Talk about the one that got away, and it wasn't a bird, but a possible Monarch butterfly which I might have seen, had I not been staring into the Obs Quarry at Lesser Whitethroat. As it most likely flew in off the sea, it came across the land and into the Obs garden. Here 3 birders caught a glimpse of a large orange bat-like creature flying purposefully across in front of them and then to the north of the Obs where sadly they lost sight of it. Now that would have been something special.
As it was I spent a good 40 minutes peering into the Obs Quarry and managed 3 Blackcaps (2 males/1 female) & a Lesser Whitethroat. Also here 2 squabbling male Blackbirds and a juvenile. A couple of Red Admirals were spotted along with a Comma, but sadly not the Monarch.
At around 5:00pm 200+ Swallows and House Martins flew over the quarry and headed straight out to sea. Soon after that 5 Pied Wagtails and a party of Meadow Pipits also flew past.
Here are few images:
A female Blackcap............
............and one of the males.
..........another male Blackcap.
And the same one as above with an Elderberry in its beak.
And another shot of it again.
Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood
The weather was much the same as yesterday afternoon, but considerably less windy. Main highlights this afternoon were the dozens of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins heading south over Penn's Weare, where there was also my first Redpoll of the Autumn. Not so many Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were seen today.
Other highlights were 4 Red Admirals, 2 Large Whites and a first for me on Portland an Agriphila geniculea (Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer). Thank you to Steve Covey for the confirmation.
Also noted was the increased number of Harlequin Ladybirds, which are spreading out rapidly from the top of Penn's Wood. Today I found a few along the Mermaid Track, in the grounds of St Andrew's Church and now at the bottom of Penns Wood.
I even had an almost spotless orange ladybird, with two very light black spots on its wings. After investigating further it turns out its a 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), a specimen which is totally different in looks than my first one on Portland on 11 Apr this year. And for the first time in a very long time I came across another ladybird this time a 7-spot (Coccinella septempunctata). None for ages and then two on the trot.
I even had an almost spotless orange ladybird, with two very light black spots on its wings. After investigating further it turns out its a 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), a specimen which is totally different in looks than my first one on Portland on 11 Apr this year. And for the first time in a very long time I came across another ladybird this time a 7-spot (Coccinella septempunctata). None for ages and then two on the trot.
The Ivy Bees are still out in force and the number of wasps which are on all the Ivy bushes is incredible. There are hundreds about and I'm now pretty sure that they aren't all Common Wasps, as many are very small. As to what they could be I've no idea. Another wasp found today was an European Paper Wasp (Polistes Dominula).
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
The Mermaid Track which through up some interesting insects this afternoon......
This is a 7-spot and with the 10-spot above are the first Ladybirds I've come across for a long time.
Then a very tiny bee........
Also down the track an European Paper Wasp (Polistes Dominula)
And finally a male Long Winged Cone-head (Conocephalus fuscus)
Down at the Observation Area, Rufus Castle, the Ivy was buzzing again with dozens of wasps.........
......and Ivy Bees.
And another shot.
This is straightforward, a Wall Lizard with a new tail.............
.............and a nice close up of its head.
One of the 4 Red Admirals on the wing today.
One of the grass moths a Agriphila geniculea. My first for Portland
A Common Carder Bee on a buddleia.
And finally more Harlequins, showing the variation in colours and patterns.
Another
And another
And the last one.