Garden - Groundhogs

Living my chosen lifestyle where I do and in the situation that exists, 'shutting down' on Wildlife simply is not an option. If it's not an unidentified Butterfly fluttering past or a Common Buzzard screeching from above there is always something on hand to watch or investigate. With both Sunday and Monday evenings given over to an open invitation to Harbins Farm House for dinner it was on the latter when making my way over there that the familiar song of a

 WHIMBREL

 was heard from high above. 

Regardless of the fact that it wasn't seen it was considered

qualification to be added to our Records as the first ever 

noted here during the month of July.

The images are from the archive as illustration for our viewers.

Although the temperature had dropped at dawn to +10C first

indications, looking through the perspex collar of the first trap, 

appeared good and it wasn't long before we were 'potting' the

first Moth new for the year.

DARK SPINACH

With no significance save for being a most attractive Insect

SCORCHED CARPET

has been added while

  STRIPPED WAINSCOT

 SCALLOP SHELL
and

 SEPTEMBER THORN

 are also new for 2016.

 In addition, and away from the Moths,

was another form of

HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
afterwhich it was time once again to head for the Common.

Approaching the Gravel Pit

and the small mound forming an Island and known as
The Mountain a

CORMORANT

was very much 'King of the Castle' posing for both stills and

Video Clip.

Close by we found a

BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER
and a closer look reveled a/the

GREEN SANDPIPER

back in residence.

CANADA GEESE

with their offspring, but difficulty now to know which is which?

Unfortunately the Heath remains very dull so we decided to
Return to Slight Return to get the 'paoerwork' done.

Hugh's new Vegetable Patch looking healthy
and maturing by the day but it still remains a mystery as to
who placed the Daisy Scarecrow in the middle of it all?

Finally, it was from the door of the caravan that we took the

GREEN WOODPECKER 
clips, this a juvenile.

Entry

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Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind

Although overnight temperatures continue to be unseasonably low

we are still getting a few decent returns from the Moth Traps.

 LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING
usually difficult to see any 'yellow'.

 LARGE EMERALD

 CLOAKED MINOR

 MAGPIE
all new for the year, and the almost obligatory Macro is

ACLERIS FORSSKALEANA

22-SPOT LADYBIRD

 ALDER BUCKTHORN

 is a scarce plant in our neck of the woods but having shown the
Bee infested pollen some time ago, we are now able to give you
the fruits of their labour.

 On the other hand

GOLDFINCH
are common but no less thought of!
After that brief excurssion to the Heath, it was decided to visit one
(if not 'the) most productive areas for daytime Insects.
Those of you who have been with us for a while may remember the incident
where we (I) managed to quite badly damage the port quarter of that most beauty of beasts the
STRANGE ROVER ?

well this is the track.
Another border at the western edge of the farm seperating it from
Parley Heath.
It's just the Bright, Elusive Butterfly of Love!
Not abundant in Plant verieties but what is here is certainly attractive to
Butterflies et al.

 First up and perched on
GREATER BINDWEED

 LARGE SKIPPER

 ROSEBAY WILLOWHERB
and

 COMMA BUTTERFLY
on
MEADOW GRASS

and also on the far less welcom
RAGWORT
It was at this point that for the first time this year we heard the low-key cracking of

GORSE PODS

sending the next generation scattering to the wind.

ESSEX SKIPPER
on Ragwort, a new Species for here after a correction from Nick ? 

SMALL SKIPPER
on
KNAPWEED

 ROWAN or MOUNTAIN ASH

 are now bowing under the weight of berries but, particularly

juvenile
MISTLE THRUSH
 are taking full advantage of the bounty using the nearby Solar Panels as a springboard.
Something a little different, but not unexpected, was to follow as a magical

 GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY

landed in out path.

If truth was without, this was singularly the reason for visiting
this particular site, we were well rewarded!
Other Birds, associated with the Heath included juveniles of

 STONECHAT
and

 MEADOW PIPIT
but it was soon back to the Butterflies as

 RINGLET

RED ADMIRAL

SMALL TORTOISESHELL
and 

MEADOW BROWN

Finall, a rather daring

JACKDAW
landed right before us but didn't stay for more than a single shot!

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