29 Aug 25

Wakeham

After 3 days away in Hertfordshire it was back home to a very different looking Portland, which had had a fair bit of heavy rain, whilst I was away. The plants certainly looked a lot fresher and there were a few patches of green grass in the lawn I sowed in the Spring, which had dried up and looked to have died in the hot Summer sun. We still need more rain though!

Highlights from the back garden were a dozen or so House Martins and Swallows drifting south, and a Chiffchaff calling from a few gardens down.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
4 House Martin
8 Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

One of the local Collared Doves

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White Pieris brassicae
4 Small White Pieris rapae

A female Large White Pieris brassicae

Moths Recorded:

1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella - unfortunately not photographed
1 Pellitory Beauty Cosmopterix pulchrimella

Below are a few photos and a video of the Pellitory Beauty Cosmopterix pulchrimella

Bees Recorded:

1 Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
3 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

6 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
8 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
1 Common Furrow-bee Lasioglossum calceatum

On this Passion Flower Passiflora sp. we had a Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris with a Honey Bee Apis mellifera and...........................

...............then a little later the same Buff-tailed Bumblebee with a Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Here the Honey Bee forcibly knocks the Common Carder Bumblebee off the flower.

A Common Furrow-bee Lasioglossum calceatum on Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
4 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
1 Ichneumon Wasp - Possibly Pimpla sp.

An Ichneumon Wasp possibly Pimpla sp.

Hoverflies Recorded:
4 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
1 Stripe-backed Fleckwing Dasysyrphus albostriatus

4 Thick-legged hoverfly Syritta pipiens

1 Syrphus sp.

On this Common Ragwort is a Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.

And on this Common Ragwort is a Stripe-backed Fleckwing Dasysyrphus albostriatus AKA Stripe-backed Brusheye.

A Thick-legged hoverfly Syritta pipiens AKA Compost Hoverfly on a Crown Daisy Glebionis coronaria.

A Syrphus sp. possibly Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies
Blue Blowfly Calliphora vicina
Greenbottle Lucilia sp.
Parasite Fly Siphona sp

This is a Parasite Fly Siphona sp. and is one of the most difficult Tachinidae flies to identify. Here is a page full of them, which I think you will agree are all very similar looking.

Caterpillars Recorded:

Large White Pieris brassicae

The caterpillar of a Small White Pieris rapae

Plants:
Buckthorn Rhamnus sp.
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Common Fig Ficus carica
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis
Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Ice Plant Hylotelephium spectabile
Lavender Lavandula sp.
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Passion Flower Passiflora sp.

Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaicais
Perennial Sweet Pea Lathyrus latifolius
Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus

Roses:

Below are a few of my 14 roses in bloom.

28 Aug 25

Watch this space

27 Aug 25

Watch this space

26 Aug 25

Watch this space.

25 Aug 25

Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadows

With the forecast of changeable weather on the way, I thought I had better get a good walk in around my local patch. Main highlights were two Phylloscopus (Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler), which I didn't see but heard calling from around the meadow.

Also seen were the two Wasp Spiders in their usual spots, and after several days of not seeing any Meadow Browns I came across one in the meadow.

A pair of Common Darters were darting about in Old Quarry Lane and I also noted two Hummingbird Hawk-moths. Neither of the latter stopped for a photo or video.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
2 Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
2 Linnet
Goldfinch


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
2 Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum

One of the two Common Darters Sympetrum striolatum along Old Quarry Lane

Butterflies Recorded:
5 Large White Pieris brassicae
4 Small White Pieris rapae
1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
4 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
1 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
4 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

A Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

This Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina was an unexpected sighting, especially as I hadn't seen any for a few weeks. However they can be seen on the wing up to October in some places.

A male Common Blue Polyommatus icarus..................

............on Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris..............

 ...................and another male.................

..............and one more male.

This is a female Common Blue and........

..........another female.

Moths Recorded:
2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum
1 Cinerous Pearl Anania fuscalis

1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella
1 Silver Y Autographa gamma
1 Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

Half a Cinerous Pearl Anania fuscalis

A Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

A Silver Y Autographa gamma

Hmm a not so good photograph of a Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

Bees Recorded:

5 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

3 Common Furrow-bee Lasioglossum calceatum
5 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
20+ Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Sat in the centre of this Common Ragwort has to be one of the smallest Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum I have ever seen and is mentioned here.

