18 Mar 19

Penns Wood and Church Ope Cove

Yesterday we saw the sunshine for the first time in days and today the strong gale force winds we've had for more than a week finally abated. Still quiet on the bird front and in fact even quieter today as the 'sheltering' Chiffchaffs finally pushed on north, just leaving 2 singing birds and a 3rd calling in the woods to the back of the cove.

On the beach absolutely zero, not even a Wren.

So the only wildlife recorded other than the 3 Chiffchaffs were 2 Wall Lizards by Rufus Castle, 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees on the Hebes at the back of the cove, 2 Honey Bees on the Alexanders in Penns Wood where there was also a Yellow Dung Fly. I said it was quiet!!

And worth mentioning that on this day last year we were under several inches of snow Click Here.

Here are a few images from today:

This Dunnock is in its usual spot at the top of Penns Wood.

Just the 2 Wall Lizards seen today, with both behind the benches at the top of the steps by Rufus Castle.

One of the 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees on the Hebes today.

This Alexander and is very popular with........

.....the Honey Bees and...........

............hundreds of Kelp Flies and........

.........this Yellow Dung Fly, Scathophaga stercoraria

This is Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x Uplandicum), which is a cross or hybrid of Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Rough Comfrey (Symphytum asperum) and it has has taken over most of Penns Wood...........

.......with a few more are coming in flower.

It's not just high up on the cliffs along Penns Weare where you can find Wallflowers but also around the Church Ope Cove huts.

Ships Today

This is a very distant and subsequently enlarged image of the British Destroyer 'HMS Defender' on maneuvers east of Portland. More on this vessel Here and Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.