A lot cooler today, but still humid, especially around Church Ope Cove.
A few highlights with an interesting looking hoverfly, the Wasp-mimic Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) and a very small wasp which I've not come across before. In comparison to the German Wasp I found on Tuesday, this one was a third of the size.
I was hoping that because of its size it could have been a Saxon Wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) where the workers are relatively small and measure from 11 to 14mm. The size is certainly right. But apparently it is small Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).
Just the 1 Marbled White seen, where on the other hand there are more Chalk Hill Blues and Common Blues to be found. Still good numbers of Gatekeepers, but probably less Meadow Browns and Ringlets.
Just a handful of Six-Spot Burnets moths seen today.
In Penns Wood there was a family of Goldcrests, which would suggest that successful breeding took place close by, whilst in Penns Weare, close to the copse, there were 2 Chiffchaffs calling.
Here are a few images from today:
Penns Wood
One of the 2 Speckled Woods in the wood.
A Dead Head Fly on the Japonica. Not a fly but actually a hoverfly.
Giant Viper's Bugloss, Echium pininana in its first year. Next year it will be in flower and a lot taller.
The very dry grounds of St Andrew's Church.
In the brambles a very small wasp.
Not sure if there is enough of the face to ID this one, but.........
..........this Wall Lizard.
Church Ope Cove
Penns Copse
In the copse were several flies. None of which I know.
And another to ID.
A Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
And a male Swollen-thighed Beetle
A Common Blue on a Wild Marjoram
Another view.
On the left a Six-Spot Burnet moth and on the right a Gatekeeper.
Another attempt of capturing a Six-Spot Burnet in flight.
A Wasp-mimic Hoverfly on the Wild Marjoram. A popular plant.
And the Wasp-mimic Hoverfly resting on a Buddleia leaf.
A Wasp-mimic Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
And a Large Rose Sawfly
The Wayfaring-tree, Viburnum lantana is really coming into berry now.
A close-up of the berries which will all turn black eventually.
A Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum and another new plant for my Portland list of plants.
The pink flower heads of a Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum
And a close up of the flowers. A new plant for my Portland List.
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, 1 Marbled White, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Moths Recorded: Six-Spot Burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).
Sawflies Recorded: Large Rose Sawfly (Arge pagana)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea), Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and Wasp-mimic Hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum)
Flies Recorded: 2 flies sp.
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata)
Grasshoppers and Crickets Recorded: Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) and Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.