A lunchtime walk and great to hear the Continental Coal Tit singing from Church Ope Cove car park. As I got close to its location it flew over the main road into Penn's Wood, which wasn't a problem as I was heading that way. Unfortunately the Coal Tit had other ideas and flew back to the car park. Hmm.
Not wanting to run about like a headless chicken I opted to stay in the woods where there were 2 Willow Warblers singing and a Holly Blue.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church, there were several butterflies including Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White and 2 more Holly Blues. As normal lots of Epistrophe eligans and Syrphus torvus hoverflies. Interestingly there were no Wall Lizards showing, neither here, the steps or Rufus Castle.
Very little at Church Cove apart from 1 Shag and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls. However at the top of steps where the viewing point was there was a female Adder trapped against the wall. Tried as she could she get up it, so she slithered the whole length of the wall before disappearing down into Penn's Weare. My first for Portland!!
Here are a few images:
Looking down through a very dense looking Penn's Wood.
A Red Admiral sunbathing.
And one of many Holly Blues out on the wing now.
A Syrphus torvus hoverfly in the grounds of St Andrews Church
And my first Adder on the island.
If I've got this right this a female.......
....and tend to be browner than the male. More on Adders Here
Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris)
And Common Milkwort with Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) on the right.
Also recorded: 1 Adder, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Holly Blues, Epistrophe eligans and Syrphus torvus hoverflies.