This afternoon is was back to the Hump to see the Red-breasted Flycatcher. The second bird which was here yesterday had been seen at Barleycrates Lane earlier, and it was my intention, that having seen this one I would go on to Barleycrates. However on talking to other birders at Avalanche, the Barley bird hadn't been seen for quite sometime, so instead I spent a good 90 minutes looking for the Avalanche bird.
It wasn't the easiest bird to spot let alone photograph. A couple of times it called called (Example of the call on Xeno-canto Here) and was seen briefly, and then after waiting patiently it finally put in a great appearance on the branches of the tall Sycamores behind us.
Although not brilliant, I did at least improve on my photos and video from yesterday.
Note
Not a song we are likely to hear in the UK but this is what a Red-breasted Flycatcher sings like. Click Here.
Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum.
Wow what a change in the weather with a gentle breeze, sunshine and heat. Though having said that I did get caught out by a rogue shower, which fortunately only lasted a few minutes.
Highlights are as follows:
Wakeham Wood: 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 3 Goldcrest. Overhead there were 11 Skylarks and 3 Siskins heading south.
Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest
Church Ope Car Park: 1 Chiffchaff
Penns Wood: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests
St Andrew's Church: 1 Goldcrest
Church Ope Cove Wood: 1 Chiffchaff singing and a Firecrest
Church Ope Cove: 5 Rock Pipit and 1 Pied Wagtail. Overhead approx. 30+ House Martins, 50+ Swallows, 15+ Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 1 Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk. 20 metres off the beach a Shag fishing in the shallows
Portland Museum: 1 Chiffchaff
The sun was warm enough for the Wall Lizards and there were 5 along the wall from Rufus Castle to the museum.
A few butterflies about with a Painted Lady in Wakeham Wood, several Red admirals at different locations, 1 Speckled Wood and a Large White at the back of the cove.
Just the one moth today which was on a leaf high up on a Sycamore tree in Church Ope Car park. Turns out it is most likely an Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana) and another new moth for my Portland list.
Also found were 3 Leaf Beetles, Chrysolina bankii at Rufus Castle.
Here are a few images from this morning:
This Buzzard gave me a great show over Church Ope Cove.
Quite striking against the approaching rain clouds.
Eventually it flew off ahead of the showers.
A Sparrowhawk over Rufus Castle
Looks are deceiving, this Rock Pipit is catching Kelp Flies not rain drops as the heavens opened.
A better photo today of the Common Wasps at the entrance to their nest.
In Penns Wood two Harlequin Ladybirds. On the left form succinea and on the right the form spectabilis
This the leaf beetle Chrysolina bankii and I came across 3 of them at Rufus Castle.
Not brilliant images as this moth was some 20 feet up a Sycamore........................
...... However it is quite possibly an Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana) and another new one for me on Portland.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Shag, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 20+ Skylark, 30+ House Martin, 70+ Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 5 Rock Pipit, 10+ Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 3 Siskin and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 5 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood, 8 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady
Moths Recorded: 1 Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) and a Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Wasps Recorded: German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax), 1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and a Syrphus sp.
Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, 3 form - succinea and 2 form - spectabilis) and 3 Leaf Beetles (Chrysolina bankii)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis), Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa), Large Red Slug (Arion ater) and Black Slug (Arion ater)
Ships Today
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.
2017
Today's Sightings Here.