An extended walk today in glorious sunshine. Talk about overdressed, when I left the cottage it was definitely jacket weather, but an hour later I just wished I was wearing a T-shirt.
My walk today took me through the lower horse paddock where there were a few Meadow Pipits, but no sign of any Stonechats or Wheatears. From here it was down Broadcroft Quarry Lane, where this was extremely quiet as well, with just 1 Chiffchaff, the "resident" Great Spotted Woodpecker and 5 Blackbirds.
I took a slight detour to the pools Here, before heading back down a very muddy Bumpers lane. By the pools were singles of Chiffchaff, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.
By the hump at Bumpers Lane Here, were 3 Chiffchaff and a Song Thrush feeding on the Cotoneasters and Buddleia.
Through The Cuttings a few Ivy Bees, but mainly wasps and Common Drone Flies. Looking down into Penns Weare there were 2 more Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. The Ivy Bee nests here are virtual lifeless with just a handful of bees.
At Rufus Castle very much the same with just a couple of Ivy Bees and lots of wasps.
In the grounds of St Andrews Church a small flock of Long-tailed Tits and 2 Chiffchaffs with them. Also here 2 Goldcrests. The Ivy here had several Ivy Bees and Common Drone Flies, plus dozens of wasps, a Dead Head Hoverfly, Red Admiral, a Harlequin Ladybird and a 10-spot Ladybird.
In Penns Wood another Goldcrest and Chiffchaff at the top of the hill, where there were also 4 Harlequin Ladybirds.
By the Main Road the Ivy Bush here is covered in Ivy Bees and bumblebees.
Here are a few images from today:
One of the many House Sparrows on Portland, this is a male sat on the wall by the old Stone Firms office.
On the wires by the office a juvenile Wood Pigeon minus its white collar.
A Close-up view.
Nearly caught me out this bird. Not sure what I thought it could be, but its just a Meadow Pipit on the brambles.
Two winter plumaged Starlings soak up the Autumn sun.
On the left a juvenile Goldfinch with an adult bird.
A Dunnock in the lane.......
.........where there at least 4 Blackbirds feeding on the Hawthorns.
By the Bumpers Lane Hump a couple of Chiffchaffs.........
......and another.
By The Cuttings a 7-spot Ladybird on the Ivy.
As I was trying to photograph the last remaining Ivy Bees at their nest site, this Grasshopper hopped into view.
A family of Wall Lizards
A close-up of one of the adults.
A Red Admiral and to the right a Harlequin Ladybird.
A Dead Head Hoverfly
This is a 10-spot Ladybird......
.......whilst this is another colour and pattern variant of a Harlequin Ladybird
As you turn into the path for Penn's Wood the Ivy Bush here s swarming with Ivy Bees.
One of 50+ Ivy Bees on the Ivy flowers.
Also here a Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Birds Recorded: 2 Cormorant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 1 Siskin, Goldfinch and 1 Greenfinch.
Butterflies Recorded: 6 Red Admiral and 5 Large White.
Also Recorded: 15 Wall Lizards, 1 Common Darter, 50+ Ivy Bees (Colletes hederae), 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), 20+ Common Drone Flies, 2 Dead Head Hoverflies (Myathropa florea), 100+ wasps sp., 5 Harlequin Ladybirds, 1 10-spot Ladybird and 1 7-spot Ladybird
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