Wall to wall blue skies and a fresh southwesterly and a trip down to the cove. Despite being in the shelter of the wind it was actually very quiet on the bird front. Having said that I did record 2 Swifts, 2 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a handful of House Martins and Swallows.
Very few butterflies about and pick of the bunch was an Adonis Blue in the The Cuttings Quarry. Elsewhere there was a Common Blue along the Mermaid Track, a few Large Whites & Green-veined Whites and a single Painted Lady.
Also recorded a new moth for my Portland moth list this time a Straw-barred Pearl (Pyrausta despicata) which was in The Cuttings Quarry.
The only "bugs" found was a Dock Beetle in the quarry and 2 Harlequin Ladybirds in Penns Wood.
Here are a few images from this morning.
Newton's Cove, Balaclava Bay, The Hood and Portland Harbour
Another trip out on Star for a bit of fishing. Very slow and the best we could do was 3 Mackerel. At least the wildlife was a bit more exciting with 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone and 2 Sandwich Terns seen.
Also about were a Clouded Yellow, a Painted Lady and 3 Barrel Jellyfish.
The main highlight though had to be my first ever Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) which flew into the cabin of the boat.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
This is the Portuguese Cargo ship "Samskip Express" on its way from Cork to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Diving vessel "Skindeep" on its way down the east coast of Portland. More on this vessel Here.
A rather worn Green-veined White
Straw-barred Pearl.
A Harlequin Ladybird, form conspicua
Dock Bug
Newton's Cove, Balaclava Bay, The Hood and Portland Harbour
Another trip out on Star for a bit of fishing. Very slow and the best we could do was 3 Mackerel. At least the wildlife was a bit more exciting with 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstone and 2 Sandwich Terns seen.
Also about were a Clouded Yellow, a Painted Lady and 3 Barrel Jellyfish.
The main highlight though had to be my first ever Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) which flew into the cabin of the boat.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
Oystercatcher
Turnstone
Barrel Jellyfish
A Western Conifer Seed Bug..........
..............and another shot of it as it made its way around the cabin.
Ships Today
(Photos taken in very hazy conditions)
This is the British Patrol Ship "HMS Dasher" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.
This is the French Fishing Boat "Pere Daniel" just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.