13 Jan 20

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

With Storm Brendan winging its way here, it was quite noticeable that at around 11:30am, the wind speed began to pick up. According to my Wind App on my phone, gusts of up to 52 knots (60 mph) are expected by early evening.

With the wind coming right up the island, it was difficult to find anywhere that was sheltered and the best I could do bird-wise was a Firecrest in Penns Wood, where there were also 12 Long-tailed Tits and several Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinches.

Unsurprisingly there was nothing on the beach, as the spray from the surf was drenching everything. However I did have a fly-by Rock Pipit, so there is at least one here. At the back of the cove the local Ravens were the only other birds about.

With the mild conditions a Buff-tailed Bumblebee was out feeding on the Hebes at the back of the cove.

With so little about I did a bit of beachcombing and came up with an egg case which is most likely a Thornback or Blonde Ray. These two rays are often caught around the Shambles Sandbanks. Here's a useful website from the Shark Trust. Click Here. 

Also under the rocks and pebbles were lots of sandhoppers, and most likely Talitrus saltator. More on this sandhopper Here.

On the way back up to wards the Museum I came across a branch on a tree covered with Yellow Brain Fungus, Tremella mesenterica

Here are a few images from today:

One of the local Ravens in Church Ope Cove wood

Behind the beach huts, this flowering Hebe.................

................. has attracted this Buff-tailed Bumblebee. Bombus terrestris are one of the earliest bees to be seen in the UK, normally February/March. But we are on Portland!!

Under the rocks and pebbles on the beach was this sandhopper, which is most........................

...........likely Talitrus saltator

And an empty egg case of a ray.

Lately on my walks I have been finding more and more fungi. This appears to be Yellow Brain Fungus (Tremella mesenterica).

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Firecrest, 12 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, 2 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Sandhoppers Recorded: Possibly Talitrus saltator

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.