Mellow Yellow - Donavan

The precursor to Storm Doris, which didn't effect us here in the south of England quite as much as elsewhere across the country, was yet another short pulse of Mothable overnight temperatures. This inspired us to activate 2 of our traps but catching only c3 Insects over 2 nights one of which was a

'first for the year' 

DARK CHESTNUT
It also seemed to induce the

DAFFODIL
(Mellow Yellow Link)
buds to burst while raising the sap in other creatures such as the

SEBASTOPOL GEESE
on Parley Pond. Also there we found another

female

WIGEON

content at the time to just graze the grass on the island.

Numbers of

MEADOW PIPIT

along with

PIED WAGTAIL
have also showed a marked increase,

and we also have a minimum of c4

GREEN SANDPIPER

across the Recording Area.

 COOT
have also more than doubled in numbers,

as there is now a pair on the Irrigation Pond with a third on the Gravel Pit.
Seen here diving for Pond Weed not only for food but as was noted last
year also a part of the breeding ritual. 3 nests were built during that period.

It is unusual for

BLACK-HEADED GULL
to alight on the ponds, so considered notable,

(except when bread is offered)

but they were soon gone!
Best find of the day was undoubtedly the appearance/return of a

LITTLE GREBE

actively feeding

and compered with others at sites such as Longham and Radipole
showing some signs of 'summer plummage'.

At a distance it was seen preening and also

 heard 'singing', we now look forward to its Mate turning up?

Back at Parley Pond the

WIGEON

had obviously received her 'sailing orders' and put to sea

getting something of a mild rebuke from one of the local male
MALLARD

but all in all seemed content enough.

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Extra, Extra Read All About It

As something of a 'catch-up' we publish these images in an
Extra Post
before they get out of date.
Apologies for no prior notification!

The Strange Rover windscreen at the Last Frost,
seems a long time ago now!

 A 'highwire act' indeed

 BLACK-HEADED GULLs

 on telephone cables.

Just one of the c2

COOTs

stayed for a second day but strayed to the Irrigation Pond.

(here with a MOORHEN)

Most, of what little action there has been, was confined to the

Moors River and associate Water Meadows

where once again

 BLACK-HEADED GULL

 featured

this being the first of the year we have noted with a

Black Head

Hampered somewhat by distance and poor light

 next up was certainly the

 Bird of the Day

 and will, likely as not, also qualify as

Bird of the Month

 as this is only the 'second'

 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

ever to have been seen within our

Recording Area!

Maybe it followed us back from our Poole Harbour trip?

 A lone

HERRING GULL

was all else there before we moved on to a slightly misty

 MERRITOWN HEATH

 where all of note were

 c2

 ROE DEER

in quick succession.

 It was also noted that one of the

Tawny Owl Boxes

seems to have been occupied by 'something', but given the nesting material

thought rather a Grey Squirrel than any species of Owl.

Here's hoping this might be the year!

 The Puddle of Mud

as it has been dubbed is also attracting the odd

Green Sandpiper

which was just a little too lively for us today,

 while this deformed branch from a wind-blown

SILVER BIRCH

was also of interest.

 What was far 'less' interesting, in fact darn right annoying, was the

Solar Panel Grass Cutting Contractors

showed up and even not their Part of Ship laid this area, of what was 

seed bearing tall grass and host to about 100 overwintering Goldfinch et al, to waste.

The cuttings were even disposed of leaving no food source at all for the birds,

which haven't been seen there since. The Reader can be assured of a terse word in their 

Shell Like in the hope of no recurrence again at this time of year.

Finally, and had we not spotted the Godwit, this

SHELDUCK

 found among the hubbub of the workforce at the back of the

Eco Recycling Centre

would have stolen the show as not only the first of the year for our area,

but the first of the winter.

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Bird of Prey - Uriah Heep

Considered a good start to an otherwise gloomy day

was a return or new arrival male

KESTREL

at Parley Pond.

However, his hapless prey might have been of a differing opinion but 

that's the Wild World and,

after a fine meal, only one thing for it!

As if one small raptor were not enough to start any day,

while still at pond-side talking to Hugh we spotted a

MERLIN

flying almost directly above us and a most welcome addition we would assume to anyones

Year List?

Driving over to the northern section of our area

it was noticed for the first time this year that at least one

ROOK

has made a start on nest building.

 Meagre returns from both ponds 

 as the collective total

was no more than c2 female

SHOVELER

A 'BLANK' was draw along the full length of our beat of the

Moors River

and as far as Wildlife was concerned it was also the case on the

Heath.
 Seems the Stonechat and Meadow Pipit influx have now passed through.

It was only the

 BELTED GALLOWAYS

 that raised an eyebrow as they were seen chomping away at

BROOM

Our friend John Gifford informs us that it is not unusual to see the more

hardy breeds, these and Highlands for instance, tackling more sinuous

plant varieties, giving up if they find them unpalatable.

There was also a show, of what we humans might call affection,
between the Calf and her Mother.

Our attentions now turned to Eco where the works to install the
new furnaces continues apace.

 We keep a weather-eye on these 2 areas in particular in the hope that
on completion they may once again be turned over to Wildlife.
On that particular day a

GREEN SANDPIPER

was feeding this area while 

 among those distant Gulls we found this

 HERRING GULL

 bathing with an audience of
BLACK-HEADED GULLs

now in bright Winter Sunshine.
It is of note that, despite the noise of heavy plant, Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover
are regular breeding birds across these areas.
There was a tentative plan to wander just a little further afield,
particularly as the weather was holding, but reaching the
Chapel Lane Roundabout

 this articulated lorry, carrying an aircraft fuselage,
was seen to have sort shelter on the slip road close by.
Moving further forward it looked as if there had been something of a serious accident,
given the number of Services Vehicles in attendance, which scotched our plans.

Back at Base the final contribution to our foray was found slowly slithering
up the inside of one of the Moth Traps a
GREY FIELD SLUG

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