Wednesday 25 May 2011

Still full of Eastern promise?

The Safari was out horribly early this morning. First up was to check the moth situation...another White Ermine, this time settled far enough away from ant of its eight legged 'friends'.
This is one of the natural habitats of Land Rovers...or should that be Landed Rovers...???


The river has drropped a bit and our grounds have a low weir - just right for spotting any jumping (Atlantic) Salmon - not thet we can afford to fish for them...wouldn't mind getting a pic though if there is a spring run up this river.


We were told that the river has an/some Otter(s) living along this stretch. Always worth a look out for signs as well as the animals themselves. On this occassion all we had to do was followed Frank's nose - he found a blob of spraint on the rock step of one of the minor gullies that run into the main river. A little further along the bank we got a very poor pic of the Sedge Warbler. The little blighter is very nervous of people nearby. It's the pale patch near the middle.


back at temporary Base Camp we have found an old nut bag and filled it with bird-seed from the not-so-local general store. A Nuthatch had been seen lurking about while it was empty but since it has been filled a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been taking full advantage.



Later in the day we had a trip out to the coast again; this time to a beach with some rock pools to ivestigate. Plenty of Common Periwinkles on the rocks, not something we see many of back on our bit of coast but there are a few to be found. Similarly Dog Whelks are present but generally hard to find.


Back home Beadlet Anemones have recently colonised, here they are abundant and in the shallow crystal clear water are easier to photgraph than in our deep and dark, but still crystal clear, artificial rockpools.


Not sure if this is another species of anemone, perhaps a Dahlia Anemone, look at that lurid pink colour, is it significant.

In the backing dunes we found this species of Cranesbill, Woody Cranesbill perhaps? Anyone know the correct identity.

A wander round the estate after our excursion found the Roe Deer out in the early evening, but still no nearer.
Where to next? With the wind having dropped at last the moth trap will be on tonight again and tomorrow we might well be reporting on a nautical safari.

In the meantime let us know if all is carrying on as normnal in your outback.

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