Saturday, 19 November 2022

The Deer Hunter

 Still dogged by the weather but more particularly those odd passing showers, at least we started on the right note at the

Main Pond
where the first returning
CORMORANT
for the back-end of the year was wreaking havoc with the Fish population,
while flanked by c2 quite seperate and vocal
CETTIS WARBLER
at both east and west extremities.
En-route to the traps a brief stop at the Puddle of Mud where once again the
GREY WAGTAIL
was gorging followed by a little more colour from the Moth Traps in the guise of a considered 'late'?
MERVEILLE du JOUR
and a likely 'long-distance flying'
VESTAL
On exiting the Compound the
RED ADMIRAL
was still enjoying the area and joined by a
SMALL TORTOISESHELL
bronging a little colour to the day along with just the finest trace of a
RAINBOW
Otherwise down South
it was left to a
small herd of
ROE DEER
to
make up
the numbers.

Friday, 18 November 2022

Play Misty for Me - Clint Eastwood

 As is usual the main thrust of the

Misty Morning 

would be to check the Moth Traps which porduced the same numbers as the previous couple of days and distributed likewise, that is to say a single Insect in each of the 3 traps:-

CHESTNUT
RED-GREEN CARPET
along with
RED-LINE QUAKER
but then there were other fish to fry. Having been keeping an eye on
BADGER GRUBBINGS
next was to find an active
SETT
which this year appeared to be cloase to the traps in the
Solar Panel Compound
and again in the
EARLY BRONZE-AGE TUMULI
a re-visit at dusk was on the cards, while from the other side of the perimeter fence a couple of
JAYs
could be heard squabling without coming into view, while continuing the mammal theme
GREY SQUIRREL's
looked to be enjoying themselves?
The Northern Perimeter Fence Looking Autumnal while
RABBITs
continue to abound while a single and uncooperative
PIED WAGTAIL
was all that was seen on the Puddle of Mud, as the
MUTE SWAN
family returned to the ancestral nest site while at dusk we were back on station where the
BADGERs
did not disappoint
with this one still looking to have something of the
CUB
about it?

Thursday, 17 November 2022

Lily the Pink - Scaffold

 Although the gauge was showing +14C looking further afield

things didn't look at all promising but after yesterday's deluge anything would be acceptable and still the Moth Traps had to be attended to eventually!
On the cusp of Winter hopes were not high "oh ye of little faith" but we found among a catch of  
10 x 18
CYPRESS CARPET
DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG
THE STREAK
DARK CHESTNUT
along with an unexpected
STRAW DOT
By the time that was over things had brightened up somewhat
turning into something of a brighter day!
Not at all unexpected, in fact vertually guaranteed,
one of the ever present
COMMON BUZZARDs
Another post toppled, this time one of the Security Camera type, the 3rd in as many days,
looking like a major operation may be at hand, while we are also
recording our share of
WOOD PIGEON
passage like elsewhere along the coast, hundreds rather than dozens and similarly
a decent 'fall' of
PIED WAGTAIL's
a count of 40 in one paddock alone!
but even better
our 'first'
REDWING
for the back-end of the year across our
Recording Area
On leaving the Solar Panel Compoud we took note of the fine job
the Contractors have made of the
Hedge Strimming
but across the watercourses no more than the juvenile
MUTE SWAN
while back at base the builders continue their 'couple of days' titivating the
FARM HOUSE

Wednesday, 16 November 2022

Ladybird - Ladybird Nursery Rhyme

 It's an ill wind (that blows Nobody any Good) Just a couple of days refurb on the Farm House??

At least they got the Roof on before the Rain set in! 
NO HELICOPER LANDING's PLEASE!
We did eventually get to the traps, but not without getting a little damp, where within were found no more than
16-SPOT CREAM LADYBIRD
MALLOW
when half way through we found that some of the neighbours
CHAROLAIS
had escaped? but a good thing we didn't resort to a knee-jerk reaction and phone the farmer
as on closer inspection they were seen to be the
OLD ENGLISH WHITE's
on the adjoining Heath - Pheeeeww! and continuing where we left off
BLACK RUSTIC
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
with something we thought we had seen the last of for the year a
WASP
With little (or maybe that should be 'nothing' to add) we turned our attentions to
O.B.E's.
(Other Blokes Efforts)
From Bomber in Weymouth these spectacular
GOOSE BARNACLEs
found on Abbotsbury Beach during the week, and from his close neighbour John a second
CRIMSON SPECKLED
(while we still await our first)
and with the brain still faultering we remember not who or from where we gleaned these
extraordinary shots of a
GANNET
on a house roof, surely it had to be
PORTLAND?
Here's hoping we get back as close to NORMAL as we can by tomorrow??