We're in that period, around West Dumpton and Newland's Farm, that (after 13 years) I'm fairly confident about the appearance of certain species, in certain places, on this Thanet area that I call "my patch." Today has been a classic. Finishing work, at 14.00hrs, saw me meander across the fields - a Whinchat in The Old Rose Garden being the first there this autumn. In the distance I could see that the farmer was starting to work the stubble. You can't call it ploughing as much of the straw remains on the surface - just somehow they run a machine over the field which breaks the top soil and turns the ground.
As I reached the end of Vine Close, I became aware of good numbers of Ivy Bees (
Colletes hedarae) nectaring on the mature Ivy of the hedgerow - I only discovered this population in September 2012!
 |
| Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) on ivy flowers (now there's a surprise!) at the end of Vine Close |
Large numbers of feral pigeons have descended on the area so, I was absolutely delighted to see a juvenile Peregrine stooping at the massed flocks. I called Bev and we enjoyed a couple of minutes watching this totally inept hunter chasing shadows - it will need to become more proficient if it is to survive the winter. (No camera to hand so you'll have to be content with an archive shot from last year!)
 |
| Immature/Juvenile Peregrine over Newland's Farm (September 2012) |
A Chiffchaff flicked about in the buddlieas but, try as I might, nothing more of avian note was seen. A couple of Red Admirals sought sustenance on the remnants of the buddliea flowers and a lone Common Darter dashed around for a few minutes during a break in the clouds. If I'm unable to find enjoyment in this little lot then it really is time to call it a day - not that it will ever happen all the time I've got four grand-children to entertain!
 |
| Garden Chiffchaff - flicking about in the spent buddliea flower heads |
No comments:
Post a Comment