Naughty weather

The Safari was thwarted again this morning. We were on opening up duty so no chance of an early Patch 2 shuffy. The weather was atrocious with rain rattling off the windows as frequent long showers were driven in on a stiffening north westerly.

It wasn't until lunchtime that we got out but it was duff. We could hardly see across the beach to the sea through the murk. 

There was nothing on the beach apart from a few less than a hundred gulls, mostly Herring Gulls, and a similar number of Oystercatchers but nowt else and then the rain came on heavy again.

Back at Base Camp it was time to take Frank out and he took us all the way to Magpie Wood where were saw one of our favourite grasses, Sweet Vernal Grass, had come out into flower.

We don't know why it's a favourite; it's one of the few grasses we know the name of or maybe it's the fact that it tastes like American Cream Soda and if you do get to taste that when chewing it the taste will stay with you all day or it could just be that after all the wet n windy winter it's good to see grasses greening up and flowering. Whatever it is it's always good to see.

Little more to report other than a Chiffchaff singing in the distance somewhere in the park Frank can rarely get too now.

We had some sad news on the way back, Frank's old fighting 'friend' Blue has come to the end of  his road and passed on to where-ever it is ferocious terriers go, he was nearly 20 a really good age for a mutt.

Where to next? Surely there'll be a chance of a Swallow or Sandwich Tern...won't there?

In the meantime let us know who was visible through the gloom in your outback.

Off to the bank

The Safari was out early this morning joining the Dunes Project Officer and co for a spot of small mammaling.

We arrived in good time and the early morning sunshine was very pleasant. Several Whitethroats were very entertaining doing their dancing song flights, which proved impossible to capture on 'film' - shoulda used the video mode perhaps.

A pair of Wheatears were kicking about in the dunes near the road, the male setting off on short song flights

Skylarks were everywhere, mostly giving it plenty aloft! Except this one.

In the small patch of scrub we saw a couple of Dunnocks and heard a Chiffchaff and best of all a Garden Warbler (172).

Near the Warden's Hut we found this impressive Drinker caterpillar.

Any way on with the mammals.

Longworth Traps were set over night with a handful of hay some seeds and mealworms to keep any trappees happy overnight.

They were subsequently checked early in the morning before the sun gets too hot. They have bubble-wrap around them to keep them warm during the small hours.

Just one of the 22 traps had been triggered. The contents, including maybe an animal - occasionally the traps 'trigger themselves' - are emptied gently into a plastic bag.

 And there he(?) is...but what is it?

That fur on the flanks looks quite reddish and that's a clue. Is it a male or a female. Trap it in a fold in the bag and getting a look at its underside becomes a little easier than trying to wrangle it upside-down in your hands.

Answer - female or juvenile...unable to tell more than that.

It is a Bank Vole - much longer tail than our little friend from last weekend and the fur is obviously redder

 And once we'd finished with him/her it was time for release back in to the big wide world unharmed.

A lunchtime safari with Frank to Patch 1 - yes he got there again! - gave us a singing Lesser Whitethroat, singing in full view from the edge of an Apple tree and a Chiffchaff.

Very good to see were several butterflies on the wing, a couple or three of Speckled Woods and distant unIDd whites.

Large swathes of Sweet Vernal Grass and Meadow Foxtail are now in flower too.
Where to next? Hopefully a bit of warm sunshine this week for Wifey's birthday.

In the meantime if you don't hear from the Safari for a few days don't panic - all will be revealed in due course.