13 Oct 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddocks.

As soon as the rain moved away it was off out again to see what I could find. Still a few migrants about and also my first Redwing and my second Siskin this Autumn. Here are a few highlights:

Wakeham Wood: 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and a Stock Dove.

Wakeham Railway Cutting: 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest

Penns Wood: 1 Chiffchaff

Church Ope Cove: 9 Rock Pipits and overhead 3 Swallows heading south.

Mermaid Track: 1 Chiffchaff

Bumpers Lane Bump: 1 Redwing

Broadcroft Quarry Lane: 40+ Linnet heading south

Lower Horse Meadow: 15+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail and also a Siskin heading south.

No butterflies, bees or hoverflies, just a few Common Wasps and of course the German Wasps in the church grounds.

Unsurprisingly, with all this rain, there were a good few slugs and snails about. And today I came across a patch of short grass, alongside Bumpers Lane, where there were literally thousands of tiny white and brown-striped snails. They looked like White-lipped Banded snails, but on a smaller scale. Turns out they are most likely Heath Snails (Helicella itala) and if confirmed a new snail species for me on Portland.

Here are a few images from today:

This juvenile Stock Dove is a regular to the track alongside Wakeham Wood. Mind you I'm not surprised as everyday one the locals leaves a trail of bird food along the track.

In Penns Wood a Harlequin Ladybird form - succinea

Alongside Bumpers Lane is a small area of short grass (good for Chalkhill Blue Butterflies in the Summer), where there are thousands of tiny snails.

They are very small, just a few centimeters in diameter. 

The pattern would suggest that they are either White or Brown-lipped Banded Snails. I consulted the experts on social media and they look good for Heath Snails. However to make absolutely sure I need a photo of the underside.

Church Ope Cove from Penns Weare.

He's a good lad, Ted on the lookout for me, though today it was

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, 3 Swallow, 15+ Meadow Pipit, 9 Rock Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 2 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 40+ Linnet, 1 Siskin and Goldfinch

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

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 2 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)

Slugs and Snails Recorded: 1000's of possible Heath Snails (Helicella itala), White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis), Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa), Large Red Slug (Arion ater) and Black Slug (Arion ater).

Ships Today

This is the Norwegian Cable layer "NKT Victoria" on its way from Portland to Tananger, Norway. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Portuguese Cargo ship "Elbstrom" on its way from Southampton to Cork. More on this vessel Here.

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

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.