An extended walk this morning, though perhaps it was a mistake to walk along Bumpers Lane, which now has a covering of up to 50mm of Portland dust. Better watch out if it rains, as that dust will most certainly turn to a heavy clag.
Not for the first time recently, have I left home with a nice covering of cloud for it to disperse and for the sun to come out. It certainly has an effect on the butterflies, as yet again, there were only Chalk Hill Blues on the wing, with pretty much everything else taking shelter.
Apart from the Chalk Hill Blues I did record, Small Blue, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White, Marbled White and Meadow Browns. But all in low numbers. A species I haven't seen for sometime now is skippers. Where have they gone!
Lots of Six-spot Burnet moths about and a single Silver Y seen.
There were good numbers of grasshoppers about, though actually seeing one is always tricky, a bit like the Wall Lizards which apart from one adult seen briefly in the grounds of St Andrew's Church, the others I encountered were heard rustling away.
Between the Mermaid Track and Rufus Castle I came across an Emperor Dragonfly which was about to settle, until a "rival" Emperor flew into his air space and that was them gone.
As usual not too many birds about, but highlights today were a Peregrine over Penn's Wood where in the neighbouring gardens there was a very vocal Great Spotted Woodpecker. The latter may well have been warning other birds of a Sparrowhawk which was making its way through the wood. Also overhead a few Swifts calling.
Here are few images from today.
One of the local Peregrine Falcons out on patrol.
Is it really that time of year again with ripe Blackberries now on show.
More Blackberries with a juvenile Blackbird sitting quietly behind his/her patch.
A female Chalk Hill Blue.
And a male
And another male.
A Ringlet
Gatekeeper
And another
And why not another. They are certainly the most numerous of butterflies in this area.
Another Six-spot Burnet.
And a pair mating.
A Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus). And they are common, believe me.
A Wayfaring-tree, Viburnum lantana.............
......just starting to bear berries. More on this tree Here