With rain forecast this morning I was off out fairly early, however the nice sunny start soon disappeared as the weather front moved in. The only good thing this morning was the lack of wind. The past week has been pretty bad with a strong easterly blowing in off the sea.
A few more warblers today with a Chiffchaff in Wakeham Wood and close by a Common Whitethroat, at the back of Church Ope Cove there was a Blackcap, whilst on Penns Weare there was a Common Whitethroat and another along Bumpers Lane. And finally another Chiffchaff along the Mermaid Track.
Here are a few images from this morning:
Church Ope Cove as seen from the grounds of St Andrew's Church
At the back of the cove this male Blackcap was in full song.
A very distant shot of a Fulmar out over the sea.
An arty shot of Horseshoe Vetch and Rufus Castle in the background.
I think this is Salad Burnet, Sanguisorba minor and was on Penns Weare in several places.
Birds Recorded: 1 Fulmar, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Moths Recorded: 1 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)
Hoverflies Recorded: 1 Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
Portland Bird Observatory and Hut Field
A flying visit this afternoon and straight away I recorded my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year on a Sycamore in the Obs garden. In fact with a short walk, in the hut field along the Obs wall, I had a further 3 flycatchers along with 2 Sedge Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler all singing away.
Also in the Obs garden my first ever Brown-banded Carder Bee, Bombus humilis, courtesy of Andy Davidson who is a Hymenopterist* and visiting the Obs. In fact it wasn't just this carder that was new for me but a few White-tailed bumblebees (Bombus lucorum) as well.
In fact Andy has just helped collate all the hymenopterans for the Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre Report for 2016 - 18. And he also went through my bee photos on my Blog and corrected me on a few of those as well. Cheers Andy 😃
Here are a few images and a sound track (video) from this afternoon:
The hedgerow alongside the Obs where there were 4 Spotted Flycatchers.
Two Sedge Warblers singing from the hedgerow alongside the track just south of the Obs.
One of the 4 Spotted Flycatchers I came across this afternoon.
A Common Carder Bee, Bombus pascuorum
White-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus lucorum
Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum
And my first ever Brown-banded Carder Bee, Bombus humilis
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Bees Recorded: Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum), Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and 2 Brown-banded Carder Bee (Bombus humilis)
Note*
A Hymenopterist is an entomologist who studies hymenopterans. In other words bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies.
Ships Today
This is the British Cable layer "CS Sovereign" on a Trial Site in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Sailing Vessel "Tess of Polruan" on its way from Weymouth to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Pleasure Craft "Merilintu" on its way from Portland Harbour to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Dutch Pleasure Craft "Gillian" on its way from Portland Harbour to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
This is the American Container Ship "Maersk Iowa" on its way from Bremerhaven, Denmark to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
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On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.