September 12, 2006
We're Still Here
I can't think why, but we haven't updated the Blog yet this month, just haven't got around to it. The first weekend of the month was a complete washout, in more ways than one. As well as the rain, it was the last two days of the glorified car boot sale with a few steam engines hanging on to its coat tails, known as The Great Dorset Steam Fair. The traffic generated effectively traps us locals in our village. All we can do is to pray for rain, and hope that if it arrives it will put a dampner on proceedings, this year on the Saturday and Sunday we were not disappointed.
We've even done some birding, a planned afternoon off on Monday the 4th co-incided with the appearance of a Semi-palmated Sandpiper at Pennington, which gave excellent close views, only I didn't take a camera. It's been a Whinchat start to the month, we've seen them on each of the six birding days we've had this month.
As well as The Keyhaven/Pennington/Lymington area, we've had a walk in the New Forest, from Beaulieu Road down to Denny Wood and back, where two blokes drew our attention to a bright green Marsh Frog, and we also saw a Goat Moth caterpillar. We had a day at Portland and Weymouth on Sunday 10th. where it was a glorious day, but in truth not a lot about, an elusive Wryneck, which eventually showed very well in the Observatory Quarry, being the best.
Marsh Frog
Goat Moth Caterpillar
Thanks to Bryan Pinchen for confirming the ID.