20 Sep 19

Wakeham Wood, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddocks.

A sunny morning but so windy with a strong easterly blowing in. The last time we had strong easterlies was when we had the "Beast from the East". At least this time it was a bit warmer.

Main birding highlights (much affected by the wind) were as follows:

Wakeham Wood: 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap

Perryfield: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Greenfinches

Church Ope Cove
: 15 Rock Pipits and 3 Swallows overhead.

Rufus Castle: 6 Long-tailed Tits

Also noted was am increase in Chaffinch numbers.

Unsurprisingly low numbers of butterflies and where there was any shelter a few Red Admirals and a couple of Painted Lady's were found.

Likewise with the bees, wasps and hoverflies, just a few sheltered Ivy plants supporting them.

Here are a few images from this morning:

In Wakeham Wood, I think this male Blackcap has seen me.

Yep and he's off.

A very windy Church Ope Cove today.

The sea was pretty choppy here at Church Ope Cove.

The surf was really up today.

On a very blustery beach there were 15 Rock Pipits here this morning.

A Rock Pipit searches out the Kelp Flies.

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - conspicua)

Where there was some shelter a few Ivy bees were feeding.

And for comparison a Honey Bee

These are Cyclamen and possibly Cyclamen hederifolium. Also known as Sowbread 


Birds Recorded: Kestrel, 1 Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 3 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 15 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 25 Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch

Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Painted Lady

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea), Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis), Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - conspicua) and 5 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)

Aircraft Today

A Merlin over Wakeham this afternoon.

And another close-by

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

2017
Today's Sightings Here.