Another lovely sunny day and at long last a few more migrants about with 2 Blackcaps along the Mermaid Track, several Swallows over Church Ope Cove and a small party of Meadow Pipits also moving through.
Other birds of note were the 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle and a Buzzard sat in Sycamore along the Mermaid Track, well he was until I inadvertently spooked it.
Just a couple of Wall Lizards seen, in what has been a pretty poor year for them. Numbers seen this year are well down on the previous 2 years since I moved to Portland.
Painted Lady's are still the most abundant butterflies to be seen, especially in the church grounds and along The Mermaid Track. Both Chalk Hill Blues and Common Blues about. And my first Ringlet seen for several days.
Having seen my first ever Yellow-spot Tortrix yesterday, today I came across 2 in Penns Copse. And great to see a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the church grounds, though it did allude the camera.
Other highlights of interest were 2 Emperor Dragonflies, one in the church grounds and the 2nd along the Mermaid Track, no doubt looking for butterflies to prey on.
Here are a few images from this morning:
One of the local Buzzards which I inadvertently spooked as it sat in a Sycamore a tree along the Mermaid Track.
A Wall Lizard on the wall at Rufus Castle
And a Painted Lady. It has been an exceptional Summer for them here on Portland.
Birds Recorded: 2 Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 7+ Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Green-veined White, 1 Ringlet, Meadow Brown, 12+ Painted Lady, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue.
Moths Recorded: 2 Yellow-spot Tortrix (Pseudargyrotoza conwagana) and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: 2 Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Hoverflies Recorded: Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) and a Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
The Hood and Portland Marina
Well the weather looked good enough for an afternoon fishing trip to The Hood Here, but despite the sun and blue skies, it was quite breezy and not ideal for Mackerel fishing.
However the bird watching was excellent, especially when Dawn and I spotted 2 Little Egrets coming across the sea towards Weymouth. and as we returned to Portland Marina (empty handed), we had great close-up views of a juvenile Razorbill in the marina close to our berth.
Also seen was a a Barrel Jellyfish which sadly dived just as I took a photograph of it in Balaclava Bay Here.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
In Balaclava Bay a Barrel Jellyfish drifts on by. Unfortunately it just started to dive as I got the camera out.
A juvenile Razorbill in Portland Marina.
Not sure what this is all about, but I haven't got anything for you!!!
Another front of view.
And well done Dawn on steering the boat close enough for me to get close to it.
Ships Today
