREL

 There were c7 here and a further c3 behind Eco later in the day.

REED BUNTING
and the first

LADY'S SMOCK
or
CUCKOO FLOWER
if you prefer.

CHAFFINCH
was the penultimate species for this chapter leaving probably the
BEST
until last. It would appear that there are at least c3 individual

CETTI'S WARBLER
now on territory along this beat of the river, one of Dorset's rarest breeding birds.

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