31 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track

Well it can't get much gloomier than this surely. This was by far the murkiest morning I've walked so far this Autumn. But at least it was brightened up with some good Autumnal birds.

Here is a break down of what I came across this morning:

Wakeham Wood: 12+ Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 9 Goldcrest, 1 female Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush. Overhead 5 Skylarks, 12 Redwing and a Snipe

Penns Wood: a small flock of Long-tailed Tits and a Chiffchaff

Church Ope Cove: 32 Rock Pipits and a Black Redstart. Out to sea 3 Cormorant, 2 Shag and 2 Gannets.

Penns Weare: 2 Chiffchaff

Rufus Castle: 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits

Mermaid Track: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest

Sadly with the gloomy conditions there are a few gloomy images from this morning:

One of the Goldcrests in Wakeham Wood

And another.

Hmm. Centre of frame the Snipe heading east over Wakeham. Moving on........

Two of the 32 Rock Pipits on the beach at Church Ope Cove

Just a record shot of a Black Redstart at the cove.

An Owl Midge fly...........

...................of which there are 99 UK species in the Psychodidae family and they are all very similar looking. Common names given to this family are Moth Fly, Owl Midge, Owl Fly and Drain Fly. The latter so called because the larvae frequent drains. More Here on this family.

Birds Recorded: 2 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 2 Shag, 1 Snipe, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Skylark, 32 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Black Redstart, Blackbird, 12 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 14 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and an Owl Midge Fly

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Large Red Slug (Arion ater) and Black Slug (Arion ater)

Ships Today

This is the British Utility Vessel "SD Navigator" on its way from Portland Harbour to Plymouth. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

30 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Mermaid Track

A miserable wet day, with just one window of opportunity to get out for a walk, when the rain stopped for a couple of hours between 10:00 and midday.

Main highlights were 33 Rock Pipits at Church Ope Cove where there were also 2 Black Redstarts and an adult & juvenile Pied Wagtail.

Other highlights were huge flock of tits, crests and Chiffchaffs along the Railway Cutting, which consisted of 12+ Long-tailed Tits, several Great Tits & Blue Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, at least 10 Goldcrests and a Firecrest. The latter heard but not seen. Also here were 7 Blackbirds (5 together in a May Tree) and 4 Song Thrush.

Here is a break down of the birds noted this morning:

Wakeham Wood: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tit

Bottom Combe Quarry: 4 Greenfinch

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 4 Chiffchaff, 10+ Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 12+ Long-tailed Tit, 7 Blackbird and 4 Song Thrush

Penns Wood: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 6 Long-tailed Tit

Church Ope Cove: 33 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtails and 2 Black Redstarts

Mermaid Track: 1 Sparrowhawk over

Here are a few images from today:

Church Ope Cove, where today there were 33 Rock Pipits, 2 Black Redstarts and 2 Pied Wagtails.

Black redstart number 1.

And Black Redstart number 2, with a Rock Pipit in the foreground.

After a few days with just a handful of Rock Pipits, today saw 33 on the beach.

An adult Pied Wagtail and...........

...........a juvenile. Both on the beach

A Grey Squirrel along the Railway Cutting at Wakeham.

I'm pretty sure this is a Rusty Dot Pearl moth, which I came across in Wakeham Wood.

Vineyard Snails on Penns Weare. And thousands of them, though many are empty shells.

This is what I believe to Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima). A plant that seems to be in every corner of Portland. More on this plant Here.

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 33 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Black Redstart, 12+ Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, 8 Chiffchaff, 14+ Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 23+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 4 Greenfinch

Moths Recorded: 1 Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis)

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Vineyard Snail (Cernuella virgata)

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

29 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings and Perryfield Butterfly Reserve

On the odd occasion the birds come to you and needless to say my walk this morning was literally a couple of hundred yards, as I followed a large flock of Long-tailed Tits around Wakeham Wood down to Perryfield Butterfly Reserve.

The sound of twittering tits and crests, and the odd call from 4 Chiffchaffs was very loud, as they moved through the Sycamores, brambles and buddleia.

Other than this wandering flock of birds, there were 3 Redwings high up in the trees and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in one of the local gardens

Here are a few images from this morning:

The track from Wakeham through to Bottom Combe Quarry. On the left Wakeham Wood.

