The forecast was for rain at around 10:00am, so I was out nice and early just in case the weatherman got it right.
Main highlight was a Whimbrel on the beach at Church Ope Cove and also my first Green-longhorn Moth of the year.
Both the adult Rock Pipits are collecting food now for their youngsters at the cove. A few days ago it was just the male, but with hungry mouths to feed the female is hard at it as well.
A couple of first for year again with a Green-longhorn Moth and an Ichneumon Wasp from the exact same location as last year in Penns Copse Here. The wasp was a Heteropelma sp. and I couldn't pin it down any more than that.
Here are a few images from this morning:
A syrphus Hoverfly possibly Syrphus torvus
A couple of days ago I had seven Whimbrel on the beach.
Today there was just this one.
Perhaps it was the single bird back to enjoy those small crabs under the seaweed.
As the early morning walkers arrived on the beach, so the Whimbrel left for another location further down the coast.
In Penns Copse there is this great little passage way, which is full of insects.
My favourite fly was there.
The Celery Fly.
Here are a few more shots of it.
However a year on and it is most likely a Heteropelma amictum
A Green-longhorn Moth. This one has hatched two weeks early from when they hatched here in the same spot on 10 May last year.
Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, 1 Whimbrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch,
Reptiles Recorded: None
Butterflies Recorded: None
Moths Recorded: 1 Green-longhorn Moth (Adela reaumurella)
Hoverflies Recorded: Possible Syrphus torvus, Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea)
Also Recorded: Celery Fly (Euleia heraclei) and Ichneumon Wasp (Heteropelma amictum)
Portland Bill
This afternoon I made a quick trip down to the Bill in the hope of seeing the Tree Sparrows. Unfortunately I went to the wrong location and ended up doing an impromptu sea watch by the Obelisk. I was under the impression the Tree Sparrows were at the Lighthouse, but apparently they were in the bushes by the coast guard cottages Here.
Before I headed off to The Bill there were a group of Birders peering into the front of the Obs garden. Apparently a female Pied Flycatcher had just been seen and it had flown across the drive into undergrowth. The best place to see it was actually crossing the road and peering over the wall into the garden. A few seconds wait and she popped up onto a branch of a Sycamore tree, for a few seconds, before disappearing back into the bushes. A good start to my walk.
As it turned out my extended walk to the obelisk proved to be very prosperous as I recorded 3 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Great Skua, 2 divers (most likely Red-throated Divers), dozens of Gannets & Guillemots, plus a few Razorbills. There were also a few gulls about with Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gulls being the most numerous, plus a single 1st Summer Mediterranean Gull which flew west.
On the way back to the Obs I had a look for the Tree Sparrows at the correct location, but surprise surprise they had moved on. Another day!!
A Lesser Black-backed Gull. Its been awhile since I've seen one Portland. Its mainly Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls here. I believe this bird is a 4th Calendar Year, but there again I've seen 3rd Calendar birds like this one. A bit of an in between!!
Birds Recorded: 2 possible Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Kestrel, Pheasant, 1 Great Skua, 1 Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Dunnock, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
This is the British Cargo Vessel "Hurst Point" on its way from Southampton to Brixham. More on this vessel Here.
Today's Sightings Here.
On the way back to the Obs I had a look for the Tree Sparrows at the correct location, but surprise surprise they had moved on. Another day!!
Other highlights were a Stonechat and Wheatear just up from the Pulpit Rock and a Common Whitethroat seen and heard in the brambles next to the Obs Garden.
On the grass field Here, north of the Lobster Pot Cafe there were 2 Herring Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The latter a gull I've not seen for awhile.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
The Pulpit with many..........
..........Gannets passing by.
A couple more.
A pair of Fulmars were working their way back and forth along this stretch of water.
A Great Skua on the prowl. It is sometimes known by the name Bonxie, a Shetland name of Norse origin.
A busy Rock Pipit.........
.......which just got closer and closer to me. Its sole intent was chasing down insects for chicks close by no doubt.
An adult and 1st Summer Herring Gulls.
Thrift (Armeria maritima) a new one for my Portland plant list Here.
Birds Recorded: 2 possible Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Kestrel, Pheasant, 1 Great Skua, 1 Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Dunnock, 1 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Ships Today
Just going past The Bill is this Vehicles Carrier "Brilliant Ace" flying the flag of the Cayman Islands...........
............... it is on its way from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Santos, Brazil. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.