29 Mar 19

Mermaid Track, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church, Penns Wood and Wakeham Wood

Seemed even warmer today and to be honest nothing much has changed bird-wise or other-wise. Just the one singing Chiffchaff at the back of the cove again and a few butterflies about with 8 Peacock and 1 Green-veined White. At least there was something on the beach today as a Rock Pipit came in off the sea and landed almost next to me.

Elsewhere there were dozens of hoverflies on the Alexanders in the grounds of the church, where there a least 8 Wall Lizards basking in the very warm Spring sun. Also here were two 7-spot Ladybirds, which was a good sign that at least one of our native ladybirds hasn't succumbed to the Harlequin invasion. In fact I didn't find a single Harlequin today.

On the steps up from the cove I came across a Dark-edged Bee-fly.

On the way back a Grey Wagtail and a Raven flew over Wakeham.

Here are a few images from today: 

Just the 1 Rock Pipit on the beach.

Lots of Wall Lizards showing themselves today.

Most were in the grounds of the church.

And all different ages.

And colours.

There are quite a few bee-flies about. This species is the Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major

7-spot Ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata

In the centre an Eristalis arbustorum. Top left a Syrphus sp hoverfly is about to land..........

..........on the same leaf.

Penns Wood with hundreds of Comfrey plants cover the ground.

Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizards

Butterflies Recorded: 8 Peacocks and 1 Green-veined White

Also recorded: 2 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), 2 Eristalis arbustorum hoverflies, 30+ Syrphus hoverflies sp., Brown-tail Moth caterpillars and Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major)

Ships Today

This is the Trawler 'Nicola-L' fishing just off Portland. No info on this vessel but a close-up photo of her in Weymouth Harbour Here.

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On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.