Port and Wey

6 Oct 22

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Lower Horse Paddock, Upper Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Bumpers Lane

Yet again another blustery day, but at least the sun was out.

Not too many migrants about, in fact the best I could do in very windy conditions was 3 Chiffchaffs. Two in Broadcroft Quarry Lane and a one close to Wakeham Meadow. A small flock of 12 Meadow Pipits were in the Upper Horse Paddock.

Birds Recorded:
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
12 Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
4 Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

There were at least 12 Meadow Pipits in the Upper Horse Paddock

With a few keeping an eye on me...........

..........and Ted.

Not many Chiffchaffs today. There were 2 in Broadcroft Quarry Lane tagging along..........

...........with 4 Long-tailed Tits.

Butterflies Recorded:
4 Large White
3 Speckled Wood
2 Red Admiral

A pristine looking Red Admiral

Moths Recorded:
4 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)

And of course the Rush Veneers are still about.

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

An Ivy Bee hanging onto this leaf in the windy conditions.

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

The German Wasps seem to be even busier than ever, around their nest in Bumpers Lane.

Some of the markings on the thorax look more like those of Common Wasps, though there is......

........no mistaking the pattern on this wasp, which is indicative of German Wasps. More on German Wasps Here.

And here is a short video of the German Wasps commuting back and forth to the nest.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
#1- hoverfly sp.

#2- hoverfly sp.

A Common Dronefly and..........

..........another.

#1- hoverfly sp.

#2- hoverfly sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
#1 - fly sp.
#2 - fly sp.

Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

#1 - fly sp.

#2 - fly sp.

Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)

Leafhoppers Recorded:
Empoasca vitis

Ted:

On top of the bump in the butterfly reserve. Great views looking south and for keeping an eye on Ted.

Ships Today:

This is the British WH296, Fishing Boat "Portland Isle" in choppy waters just off Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.

5 Oct 22

Wakeham

Hopefully today was a one off weather-wise with wind, rain and 42 mph gusts, however this is Portland, so I doubt it very much. Needless to say it wasn't really the day to be out and about.

So the best I could in the dull conditions was watch, photograph and video the Ivy Bees at the back of the cottage in the courtyard

Birds recorded from the conservatory window:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
5 Goldfinch

Bees Recorded:
8 Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

The Ivy growing over the outhouse in the courtyard

There weren't too many Ivy Bees about in the windy wet conditions.

I really do like Ivy Bees. I mean look at the face on this one!!

It seems the only way you can video Ivy Bees for any length of time, is when they are having wash and brush up. Shame it was looking the other way.

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

4 Oct 22

Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadow

After another busy day it was a late afternoon walk for me and Ted. Main highlights were 2 male Blackcaps and 5 Chiffchaffs.

It was a pretty murky day and the only butterfly I found was a Speckled Wood rested up on the brambles. Still a few Rush Veneer moths about, but no other moths noted.

Birds Recorded:
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Speckled Wood

Just the one Speckled Wood seen this afternoon.

Moths Recorded:
4 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)

These Rush Veneer moths seem to be the only daytime flying moths about at the moment.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

An Ivy Bee and here......

..........it is having a "wash and brush" up.

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

These Common Wasps appear to be the only wasp I can find at the moment.

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

Ted:

Ted looks a bit lost in amongst the Hemp Agrimony, Wild Fennel and tall grasses.

3 Oct 22

Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadow

It was a day that started off sunny and then clouded over with drizzle late afternoon. Fortunately I managed to get a walk in, just before it rained.

Main highlights were 1 Swallow, a Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests.

On the butterfly front I recorded 5 species including a very worn female Common Blue and a pristine (presumably recently emerged) Small Copper.

There are still quite a few Ivy Bees about and Common Wasps on the flowering Ivy.

Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Collared Dove
1 Swallow
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaff
2 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White
2 Speckled Wood
1 Red Admiral
1 Small Copper
1 Common Blue

A pristine Small Copper. As I moved in closer, I had assumed it would fly off to another spot. Instead it disappeared into the "safety" of the grasses below. I can only surmise, that it was newly emerged and was still in the process of pumping blood into its wings before it would be able to fly.

A very worn female Common Blue.

Moths Recorded:
4 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)

There are still Rush Veneers about. I think I have seen more of this moth species than any other this year.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

A Honey Bee on the Ivy

And in comparison an Ivy Bee

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Gall Wasp (Dipoloepis rosaea)

A Common Wasp, which is exactly what it is, common.

A Robin's Pincushion on a Dog Rose. It is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosaea. More on this wasp Here.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
#1 - hoverfly sp.

#1 - hoverfly sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus)

A Common Green Grasshopper

Plants:

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

This is a leaf of the Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), which is a common wildflower belonging to the sunflower family, Asteraceae. It is sometimes called Milfoil and Thousand Weed. More on this plant Here and Here.

Ted:

Ted sporting his teddy bear coat. I have no idea what he is looking at though.

NOTE

Whilst having a look at some of the wildlife sites in the UK, I came across this pretty informative site "The Norfolk Naturalists Species Guide" Here.

2 Oct 22

Furzedown Farm, Tidmoor Cove and Lynch Cove

It was a quick check on the caravan and then a late afternoon walk in the warm sunshine along our "regular" route from the farm to the two coves before returning to the caravan.

Main highlight was the 150+ Brent Geese in Lynch Cove. On social media, there have only been a few reported at The Fleet. However between Chesil Beach and Lynch Cove they have certainly arrived in good numbers.

Birds Recorded:

Great Crested Grebe
150+ Brent Geese
2 Sparrowhawk
1 Pheasant
11 Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
20+ Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
4 Stonechat
Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

Just a few of the 150+ Brent Geese just beyond Lynch Cove with a Great Crested Grebe behind them.

Eleven Bar-tailed Godwits waiting for the tide to recede.

Along our walk we came across two male Stonechats and....

...........two females

Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
Common Darter
hawker sp

A male Common Darter

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Speckled Wood

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

Lots of Ivy Bees seen along our walk

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)

General Shots:

Dawn and Ted on our walk this afternoon.

1 Oct 22

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

Its been a busy week with Benji and Ted at the vets, and today they were at the dog groomers. So with 3 hours to play with, I opted for a walk around Lodmoor with a slight detour to see the long-staying Red-backed Shrike. Alas it's the story of my life, in that when I arrived at the Shrike's location, it had, according to other birders there, disappeared five minutes before I arrived. Hmm

Still the walk around the reserve was pretty good with 49 bird species recorded.

Birds Recorded:
Cormorant

3 Great White Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Mute Swan

Canada Goose

Shelduck

Mallard

Gadwall

Teal

Moorhen

Coot