Port and Wey: 30 Jun 17

Wakeham
Apart from the Small Skipper seen this afternoon there was a Large White resting on the wall of the Cottage this evening.

A Large White on the Cottage wall this evening.

Church Ope Cove
An afternoon walk with the dogs along the cliffs to the back of the cottage and then down to Church Ope Cove and back home. It was a bit sticky underfoot, where the good old Portland stone dust had absorbed all the rain from the past few days. Talk about difficult to lift your feet, as a couple of pounds of "clag" were attached to your soles.

It was an interesting walk, as they always are and en route I managed not to stand on a Common Lizard that shot under my feet on the steps leading down to the cove.

Still lots of Marbled Whites about, there seem to be more of them around than Meadow Browns. There were a few Ringlets especially in the grounds of St Andrew's Church, where I also came across a Dark Bush-cricket, which I managed to photograph this time.

On a few grass stems were one or two Garden Grass-veneer moths and on the thistles lots of Common Soldier Beetles and a Fly which I believe is Eriothrix rufomaculata.

Oh and I nearly forgot as I was leaving the cottage a Small Skipper passed through the garden.

A Common Lizard nearly had a close call as my size 10 boots narrowly missed him as I walked down the steps to Church Ope Cove.

One of many Marbled Whites out today.

A Ringlet in the grounds of St Andrew's Church above Church Ope Cove.

I'm sure this is a Garden Grass-veneer.

Two Common Soldier beetles on a what I think is Wild Carrot, Daucus carota........

......these beetles were also on the thistles as was this fly from the Tachinidae family, which could possibly be Eriothrix rufomaculata

A Dark Bush-cricket.

According to the local news this evening the Coastguard Helicopter Service is withdrawing its services from Portland and tomorrow there is ceremony at Portland Castle to commemorate its service given to Weymouth and Portland over the years. The photo here was it flying over Church Ope Cove on probably its last flight over here.

Radipole RSPB Nature Reserve
Well the idea was to drop Dawn off at the railway station, for a her weekend in Bristol, and then for me to have a walk around Radipole Nature Reserve.

I parked up, paid £2 for 2 hours, put my wellies on and for the next 90 minutes just stood on the bridge by the Visitors Centre. The bird watching was so good from this spot that I couldn't pull myself away and walk around the rest of the reserve.

Main highlight was a Peregrine Falcoln. There were some feral pigeons by the bridge and without warning they took off. Suspecting a bird of prey overhead I looked up and sure enough there was a Peregrine in a steep dive. Fortunately for the Radipole pigeons the Peregrine had his eye on other prey a good 300 metres away. After 30 seconds or so it took off with a pigeon in its talons. However what happened next was a bit bizarre, instead of flying off to eat its prey, it circled overhead for a good 5 - 8 minutes, and appeared uncertain as to where to go. You could see that it was tiring and after being harassed by gulls, House Martins, Swallows and Swifts it eventually made a direct flight towards the direction of Nothe Fort. An amazing sight which was not only seen by myself but a few other lucky observers.

One of the reasons I wanted to visit Radipole was to see if I could locate a Bearded Reedling. I was told there were a few in the reed beds but were difficult to locate, let alone seen. However as soon as I stepped onto the bridge, there was the distinct jiggling sound of a couple of birds. In fact in total I had 2 adults and 4 juveniles all flitting about in the reed beds in front of me. What a great sight and just a few feet from the visitors centre.

Water birds seen here were 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Coot. There was no sign of the drake Hooded Merganser which I believe I first saw here in 2008. It was seen here last week, but has probably gone into hiding whilst it moults.

Other birds seen from the bridge were: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, 2 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Dunnock, Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting.

Also about 5 Red Admirals.

Here are a few images from the Reserve.