Well Storm Hannah made her presence felt today, with gale force winds whipping across the island. At least the east side of Portland was relatively sheltered.
Best highlight today was a Lesser Whitethroat singing and occasionally showing itself at the end of the Mermaid Track Here. Other than the Whitethroat the only other Summer migrant was a male Blackcap singing at the back of St Andrew's Church.
At the top of the steps by Rufus Castle a Small Copper landed and then was immediately blown away as a strong gust of wind blew it away.
In Penns Copse the lone Green-longhorn Moth from yesterday was joined by dozens more today. In the same location. which was well sheltered and bathed in sunshine, there were dozens of insects with Celery Flies, Gooden's Nomad Bees, Early Mining Bees, Dead Head Flies, a Common Green Shieldbug, a possible Mocydia crocea Leafhopper and an Orange-tip Butterfly which didn't stop..
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church, the flowers on the Alexanders are well and truly turning and the reduction in the numbers of hoverflies and bees, is quite noticeable. Despite the shelter here and the warm sunshine there wasn't a single Wall Lizard showing.
In Penns Wood there was a Hairy-footed Bee, a Red-tailed Bumblebee, Comma and a Speckled Wood.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Reptiles Recorded: None
Butterflies recorded: 1 Small Copper, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Comma, 1 Large White, 1 Small White and a Comma
Moths Recorded: Green Longhorn moth
Bees Recorded: Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Early Mining Bee, Ashy Mining Bee, Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)
Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea), Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) and Syrphus sp.
Also Recorded: 3 Common Green Shieldbug, Brown-tail Moth caterpillar
At the top of the steps by Rufus Castle a Small Copper landed and then was immediately blown away as a strong gust of wind blew it away.
In Penns Copse the lone Green-longhorn Moth from yesterday was joined by dozens more today. In the same location. which was well sheltered and bathed in sunshine, there were dozens of insects with Celery Flies, Gooden's Nomad Bees, Early Mining Bees, Dead Head Flies, a Common Green Shieldbug, a possible Mocydia crocea Leafhopper and an Orange-tip Butterfly which didn't stop..
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church, the flowers on the Alexanders are well and truly turning and the reduction in the numbers of hoverflies and bees, is quite noticeable. Despite the shelter here and the warm sunshine there wasn't a single Wall Lizard showing.
In Penns Wood there was a Hairy-footed Bee, a Red-tailed Bumblebee, Comma and a Speckled Wood.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
The Mermaid Track where a Lesser Whitethroat was singing this morning.
A Lesser Whitethroat singing from inside this bramble bush along the Mermaid Track. Very windy as you can tell.
Rufus Castle and in the centre of the frame Penns Copse which was probably the most sheltered spot on the island today. Lots of insects here.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, House Sparrow and Chaffinch.
Yesterday there was just the one Green Longhorn moth here. Today dozens.
A Green Longhorn Moth possibly displaying.
These Green Longhorn moths have just hatched in Penns Copse.
Also in the Copse about 10 Celery Flies.
A Leafhopper possibly Mocydia crocea was also enjoying the sun.
The grounds of St Andrew's Church.
In the grounds a Common Green Shieldbug.........
........and lots hoverflies and bees, including this Flavous Nomad Bee (Nomada flava)
The top of Penns Wood.
In the wood today this Red-tailed Bumblebee.........
.............a Hairy-footed Bee..............
............Speckled Wood and a...........
..........Comma. In the background a Mining Bee
The track next to Wakeham Wood........
............where I came across another Common Green Shieldbug and..........
...........a Brown-tail Moth caterpillar.
Red Clover, Trifolium pratense to add to my Portland Plant List Here.
Reptiles Recorded: None
Butterflies recorded: 1 Small Copper, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Comma, 1 Large White, 1 Small White and a Comma
Moths Recorded: Green Longhorn moth
Bees Recorded: Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Early Mining Bee, Ashy Mining Bee, Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)
Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea), Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) and Syrphus sp.
Also Recorded: 3 Common Green Shieldbug, Brown-tail Moth caterpillar
Ships Today
This is the Maltese Cargo vessel "Delphine" on its way from Zeebrugge to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Supply Ship "Ocean Osprey" in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.