Elizium - Fields of the Nephalim

They are Goths as well and worth a listen!

With overnight temperatures having now captured 'double figures' expectations have been high with medium rewards!

THE GOTHIC

reached the exclusivity of the
First For the Year Club

joining another recent addition by way of

FROSTED ORANGE
(just couldn't resist this second showing)
along with the most dainty of

CRANEFLIES

A brief stop at the Main Pond saw the return of the
MUTE SWAN FAMILY

still in tact and featuring as ever the

ALBINO / LEUCISTIC CYGNET
or whatever catagory it may come under?
While again considering them to have abandoned ship a small

SQUADRON

of

MISTLE THRUSH

were found among the Solar Panels,

while at home the

GUINEA FOWL

(maybe better behind bars, continue to thrive) while the

ROSE HIPS

are close to bursting, while it was only a sudden and unexpected 'rush of blood to the brain' that brought about the
La Piece de la Resistance!
Leaving early to flash up the Moth Traps on the Heath we did a full inventory and while the county (Dorset that is) is showing a few specimens across the board we located our very own

WRYNECK

a bizarre member of the Woodpecker family

and our 4th over the last 4 years with the appearances of 2008 and 2009 being a
4 Woodpecker Day, the others being Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker, considered quite an event, while we end with an Archive Shot of one being

processed at the Portland Bird Observatory - bet you remember that event Martin!

Wagging That Tail

 With not a song-bird to be heard at dawn the chorus of the same name was dominated by just

MEDITERRANEAN GULLs

along with

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLs

seemingly flocking inland to continue their fight for survival.
(images from the archive for illustration)
With nothing of interest from any of the 5 Moth Traps it was fortuitous that during the afternoon a wave of migrants decided to visit the tennis court and nearby stables starting with the

BEST

a small pod of

YELLOW WAGTAILs
scarce here at any time but never having knowingly visited the garden before,

with the cherry on the cake including this 'ringed' individual from which we could see no detail.

Likely of more local stock

a decent gathering of juvenile

PIED WAGTAIL
and to complete the trio

GREY WAGTAIL

both juvenile

and

adult and of course the mandatory

and of course the mandatory
STARLINGs

Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix

 Despite the generator malfunctioning soon after ignition there were still Moths to be had and added to The Year List.

CENTRE-BARRED SALLOW

being the first and only addition from the Heath along with only the second of the year female

FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN

with a
MALE
for contrast while the garden produced a single

YELLOW-BARRED BRINDLE
along with a small gathering of

GOLD SPOTs
Back on the Heath, today's young

FOX

far more obliging than the previous

but even then

not perfect

as badly placed forcing the Canon to perform through the

WINDSCREEN
At the ponds, but of little significance, the

GREY HERON
awaits the next juvinile waterfowl to drop its guard, while we logged the return of the first retuning

MALLARD
while waiting in the wings the

GRASS CUTTERs 

brought to mind the lyrics of the Genesis song
'I Know What I Like in Your Wardrobe'
As the sun beats down I lie on the bench,
you can always hear them talk.
'Cus me, I'm just a lawnmower you can tell me by the way I walk.
Further on,

yet another and nonetheless welcome

SLOWORM

with what looks like wilful damage at the
Solar anel Compound.

To cap the day and like the proverbial Bus

another welcome

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

once again gracing

the garden.