Rabbit - Chas and Dave

The final phase of our 'catch-up' before departing Parley Court Farm and in the first instance it would be a gross understatement to say that we have neglected the Mammals so far this year, in fact we have totally abandoned them! Since 'day one' we have recorded just c4 with each having its own significance as far we are concerned, but there was one huge surprise in fact a 'personal first' for me in our Recording Area.

The first 2

 RABBIT
and

GREY SQUIRREL
 were recorded on New Years Day but we then had to wait a full 24 hours for the next,

ROE DEER
 A full fortnight then passed without addition before driving back along the
course of the Moors River and hearing the c3 Egyptian Geese there going berserk!
That was followed by a number of Mallard springing from the watercourse and a
lone Herring Gull seemingly attacking something on the ground, It was indeed 'something',
the biggest

OTTER

I have ever seen running boldly across the open field. With a tree-line
between myself and it and having to get out of Strange there wasn't even
a dog's chance of obtaining a photo but the consolation was extremely
good views via the trusty Swarovskis.
(image 'borrowed' from Wikipedia)
Another example of our tardiness, the

FULL MOON

was as far back as

Thursday 12 January inst.
There has been a new arrival on the Redundant Aircraft Pan at
Bournemouth International Airport
 
 a rather eye-catching
BOEING 737
minus her engines was thought worthy of a shot.

MEADOW PIPIT
A couple of days after the Otter the

EGYPTIAN GEESE

were at it again

going through their full repertoire

pre-breeding

as they are early nesters.

DISPLAYING

PREENING

and even seen
EATING LICHEN
 While in the process of filming/snapping these goings-on a female

SPARROWHAWK

obligingly alighted

in the tree directly above my head

another addition to the Year List before once again cutting across to

LONGHAM LAKES

simply because you cannot get enough of

 GREAT WHITE EGRET

especially in Dorset where they are extremely 'scarce'.
 There was only a single found today, which was particularly flighty.
but a single is enough!

Additionally,

GREAT CRESTED GREBE
and another Year Tick by way of a pair of squabbling

CETTI'S WARBLER

This
CANADA GOOSE
won't see the New Year
but the predator, likely a Fox, will doubtless benefit from its demise.
Finally, just a few shots 'in passing'

COMMON GULL
foreground with
BLACK-HEADED GULLs

COMMON GULLs

STONECHAT

GREY HERON

A pick of the shots from the c11

LITTLE EGRET

in attendance on the day, with most proving very obliging.
Just before putting the Strange Rover to bed one of the c18

COLLARED DOVE

now in attendance around the Chicken Coup sat still long enough for a pose.

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We Gotta Get Out of The Place - The Animals

but not before we catch up!

It would seem we are falling victim to our own exuberance as we are currently off on an Away Day (in fact an away 4 days) and along with each we are falling further and further behind with our notes, photograph editing and Blog Post alike! All of this will be presented to our Valued Readers in time, but that's just what it will take, TIME as the success rate has been high! However, to catch up with late last week we had another fairly full day before leaving Parley Court Farm.

A promise of a little more Sun to come

and with it an increase in temperature attracting this

ACLERIS KOCHIELLA

We are very used to large lorries coming and going here but this is the 'first

EDDIE STOBART
with all of his vehicles being blessed with a Lady's name, welcome Morgan.
Question is will it be
NORBERT DENTRESSANGLE
next, but now back to basics.

Without a doubt this is the best marked and most colourful
TEAL

we have had here all Winter

a better cameraman might have shown it in its

FULL GLORY
That was at the Irrigation Pond when on the same day

these 2

MUTE SWAN

also showed up on the Gravel Pit.

They were not alone there

as an all too long absent

GREEN SANDPIPER

was there along with this

GREY WAGTAIL
However, all of this paled by comparison to an estimated 200 - 250 strong

Mixed Flock

of FINCHES that were found on the Heath.

Most numerous were Goldfinch with also a couple of Siskin seen

but about 50 of them were

LESSER REDPOLL

which are not at all regular or common

visitors to our neck of the woods!

It would be welcome if they decided to stay.
Another stranger in the camp as we

 don't think we have seen this one hereabouts before, a

ROBINSON R44 RAVEN

The walk down to the SNIPE field,
both Common and Jack are found here but not on the day.

Anybody got a tin of Cherry Blossom Boot Polish?

The Snipe Field.

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