Monday 5 June 2017

The Last Three Days of May

Still early days yet, but we think we might have caught up with all of the
outstanding images for May. Those below, save the ones itemised as being from
the archive, cover the last 3 days of last month.
As has now become accustom, one of our little pals was waiting at the 
Moth Traps in hope of an opportunistic breakfast, hence we endeavour to dispose
of our 'releases' deep into the brambles.
 GREAT TIT
So, we are making hay as it were while the overnight temperature remain 
reasonably high and the Insects tumble in accordingly.
All Firsts For The Year!
 EYED HAWK-MOTH
 ORANGE FOOTMAN
 LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
 PALE TUSSOCK
 WHITE POINT
 SHARP-ANGLED PEACOCK
 MAY HIGHFLYER
and the Diptera (Fly)
NARROW-WINGED HORSEFLY
(Tabanus maculicornis)
Down at Parley Pond 
after what seems like an interminable long wait the
MUTE SWAN
 cygnets
have finally hatched
and already well adapted to their new home.
After a little 
LAPWING
activity, with the birds still sitting on eggs at the Gravel Pit,
(We have noticed that both potential parent birds share
Incubation Duties
and presume the 'long crested' individual is the male!)
there was some action in the direction of
Bournemouth International Airport
from where this infrequently seen and all white
BOEING 737-300
(3YO)
took off.
From then onwards, all of the action was centred on the
HEATH
where a
BLACK-HEADED CARDINAL BEETLE
was found along with 'concrete evidence' (recently fledged) that
CHIFFCHAFF
have procreated here as well,
 SLOW WORM
are now increasing in numbers and showing more regularly
and there was even a brief encounter with a
MILLIPEDE
 This fine looking and beautifully marked male
 LINNET

is now father to a brood of c4 very low profile and mobile youngsters.
The best find over this period was not quiet as the images depict,
as we doubt we have got anywhere near to finding the nest and nor do we desperately want to.
 We have contented ourselves across the last few days
 with just the occasional glimpse of both male and female
 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
 undoubtedly feeding young, which for us is quite enough to know that yet another of
DORSET'S RAREST RESIDENT BIRDS IS BREEDING WITHIN OUR
RECORDING AREA!

Talking of which and as another Huge Bonus
we have been enjoying some of the closest encounters we have ever had anywhere
with the local
WOODCOCK
 not much to look at you might think but, this bird, one of a pair, was so close
that we couldn't get the camera to focus, personally my closest encounter
ever outside of being on the Buchan Alpha Oil Rig where we would pick them up occasionally.

 Finally, another 'close up' with a

GREY SQUIRREL

which simply came to me!
Entry

Pageviews
United States
488
United Kingdom
264
Italy
36 - now where did ITALY spring from? Maybe responding to our Polite Request for more Readers - WELCOME!
Germany
29
China
16
Canada
7
Australia
5
France
5
New Zealand
5
Ukraine
5