Back to my local patch this morning, and wow wasn't it warm despite the easterly breeze. Main highlights were 4 Willow Warblers in Penns Wood, 1 in Wakeham Wood and a Chiffchaff by Rufus Castle. Also in Penns Wood a pair of Blackcaps.
The sun also brought out a few butterflies with 2 Peacocks, 3 Green-veined and a Small Tortoiseshell. The breeze however did have an effect on the hoverflies and flies, and the best I could do was around 8 syrphus sp. hoverflies and 4 Celery Flies.
However the top invertebrate had to go to the bees with several species seen. The list is below
A Bloody-nosed Beetle was on the wall leading up to Portland Museum from the archway at Rufus Castle and I as I was looking for more Celery Flies I came across a nymph of a Dark Bush-cricket on the steps up to Rufus Castle.
Here are a few images from this morning:
A different Buttercup today, this one is a Meadow Buttercup, Ranunculus acris. And another one to add to my ever growing Portland Plant List Here.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizards
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Hoverflies Recorded: syrphus sp.
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees, Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Also Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), a Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) nymph, 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina), Brown-tail moth caterpillars, a 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 4 Celery Flies (Euleia heraclei).
Today's Sightings Here.
A Bloody-nosed Beetle was on the wall leading up to Portland Museum from the archway at Rufus Castle and I as I was looking for more Celery Flies I came across a nymph of a Dark Bush-cricket on the steps up to Rufus Castle.
Here are a few images from this morning:
Brown-line Moth caterpillars in their "tent"
Penns Wood looking very leafy now,
In the canopy I came across 4 Willow Warblers and also a pair of Blackcaps feeding.
The ruins of St Andrew's Church.........
........home to many Wall Lizards.
On Penns Weare a 7-spot Ladybird.
And in the copse at Penns Weare Here, a Common Green Shieldbug.
Also about a few Celery Flies.
Just love those green eyes.
The nymph of a Dark Bush-cricket. This little fellow could only have been a couple of centimeters if that.
A Blood-nosed Beetle scales the wall close to Rufus Castle.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizards
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White and 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Hoverflies Recorded: syrphus sp.
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees, Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Also Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), a Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) nymph, 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina), Brown-tail moth caterpillars, a 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 4 Celery Flies (Euleia heraclei).
Wakeham
This evening my first ever "Portland" bat, possibly a Pipistrelle, feeding in the back garden.
Ships Today
This is the British Pleasure Craft "Night Hawk of Hamble" on its way from Portland harbour to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.