Wakeham Wood, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle and Bumpers Lane
It was even warmer today and for once the easterly breeze was most welcome. Just 3 warblers today, a Chiffchaff in Wakeham Wood, a Blackcap at the back of the cove and another Blackcap along Bumpers Lane.
Another good day for butterflies and it looks like I have found a little oasis Here between the Southwest Coast Path and Bumpers Lane. It's a small quarry and a right sun trap for butterflies. I had 2 Wall Browns, 2 Common Blues and a Dingy Skipper, and I'm sure there will be more once that easterly wind changes direction.
I must confess I do love this time of year and its always a thrill to find new species. Today it was a turn of a spider. I wont give it away but there are two not so brilliant photos of it below.
Here are a few images from today
Here is a not so brilliant enlargement of it. I thought at first it might be a Zebra Spider and in fact I wasn't that far off. It is in the same family of Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) and is a Copper Sun-jumper (Heliophanus cupreus). What a great name. Here's hoping I come across it again a get a better photo!!
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Wall Brown, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Blue, 1 Holly Blue and a Dingy Skipper
Moths Recorded: 2 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and 3 Green-longhorn (Adela reaumurella)
Bees Recorded: Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), 1 Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
Wasps Recorded: 1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: 2 Epistrophe eligans
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird
Slugs and Snails Recorded: None
Spiders Recorded: 1 Copper Sun-jumper (Heliophanus cupreus)
Craneflies Recorded: Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavescens)
Wakeham
Late afternoon and as I was cleaning out the garden shed when a Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) came into the garden twice. Sadly it didn't stay for a photo, but a Giant House-spider (Tegenaria duellica) was more obliging.
.............I managed to enhance it and you can sort of see it. It is on its way from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Guernsey. More on this vessel Here.
It was even warmer today and for once the easterly breeze was most welcome. Just 3 warblers today, a Chiffchaff in Wakeham Wood, a Blackcap at the back of the cove and another Blackcap along Bumpers Lane.
Another good day for butterflies and it looks like I have found a little oasis Here between the Southwest Coast Path and Bumpers Lane. It's a small quarry and a right sun trap for butterflies. I had 2 Wall Browns, 2 Common Blues and a Dingy Skipper, and I'm sure there will be more once that easterly wind changes direction.
I must confess I do love this time of year and its always a thrill to find new species. Today it was a turn of a spider. I wont give it away but there are two not so brilliant photos of it below.
Here are a few images from today
The best shot I could get of a Chiffchaff in Wakeham Wood. Not easy when you are looking straight into the sun.
A Small Blue butterfly if I'm not mistaken. This was along the track next to Wakeham Wood.
And there are still Brown-tail Moth caterpillars around.
My first Harlequin Ladybird in Wakeham Wood for quite sometime.
Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella locusta), also known as Corn Salad. More on this plant Here.
An interesting spider which I came across when I was walking up the steps to Rufus Castle.
At the top of the steps there were a few Green-longhorn moths on the wing.
My little oasis where I found 2 Wall Browns, 2 Common Blues and this...........
.........Dingy Skipper.
In the same area a Hairy-footed Flower Bee
There's always a twig in the way. A Dunnock.
I've not had a good day with focusing my camera, but if you can make it, here is a Tiger Cranefly.
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Wall Brown, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Blue, 1 Holly Blue and a Dingy Skipper
Moths Recorded: 2 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and 3 Green-longhorn (Adela reaumurella)
Bees Recorded: Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), 1 Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)
Wasps Recorded: 1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: 2 Epistrophe eligans
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird
Slugs and Snails Recorded: None
Spiders Recorded: 1 Copper Sun-jumper (Heliophanus cupreus)
Craneflies Recorded: Tiger Cranefly (Nephrotoma flavescens)
Wakeham
Late afternoon and as I was cleaning out the garden shed when a Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) came into the garden twice. Sadly it didn't stay for a photo, but a Giant House-spider (Tegenaria duellica) was more obliging.
It is certainly a whopper. A Giant House-spider measuring 5 cm or in old money just under 2"
Ships Today
This is the "Queen Mary 2" flying the flag of Bermuda. If you could see it that is in the haze...........
This is the Oil Tanker "Lincoln" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, with the Queen Mary 2 heading west.
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.