A brighter and sunnier start to the day, though there was still that annoying westerly breeze coming across the island. At least the wind speed was down a bit and I was able to track down 2 Firecrests on my walk. Another good highlight was my first Woodlark this year, with one in flight over Penns Weare, with that unmistakable call. Here is sound track courtesy of Xeno-canto Click Here.
Here is a break down of the bird noted this morning
Wakeham Wood: 4 Chiffchaff (1 singing), 1 Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest
Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Chiffchaff
Penns Wood: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest
Church Ope Cove: 12 Rock Pipit and 1 Cormorant out to sea
Penns Weare: 1 Woodlark, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark, 7+ Pied Wagtail and 4 Swallow
Penns Copse: 3 Chiffchaff (singing) plus 4 Swallow and a Grey Wagtail overhead
Bumpers Lane: 6 Swallow
Bumpers Lane Quarry: 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap
Lower Horse Paddocks: 50+ Meadow Pipit
Also noted were a few butterflies with 3 Red Admirals in the church grounds and a Painted Lady on the Ivy along the steps up to Rufus Castle.
A Bloody-nosed Beetle was trundling along the path on Penns Weare.
Here are a few images from this morning:
Penns Copse under Rufus Castle was a good spot today with 3 Chiffchaffs
The Chiffchaffs were very busy here in the copse.
Lots of insects..................
........................ in amongst the Sycamore leaves.
The search goes on.
I think I've been spotted or could it be.........
..........this Kestrel above us!!
On the beach at the cove were 12 Rock Pipits this morning and this.............
............Dogfish. Not sure how this got here.
On Penns Weare a Bloody-nosed Beetle trundling along one of the paths.
With the sun out there were more..........
........Ivy Bees on the Ivy flowers.
Two German Wasps pass each other at the entrance to their nest in the ruins of St Andrew's Church.
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)
And Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - spectabilis)
Inside this fallen Horse Chestnut tree is..........
..........this fungi. Some species of "Bracket" and one to ID later.
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large White, 4 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea), Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax)
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) 5 form - succinea and 1 form - spectabilis
Ships Today
Two fishing boats just north of "The Races"
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.