Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum
Main highlight today were my first Common Gulls at Church Ope Cove, with two Winter adults fishing just off the beach, before they moved up the coast. Lots of people on the beach, so no Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtail or Wrens seen.
Elsewhere there was a Firecrest at the back of the cove and 20+ Long-tailed Tits along the railway Cuttings.
Also seen was a Marmalade Hoverfly in Penns Wood, a new snail for my Portland list a Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta) and the earliest Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) I have ever come across. As the name suggest this very small bumblebee appears around February, Well the one I saw today, on the Hebes at the back of the cove, is a good 4 weeks early. Well it was very mild, though not particularly sunny!!
Here are a few images from today:
There were very few birds about today, but one bird you will never fail to see is the Robin. I've not actually counted them on my walk, but a rough guess would be that there are well over dozen.
I was about to give up on the Long-tailed Tits today and then as I was walking back up Wakeham a large party of 20+ birds appeared by the railway bridge.
It was very mild again today and for the second day running I came across a Marmalade Hoverfly. This one was in Penns Copse.
This is a Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta) and was on an Alexanders just under Rufus Castle. It is the the first one I have come across on Portland.
It's that time of year again, well on Portland that is, when the Snowdrops are out in flower. And it isn't just the Snowdrops but..........
.............also the Mahonia. Both flowering at the top of Penns Wood. There are around 70 species of Mahonia, so you can take your pick as to which one this is. More on this plant Here.
Not sure why I haven't researched the lichen on Portland, especially as it is so abundant on the island. I'm still in the process of ID'ing this one, which looks as if it is one of the Teloschistaceae family and possibly Caloplaca flavescens
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch
Bees Recorded: Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: Kentish Snail (Monacha cantiana) and Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta)
Lichen Recorded: Possibly Caloplaca flavescens
Main highlight today were my first Common Gulls at Church Ope Cove, with two Winter adults fishing just off the beach, before they moved up the coast. Lots of people on the beach, so no Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtail or Wrens seen.
Elsewhere there was a Firecrest at the back of the cove and 20+ Long-tailed Tits along the railway Cuttings.
Also seen was a Marmalade Hoverfly in Penns Wood, a new snail for my Portland list a Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta) and the earliest Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) I have ever come across. As the name suggest this very small bumblebee appears around February, Well the one I saw today, on the Hebes at the back of the cove, is a good 4 weeks early. Well it was very mild, though not particularly sunny!!
Here are a few images from today:
One minute you're minding your own business, then the next thing is you're swamped by a wave.
Here is the Herring Gull again, this time at the other end of the beach on a higher perch.
Well pleased to see one of these at Church Ope Cove and this Common Gull......
..........wasn't alone as a second bird flew in and........
...........landed just off the beach.
This is the first time I have seen Common Gulls at Church Ope Cove.
A Kentish Snail on an Alexanders in the grounds of St Andrew's Church
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch
Bees Recorded: Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: Kentish Snail (Monacha cantiana) and Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta)
Lichen Recorded: Possibly Caloplaca flavescens
Ships Today
This is the British Fishing Boat "Portland Isle" "smashing" its way through the waves.
