10 Jul 17

South Coast Path
Dawn and did the walk I did on 2 Jul which was from Bumpers Lane straight through to the cliff top path and down past the Portland Crags the cliff face the Rock Climbers use. And then just before Grove Cliffs we took the path east towards the World War 2 pillboxes, via Penn's Wear and then back south to Church Ope Cove before doubling back past Rufus Castle and back home.

It was a sunny walk but a lot windier than of late. Still a lot of butterflies about, though many were keeping low to the ground. Those seen were Large Whites, Small White, Speckled Wood, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, both Large & Small Skippers, dozens of Gatekeepers, 5 Small Heaths and several Chalkhill Blues.

No moths seen today.

The only mammal seen was a Fox taking a nap in Bumpers lane Quarry

Not too many insects with just Common Green Grasshopper, Meadow Grasshopper and a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

There were a few birds seen which were 1 Cormorant, 3 Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Swift, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 3 Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Our walk today

A few tankers and cargo ships anchored off Weymouth Bay

The two WW2 Pillboxes

Pillbox

Dawn peering out

Rufus Castle

Church Ope Cove

A Fox having a siesta in Bumpers Lane Quarry

A male Linnet

Not a Rock Dove..........

.....but a Feral Pigeon on the ledges the climbers use.

A Great Black-backed Gull

A Small Skipper

A worn something!

A Marbled White braces itself against the strong breeze

A Small Heath with 3 seen today.

And a Garden Spider.