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
4 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies Recorded:
8 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
5 Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
1 The Footballer Helophilus pendulus
1 Long Hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta

A Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax

And another Common Dronefly on Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare

And Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea

The Footballer Helophilus pendulus

A Long Hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta on Wild Fennel

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies
Greenbottle Lucilia sp.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis

On this Buddleia Buddleja davidii is a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea

Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

A Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

Spiders Recorded:
2 Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

1 Garden Cross Spider Araneus diadematus

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi number one with a package all wrapped up and..........

.............whilst I was watching Wasp Spider number two.............

.....................it suddenly shot to its left and captured a grasshopper and within a few seconds had wrapped it up before settling back in the centre of its web.

And a Garden Cross Spider Araneus diadematus

Ants Recorded:
60+ Small Black Ant Lasius niger - possibly

This Wild Fennel flowerhead.............

..................was crawling with what I believe to be Small Black Ants Lasius niger. And for a brief second, what looked like a Common Furrow-bee Lasioglossum calceatum, joined them.

Plants:
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Common Teasel Dipsacus fullonum
Dog Rose Rosa canina
Greater Burdock Arctium lappa
Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Ivy Hedera helix
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica
Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
Provence Rose Rosa gallica
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare

24 Aug 25

Wakeham

The moth trap went out last night and this morning I had 59 moths of 26 species, which included 5 new moth species for my Port _& Wey moth list.

Also trapped was a deceased Common Wasp. How is that possible!!

Moths Recorded:

#1 - Marbled Green Nyctobrya muralis (x2)

#2 - Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria (x1)

#3 - Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (x1)

#4 - Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata (x1)
#5 - Caloptilia sp. (x1)

#6 - Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (x1)

#7 - Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata (x1)

#8 - Tree-mallow Tortrix Crocidosema plebejana (x2)

#9 - Ox-tongue Conch Neocochylis molliculana (x2)

#10 - Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella (x1)

#11 - Orange Swift Triodia sylvina (x10)

#12 - Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana (x1)

#13 - L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album (x1)

#14 - Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis (x1)

#15 - Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis (x4)

#16 - Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa (x6)

#17 - Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum (x8)

#18 - Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua (x2)

#19 - Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura (x1)

#20 - Jasmine Moth Palpita vitrealis (x1)

#21 - Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea (x3)

#22 - Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta (x3)

#23 - Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria (x1)

#24 - Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla (x1)

#25 - Dingy Footman Eilema griseola (x1)

#26 - Blastobasis sp. (x1)

#1 - Marbled Green Nyctobrya muralis

#1 - Another Marbled Green Nyctobrya muralis

#2 - Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria. I'm pleased I managed to photograph this new moth for my Port & Wey list; but what a shame it escaped from the moth trap, before I could a better photograph of it..........

 

.................The last record of this moth in Dorset was in 2023 and the last one seen on Portland was in 2009 I believe. This moth occurs in Oak Woodland and is fairly common along the south coast. It has a second brood in August where the adult moths can vary in colouration  but also in numbers. A few sightings could be of immigrants from the continent, however it is interesting to note that there are at least 4 Oak trees within 50 metres of my house, including one in my garden that has had a caterpillar sp. feeding on the leaves earlier in the year!! More on this moth here, here and here.

#3 - Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 

#4 - Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 

#5 - Caloptilia sp. 

#6 - Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria. I'm not doing very well with photographing these new moths for my Portland Moth List. This was the second new moth to escape from the trap and another one which I just managed to photograph. This one would not settle but I was fortunate to catch it flight before it flew over into the neighbour's garden.

#7 - Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

#8 - Tree-mallow Tortrix Crocidosema plebejana AKA Southern Bell and  Cotton Tipworm Moth. 

#9 - Ox-tongue Conch Neocochylis molliculana

#9 - Another Ox-tongue Conch Neocochylis molliculana

#10 - Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella. More on this moth here.

#11 - Orange Swift Triodia sylvina.

#11 - Another Orange Swift Triodia sylvina. So many "swifts" with at least 8 in the trap, plus a couple of escapees.

#12 - Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#13 - L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album

#14 - Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#15 - Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis

#15 - Another Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis

#15 - And another Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis

#16 - Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

#17 - Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum

#17 - Another Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum

#18 - Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua 

#19 - Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura

#20 - Jasmine Moth Palpita vitrealis AKA Olive-tree Pearl

#21 - Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea

#22 - Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta

#23 - Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria

#24 - Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

#25 - Dingy Footman Eilema griseola

#26 - Blastobasis sp.

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris - deceased

How this Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris met its fate in the moth trap is a bit of a mystery. But whatever it was severed its thorax from its abdomen. Odd!!