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.