South of Wakeham Wood, the Wakeham Railway Cuttings.

And south of the Cuttings is Perryfields Butterfly Reserve. In the background is Church Ope Car park.

Here are few images of the 3 Firecrests here in the wood this morning.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, 15+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow and Chaffinch

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

28 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Bottom Combe Quarry, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane and The Mermaid Track

Another dry chilly day with a slight easterly breeze. Main highlight had to be the flock of 1000+ Wood Pigeon flying up and down the island. They did this for a good hour or more before eventually heading south-east across the Channel.

Here are a few other highlights:

Wakeham Wood: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest

Bottom Combe Quarry: 1 female Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Greenfinch

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 2 Goldcrest

Penns Wood: 4 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest and 20+ Long-tailed Tits

St Andrew's Church: 1 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff . Overhead 2 Swallows heading north!

Church Ope Cove: 3 Rock Pipit, 3 Oystercatchers and a Herring Gull

Penns Weare: 1 Chiffchaff and a Sparrowhawk

Penns Copse: 2 Chiffchaff. Overhead 30 Linnet heading south

Bumpers Lane: 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest

Just 3 butterflies today, all Red Admirals.

Here are a few images from today:

A female Blackcap on the edge of Bottom Combe Quarry

A Goldcrest along the Wakeham Railway Cutting.

A bit camera shy, but that orange/yellow stripe over the head is a very distinct feature for Goldcrests.

One of the Long-tailed Tits at St Andrews Church

On the rocks at the cove 3 Oystercatchers dropped in, whilst...........

............on the other end of the beach an adult Herring Gull.

Overhead there was a huge flock of Wood Pigeons, which seemed confused as to where they were heading. When I first saw them they were heading north and then 20 minutes later they were heading east. 30 minutes after that I saw them heading north again until...........

........eventually headed out to sea.

Just 3 Red admirals seen today. This one was trying to warm itself up on Penns Weare

Just the one Harlequin Ladybird today. This one the form succinea

Not one but...........

..........................two  Daddy Long-legs Spiders in the cove conveniences.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, 1000+ Wood Pigeon, Skylark, 2 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 25+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 30+ Linnet, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch

Butterflies Recorded: 3 Red Admiral

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: Vineyard Snail (Cernuella virgata)

Spiders Recorded: 2 Daddy Long-legs Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Tanker "Fredericia" on its way from Portland Harbour to St Nazaire (France). More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Auxiliary Ship "RFA Argus" on its way out of Portland harbour to East Dunkirk (France). More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.

27 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Mermaid Track, Bumpers Lane, Bumpers Quarry, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock.

A real change in the weather with wall to wall sunshine, though there was a noticeable dip in the temperature.

Some good highlights with a trio of wagtails species over Penns Weare, which started off with a Grey Wagtail, followed by 2 Pied Wagtails and then a real surprise with a Yellow Wagtail. Other highlights were 2 Firecrest in Penns Wood.

Here are my bird sightings from this morning:

Wakeham Wood: 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Chiffchaff and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits

Penns Wood: 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrest

St Andrew's Church: 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 12 Long-tailed Tit

Penns Weare: 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail all heading south

Bumpers Lane: 1 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff

Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest

Despite the cool conditions, the sun was warn enough for a Wall Lizard at Rufus Castle and an Ivy Bee in Penns Copse. A few butterflies about with a single Speckled Wood in Penns Wood and a 2 Red Admirals in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

Here are a few images from today:

Yes I'm looking at you. And unsurprisingly this Goldcrest............

...............was off.

A little easier was this Chiffchaff in the church grounds, though...........

...........normally this is what you see. A Great Tit and a Chiffchaff hiding in the brambles.

There are quite a few Robins on the island and most are singing.

In the Horse paddock a few Starlings in Winter plumage.

A Wall Lizard soaking up the sun by Rufus Castle.

In Penns Wood a Speckled Wood.

Also in the wood a Harlequin Ladybird form spectabilis

With the cooler conditions today there were fewer Ivy Bees to be found. This one was in Penns Copse

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and Bunny

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 13 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 15+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Painted Lady

Bees Recorded: Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - spectabilis)

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Laureline" passing The Bill. Its way from Rozenburg (Holland) to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day..........

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.