Certainly the warmest day this Spring and T-shirt weather. Its been a long time coming.
In Pennsylvania Castle Wood my first 10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata). A very small ladybird approximately 4mm in length.
Main highlights though were several Chiffchaffs at St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare and my first one singing by Portland Museum. Also a Blackcap with a sub-song in the grounds of St Andrews Church where there were 3 Wall Lizards, Peacock and Comma butterflies.
A lot of holidaymakers on the beach at Church Ope Cove, but on the south facing bank more Chiffchaffs and Peacock butterflies.
Along Penn's Weare both Blackbird and Robin singing. Also here more Peacock butterflies with several males trying to woo females in at least 3 groups. Also here a Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major, my first on the island, Marmalade Hoverfly and the hoverfly Syrphus torvus. Along the cliff face a pair of Swallows were making their way north. Also here several Fulmars.
A few images from this afternoon:
One of the few Chiffchaffs in the grounds of St Andrew's Church
In flight, shame about the twig across its eye.
and another flight shot.
Settled.
A Peregrine overhead.
One of the 3 Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
I must have seen over 15 Peacock butterflies. This was the only one to land for a photo.
In Pennsylvania Castle Wood I found this 10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)........
.........a really small ladybird........
..........approximately 4mm in length.
Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major found along Penn's Weare. More on bee-flies Here.
This the Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana), which I found along Penn's Weare
Birds Recorded: Fulmar, 1 Gannet, Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Swallows, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Also seen: 3 Wall Lizards, 15+ Peacock butterflies, 1 Comma, Honey Bees, White-tailed Bumblebees, Red-tailed Cuckoo-bee, Common Drone Fly, Marmalade Hoverfly, hoverfly Syrphus torvus, 10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) and a Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major). The latter two being firsts for me on the island.