Lullaby of Birdland - Ella Fitzgerald

It can only be down to the efforts of our 'Much Valued Readership' that yesterday's hit count rocketed into the 2012 zone, almost the same as the year, for which we thank you wholeheartedly!

Not only Valued but also Astute, as it is doubtful any of you will over-look the fact that the the words Barrel, Scraping or Bottom 

appear anywhere, save as above, across todays Post although they would fit perfectly!

 With the Wildlife situation out there being just about as bleak as it can get we are forced to embark on something of a 'filler'. With tongue in cheek and a little mirth this Post might just qualify as the most 'riveting' yet, so hang on to something solid as we present the

Story of Our Duvet Cover!

With more indentations than the Turin Shroud and more Zzzzzzzzzz's than the Unknown Warrior finally the old one wrapped its hand in, but needed to be replaced by a similarly patterned one, with mythical, imaginary or real Birds that is. Seeking the advice of our Senior Wildlife Apprentice and superb Upholstress Chloe, not only was she full of bright ideas but within 2 days had replaced it by way of a 'gift'! "Now, wot about the rickety Strange Rover Chloe"!

The new one was more about Birds that do exist but for comparison from the old this is surely a

SUN CONURE
(which must have been on the ale as will not pose upright)

a spectacular small Parrot of South America which might have neen seen while transiting
French Guiana had we kept our wits about us (dipped).
The nearest we can get

with this is (and we know not why they keep defaulting)

LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER
(Kilamanjaro - Tanzania)

and with a little imagination

GALAH
(Australia)
as for the new one and less imaginary

SCARLET MACAW

(Guatamala)
and finally you will doubtlessly be pleased to know

SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO

(Australia)
Riveting, you can come out from under the duvet now and maybe a good idea to throw a bucket of water over yourselves!!
This kicking here inside makes me leave you behind 

 No more under the 'quilt' to keep you warm 

Your sister I was born you must lose me like an arrow

Shot into the killer storm

The Kick Inside - Kate Bush

Dreamer - Ozzy Osbourne

 It was our tardy start to the day that secured the Best Bird of the Year thus far, as by the time we stepped outside of Slight Return II it was full and clear daylight.

From the Ash trees at the stables came the unfamiliar and long overdue

chirrupings of 2 or maybe more
HAWFINCH

It should be pointed out that these birds, however many, were only seen as tiny movements in the tree-tops with identifiction made on 'vocals' alone.

These represented only the 'second' records here since recording began back in 2013,
while the images / video are taken from the archive just to emphasize the occasion and only the second addition to the Year List this month!
It was only while lingering at the stables that it dawned on us how we have neglected the humble

HOUSE SPARROW

over what has been thus far an

absolute 'bumper' year, dozens upon dozens of the little beauties

which in turn led us back to the

19 June 2013
In that year I was living in the farmhouse while sorting out my future having abandoned my itinerate lifestyle with the usual early morning glance out of the bedroom window to find this

full albino

HOUSE SPARROW

just plodding around on the garage roof.
Just when you thought you'd seen everything??
Getting back to the day in hand we headed south and thought ourself lucky to capture these 5

ROE DEER

at not only great distance but also in full gallop.
As predicted, gone are the bulk of the Northern Thrushes and Starlings, which may return, with

no more than a fist-full of

FIELDFARE
(now you see 'em - now you don't)

still being attracted to the

Standard Berry Trees
in the carpark while the considered unnecessary

CYCLE TRACK
gets another day nearer, prediction is grubbing out of the hedgerows will be next!
Gazing through the window at the world outside

Wondering will Mother Earth survive

Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her sometime

After all, there's only just the two of us
And here we are, still fighting for our lives
Watching all of history repeat itself

Time after time!

A total blank at the Sewerage Work was followed by a 'lone'

STONECHAT

on the

Heath

while the

Airport Fire Service
continues to stand sentinel as our watch ended with some

fervent activity

as this pair of

EGYPTIAN GEESE

went about their ablutions

along the course of the

Moors River

Your higher power may be God or Jesus Christ
It doesn't really matter much to me
Without each other's help, there ain't no hope for us
I'm living in a dream, a fantasy
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah…

I'm just a dreamer
I dream my life away
I'm just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days

Dreamer - Ozzy Osbourne

By no means an afterthought, but a belated Thank You to our ever increasing and Valued Readership. Someone must be sharing the link as yesterday saw the highest count, in the modern era, with what these days is a huge 1930 recordbreaker. There may be those who have not sent off the link but more hits lead to more momentum so would be pleased if you did so.

MANY, MANY THANKS - Bagsy

Wreck - Radiohead

 Not at all a day for Birds, with not a Northern Thrush to be seen, or any other representative of the Wild World but still we soldier on! That didn't mean 'no action' as there were things to be seen in other directions starting with the now almost mandatory clatter of a

MERLIN HELICOPER
at first light cutting across a clear blue sky.

More to keep the finger-tips warm rather than to bring you outlandish birdlife

did we click and vid these 4
MALLARD
at the Main Pond. We do get the odd single now and again at the same location but c4

CANADA GEESE
made for a record breaker - but time to head north. en-route we spotted a new

Eddie Stobart Lady

(it is understood that 'anyone' can apply to have their monica [female only] tattooed on a lorry)

Only a matter of a few yards further on we found more

strimming activity on what might be called a relict part of the main heathland,
seperated by the building of the Eco Recycling Works which is surely a minor national asset?

Why the strimming is going on is not known but, over a year ago we were informed that Rare Breed Cattle were to be introduced to this valuable sight. Given the addition of a new water trough (above) the idea may have been regurgitated?

Given the marshy conditions throughout the year this area is little watched, but
Lapwing have been recorded nesting here while the Stewards did succumb to our idea of forming

HIBERNACULUMS
out of the felled Scots Pines rather than sending them all to the sawmill.
Birdlife was represented opposite the aforementioned Eco gate by just a single

PIED WAGTAIL
along with the smallest 'charm' of

GOLDFINCH

we have recorded this year.
Publishing images of frozen watercourses is unlikely to be the most exciting thing you will see today, but to highlight the point may also have the advantage of introducing a little more of our Recording Area
to our
Valued and Most Welcome New Readers.

IRRIGATION POND
once used to water a huge acreage of Turf, but now given over to Solar Panels, and where          Little Grebe, Coot, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting et al have bred while seperated from the

SUBSIDUARY POND
by a narrow bund of earth the winter residence of Water Rail which at the time of writing seems to have abandoned due to the freeze?

GRAVEL PIT 

 is the largest of our lakes and who knows what might drop in here?

Finally and as usual we ended up on the Heath with all of note being the activity at

Bouremouth International Aiport
where the in house Fire Brigade were employed overseenibg the

demolision of an ancient Herald pasenger carrying aircraft which had been a

landmark here long, long before my arrival but was an annual nest sight for
Stock Dove, Starling, Kestrel and even a pair of Swallow on a single occassion.
Additionally, they had also resited the 'hulk' that is used for the regular

Sunday Fire Drills

while the AIRBUSs stand in line awaiting their next flight to the Far East.
Always having a song on my case we end with these poignant lyrics from the sensational
Kate Bush

I've pulled down my lace and the chintz
Oh, do you know you have the face of a genius?
I'll send your love to Zeus
Oh, by the time you read this
I'll be well in touch

I'm giving it all in a moment or two
I'm giving it all in a moment, for you!