22 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.

A decent start to the day weather-wise, and 3 good birds seen on my walk, starting off with a Firecrest in Wakeham Wood, a Yellow-browed Warbler along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings and a Ring Ouzel in Penns Weare.

Here is a break down of the birds recorded today:

Wakeham Wood: 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest and 2 Song Thrush. Overhead 1 Siskin, 1 Skylark and several small flocks of 20+ Wood Pigeon moving south.

Bottom Combe Quarry: 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 5 Greenfinch

Wakeham Railway Cuttings: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler

Penns Wood: 2 Goldcrest

Church Ope Cove: 4 Rock Pipits

Church Ope Cove Wood: 1 Goldcrest

Penns Copse: 1 Blackcap

Penns Weare: 1 Ring Ouzel and 1 Blackcap

Mermaid Track: 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest. 2 Siskin overhead.

Just 2 Red Admirals seen. No bees seen other than 1 Common Carder.

Here are a few images from this morning:

Not a sight you see to often, a pair of Greenfinches.

Here is the male sporting a ring.

And the female. In fact in this Buddleia Bush next to Bottom Combe Quarry there were 5 Greenfinches.

In Penns Wood a Harlequin Ladybuird form 

And the form Succinea

In the grounds of St Andrew's Church a Red Admiral warms itself up before taking off.

Just the 4 Rock Pipits again on the beach at the Cove.

Penns Weare and not that far north of the Cove and here today a Ring Ouzel again.

Along the steps down to the Cove I have walked past these black berries many times and always assumed they were the berries on the privet hedge. Today they were pointed out to me, by a lovely couple from Shrewsbury, Steve and Sharon, that the plant might be growing all over the Privet, but they aren't Privet Berries.

Turns out that this is one of the Rubia species, of which there are over 80. More on this climber Here.

Birds Recorded: 2 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 7 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 1 Siskin, Goldfinch and 5 Greenfinch

Butterflies Recorded: 2 Red Admiral

Bees Recorded: 1 Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)

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

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - 3 succinea and 2 form - spectabilis)

Ships Today

This is the British Frigate "HMS Westminster" firing its guns out to sea.

HMS Westminster firing her guns out to sea.

In fact she was firing her guns for quite awhile with volleys of 3's, 4's and finally a volley of 6. After firing her last volley she turned broadside to the coast and then sailed out into the Channel. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Liberian Tanker "Fredericia" on its way from Portland Harbour to Calais. More on this vessel Here.

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

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.