Wakeham Wood, Penns Wood and Church Ope Cove
The warm sunshine (when you were out of the easterly breeze) saw a few Wall Lizards, lots of hoverflies and several Honey Bees in the grounds of St Andrew's Church. Also here was a Dark-edged Bee-fly, whilst at the top of Penns Wood there was a Common Green Shieldbug on the leaf of a Comfrey.
On a Valerian half way up the steps to Rufus Castle there was a Celery Fly again. Just about everywhere I walked there were 7-spot Ladybirds on the Alexanders leaves. This appears to be a very good year for this species of ladybird.
Also noted were the caterpillars of the Brown-tail moth which have doubled in size since I saw them a week or so ago.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
Close to Wakeham Wood a few Brown-tail moth caterpillars.
At the top of Penns Wood a Common Green Shieldbug and a .............
..........7-spot Ladybird.
A Wall Lizard basks in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
Also in the church grounds a Dark-edged Bee-fly.
One of the syrphus hoverflies.
A Goldfinch in the copse at Penns Weare.
Birds Recorded: 1 Buzzard. 1 Peregrine Falcon, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizards
Also Recorded: 1 Dark-edged Bee-fly, 7-spot Ladybirds, Common Green Shieldbug, 1 Celery Fly, Buff-tailed Bumblebees, Honey Bees, Brown-tail moth caterpillars and hoverflies sp.
Southwell Barns, Top Fields, Culverwell and Sweethill
There was a tweet this morning Here of a male Pied Flycatcher trapped at the Obs, so having left Reap Lane I headed off to Sweethill and had a walk along the Top Fields and Culverwell just on the off chance that it had stopped off along here having been released at the Obs.
No such luck, but I did find a male Common Redstart and Common Whitethroat in the hedgerow by the barns. Also with them were dozens of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers all feeding in the shelter of the Blackthorn bushes.
Further along in the Top Fields there were 5 Wheatears.
Dropping down to Culverwell a Blackcap was heard singing but alas no sign of the Flycatcher. Plenty of time yet.
Here are a few images and a video from this morning:
A very distant shot of the male Common Redstart
A short video of the Common Redstart feeding along the hedgerow.
A bit further along the track a few Wheatear in the Top Fields.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, 1 Common Redstart, 5 Wheatear, Blackbird, 1 Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Also recorded: 7-spot Ladybirds, Honey Bees, Buff-tailed Bumblebees
Barleycrates Lane and Reap Lane
On the way back from Portland Marina early this morning I dropped into Barleycrates on the off chance of seeing the elusive male Ring Ouzel. And it was. Elusive that is!!
There must have been a dozen or more bird watchers looking for it, but from what I can gather it didn't show. I did however get my first House Martin of the year as it shot across the paddocks. Also here were several Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, a Blackcap and a hen Pheasant strutting across one of the paddocks.
At the Barns at Reap Lane just a Swallow passing through.
The horse fields where there has been an elusive Ring Ouzel.
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, 1 House Martin, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.