6 Nov 19

Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Bottom Combe Quarry, Church Ope Car Park, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane and Mermaid Track.

Well it started off sunny but by the time I got home the clouds had built up, giving a grey overcast end to the morning.

Once again some good highlights, though the cove was a very disappointing with just 3 Rock Pipits and no sign of any Black Redstarts. Other highlights were the Yellow-browed Warbler and 3 Firecrests along the Railway cuttings at Wakeham at 8:45am.

Elsewhere the Little Owl was calling again from Penns Weare, whilst overhead 2 Golden Plovers were mixed in with a huge flock of Wood Pigeon heading south. Also here a very late Swallow.

Out to sea in very calm conditions were many gulls feeding just off the cove, where 3 Common Scoters passed by.

Here is a break down of what I came across this morning:

Wakeham Wood and Railway Cutting: 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Firecrest, 7 Goldcrest, 12+ Long-tailed Tit. Overhead 600+ Wood Pigeon, 100+ Jackdaw, 2 Siskin and a Redwing

Bottom Combe Quarry: 8 Greenfinch, 15+ Chaffinch and a Peregrine

Church Ope Car Park: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 8 Long-tailed Tits

Penns Wood: 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tit

Church Ope Cove: 3 Rock Pipits. Out to sea 3 Common Scoter

Church Ope Cove Wood: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Goldcrest

Penns Weare: Little Owl again and overhead 2 Golden Plover with a huge flock of Wood Pigeons. Also making its way south a lone Swallow.

Bumpers Lane: 2 Song Thrush

Also noted today were a few hoverflies, a Common Drone Fly, Dead Head Hoverfly and a Marmalade Hoverfly. Also seen a lone Ivy Bee.

Here are a few images from today:

Along the Wakeham Railway Track the Chiffchaffs...............

....................are little bit more obliging when it comes to having their photos taken. Not so the Yellow-browed Warbler which was a little bit harder to keep up with in the Sycamores.

One of the 7 Goldcrests in Wakeham, where there were also 3 Firecrests.

This Robin at the back of the cove was very "tame" and flew down onto a branch just a few feet away from where I was standing.

Quite unlike the other 3 Robins around the cove which I can safely say are a lot more wary.

Here it is moving along the hedge next to me.

When the sun was out it was warm enough for the hoverflies to appear. This is a Dead Head Hoverfly.

Also at the back of the cove the Common Wasps were busy coming and going around the entrance to their nest.

And finally the waterfall in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle

Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 1000+ Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, 1 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 14 Goldcrest, 3 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 100+ Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, 15+ Chaffinch, Linnet, 2 Siskin, Goldfinch and 8 Greenfinch

Bees Recorded: 1 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 1 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Flies Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Wakeham

Late afternoon and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the back garden of one of my neighbours.

Ships Today

This is the Cargo Ship "Flex Emden" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Belfast to Ridham Dock (Isle of Sheppey). More on this vessel Here

This is the British Cargo ship "Kristin C" on its way from Southampton to Greenore (Ireland). More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Survey Ship "Solent Guardian" on its way from Portland Harbour to Torquay. More on this vessel Here and Here.

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

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here.