3 Feb 20

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

A late morning walk down to Church Ope Cove via Penns Wood. Highlights today were 2 Firecrests and a Goldcrest in Penns Wood and 2 more Firecrests at the back of the cove.

Also noted were 3 Early Bumblebees, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and several small flies of 5 species.

The first fly was a Yellow Spear-winged Fly (Lonchoptera lutea), the second a Muscidae Fly (Phaonia tuguriorum), third a Dark-winged Fungus Gnat (Sciarid sp.), fourth a Scuttle Fly (Phorid sp.) and as yet 1 unidentified fly sp.
 Also seen a Common Green Shield Bug in winter colours.

Here are a few images and a video from today:

A better shot of one of the two Firecrests in Penns Wood.

Here is the second bird.

Not a brilliant photo I'm afraid, but at least you can see the distinct difference between this Goldcrest and the Firecrests in the above photos.

A Common Green Shieldbug in Winter colours. Well at least I think it is. There's just something about it. Could it be a Red-legged Shieldbug.

This is the Muscidae Fly Phaonia tuguriorum and is one of the first flies to appear in the year. More on this fly Here.

This is a Yellow Spear-winged Fly (Lonchoptera lutea) on an Alexanders. More on this fly Here.

Just as I took a photo of this fly it....................

.................began "dancing" around on the leaf of this Alexanders and flashing its wings in an upwards motion. This is a member of Phoridaea family. Small, hump-backed flies resembling fruit flies. Sometimes known as the Scuttle Fly (Phorid sp.) due to its habit of running rapidly across a surface, rather than fly.

This is a Dark-winged Fungus Gnat (Sciarid sp.) of which there are many species.

I did well today identifying 4 flies, but sadly not with this one!!

And a Leafhopper (Empoasca vitis)

Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch

Bees Recorded: 3 Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and 1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: 1 Muscidae Fly (Phaonia tuguriorum), Yellow Spear-winged Fly (Lonchoptera lutea), Dark-winged Fungus Gnat (Sciarid sp.),  Scuttle Fly (Phorid sp.) and as yet 1 unidentified fly sp.

Leafhoppers Recorded: Empoasca vitis

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

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On this day..........
2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.