This morning in the dense fog, I made a quick visit to Reap Lane as there had been a Grasshopper Warbler reeling there. Unfortunately I arrived 5 minutes to late but did get a male Common Redstart just behind the Barn and a Wheatear in the horse paddock to the south of the track.
King Barrow Quarry
A quarry I haven't visited before and with a report of a Grasshopper Warbler here, it was off to find it. And I didn't have to wait to long, as a one started reeling at 10:55am from this area Here. I had just the briefest of views before it disappeared into the brambles.
Also here 3 male Common Redstarts, 4 Common Whitethroat, 5 Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, many Swallows and Sand Martins passing north overhead, plus a Yellow Wagtail.
King Barrow Quarry, where today in this..........
.......area there were 3 Blackcaps, a Grasshopper Warbler and........
........3 male Common Redstarts. Here is one of them down below in the quarry.
High Angle Battery
Another location I haven't visited before and I'm glad I did as I came across another Grasshopper Warbler at around 11:55am reeling in this area Here. Seems there were quite a few Groppers on the island, as the fog swirled around, but they certainly weren't hanging around.
Also 2 Blackcaps and a singing Willow Warbler. Also several Swallows heading north.
Another location I haven't visited before and I'm glad I did as I came across another Grasshopper Warbler at around 11:55am reeling in this area Here. Seems there were quite a few Groppers on the island, as the fog swirled around, but they certainly weren't hanging around.
Also 2 Blackcaps and a singing Willow Warbler. Also several Swallows heading north.
Another area I haven't been to before and as soon as I got out of the car and walked.......
..........to these bushes here, there was a Grasshopper Warbler reeling from.....
I'm not 100% sure but I think this could be the Cream-spot Tiger (Arctia villica). One to check!!
A Cowslip, my first of the year. And another flower to add to my Portland Plant List Here.
Birds Recorded this morning: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, 4 Common Redstart, 1 Wheatear, Blackbird, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Also Recorded: Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) and a caterpillar possibly Cream-spot Tiger Moth.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.