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Shaftesbury Jolly between 17th - 21st July 2023

Recent Shaftesbury walks over the past week on the Breach Common and Castle Hill trying out my new/old roof binoculars Carl Zeiss Jena Notarem 8x32b MC.

As you can see I was lucky to get a pair in very good condition. The serial number 6428067 - dates them at 1985.

The case was very clean too.

The binoculars laid down.


Adverts from the 1980's 
They seem very good indeed, are good size and particularly clear, I will probably alternate using them with my Carl Zeiss Jenoptems 8x30W. 

The usual birds were seen. Bullfinches always a pleasure to see, (The bullfinches actually have been showing theirselves very well, the lovely male with a pinky-red breast down near the farmhouse at the top of a copper beech tree, and especially today) - (20th July 2023). Red Kite, two in one morning, the Buzzard hanging over the valley between the common and Duncliffe Woods. Other singing birds as usual Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, a Treecreeper was seen as well and Chaffinch. 

Bullfinches - (Archibald Thorburn).

Red Kite.

Buzzard.

Treecreeper - (Basil Ede).

Two Red Kites at different heights, and circling Buzzard in the warm heat of the day. Many butterflies have been seen every day on the buddleia and around the brambles down on the other field, which is nice to see.

It was a bit quiet with the House Martins down near Rolts Millennium garden today but I did hear them further away from the gardens.

I was lucky to find some recently emerging Parasol Mushroom in top field where I sit with the shooting stick.

Parasol Mushroom.



In relation to the habitat. 


A bit further on I found a Wood Pigeon's egg which looked like it had hatched and discarded away from the nest, the lower half of it found along part of the Holloway that borders the common.


Hatched Wood Pigeon egg found in the Holloway.

Robin's Pincushion - these superb little structures are made by a (Diplolepsis rosae) - Gall Wasp.

Some of the trees on the common have very short trunks.


The Parasol Mushroom a day later.


Fungi species growing from the base of a tree trunk. 

Acorns are beginning to develop 

Freshly emerged Parasol Mushroom.

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