16 Jul 17

Weymouth, Stone Pier
This afternoon it was off to the Stone Pier for a spot of sea fishing. Still no Mackerel about, but we had a few small Black Bream and Pouting on light coarse rods and small hooks.

Always a lot of activity when the sea fishing boats come in and plenty of gulls about with Black-headed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed and a few Mediterranean. Also about were Common Tern, Swifts and Swallows over the water, whilst at the car park at Nothe Fort a Goldcrest was calling.

Weymouth Harbour mouth

As the fishing boats come in, the gulls follow closely for tit-bits.

A Great Black-backed Gull.

And I got lucky with this Common Tern as it came down to rest on the breakwater just inside the harbour mouth. If I'd waited just a little bit longer I would have captured its mate on camera as well, but the car park ticket was running out on the car.


Church Ope Cove
Still a few Chalkhill Blues behind Bumpers Lane Quarry and also Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, GatekeepersLarge Whites and 2 Dingy Skippers.

In the grounds of St Andrew's Church there were more Ringlets, Marbled Whites, Large Whites, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and  a pristine Comma. There was also a Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) on an umbellifer.

At both locations there were also Six-spot Burnet Moths.

In the usual spot a Lizard on the wall overlooking the cove.

At the top of Pennsylvania Wood was that a Clearwing moth I saw flying around the brambles. What a shame it flew off before I could ID it properly.

Birds around today were a pair of House Martins over Bumpers Lane.

The grounds of St Andrew's Church alive with butterflies, moths and hoverflies.

A Common Lizard basking in the sun.

One of many Gatekeepers about. And at long last one with its wings open.

A Comma........

.......so called because of the white comma on its underwing.

A Meadow Brown on a sedum.

One of a few Six-spot Burnet moths on the wing today.

A large black and white hoverfly. I should know this one!

A Rose Chafer on an umbellifer

Is Autumn just around the corner. The fruit of a Blackthorn. Also known as Sloe.