12 Mar 20

Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove and Church Ope Cove Wood

A bright start to the day, though a stiff south-westerly and an onshore breeze at Church Ope Cove meant there weren't many sheltered spots along my walk this morning.

Main highlights today were 2 Firecrests in Penns Wood and a Goldcrest & 2 Chiffchaffs in the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle.

Elsewhere there were 2 Rock Pipits on the beach, whilst overhead a few Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were heading up the island. At the back of the cove a Peacock Butterfly.

Also about in the church grounds were 2 Wall Lizards, a Comma Butterfly (my first this year), a male Amblyteles armatorius (which would suggest the one I found on 9 Mar was a female) and quite a few Common Droneflies, Tapered Droneflies, Andrena bee sps. and Muscid Flies. Plus a Common Green Shieldbug.

Note:
An update on the Ichneumon Wasp Amblyteles armatorius. It transpires that it is actually a Diphyus palliatorius. A new one for my Portland List with the female first recorded on 9 Mar Here and my records subsequently amended.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

The grounds of St Andrew's Church which was probably the most sheltered spot I could find this morning.

I arrived in the church grounds just as the sun was moving up the walls. Even a hint of sun though was enough for this Wall Lizard and another close by to venture out.

A Common Green Shieldbug

One of the many Common Droneflies about the moment.

Most likely a Syrphus torvus.

And a male Ichneumon Wasp - Amblyteles armatorius. A few days ago there was another similar Ichneumon Wasp without any yellow banding on the abdomen. A bit confusing as females have small yellow bands. The fact that this male is in the same bed of Alexanders as the other Ichneumon Wasp, I would be pretty certain it was a female I came across. However it has now come to my notice that this is a Diphyus palliatorius, Ichneumon Wasp, which is very similar to Amblyteles armatorius and yes the female doesn't have any yellow banding. You live and learn 😀

Also in the church grounds was this Red-tailed Bumblebee.

The Peacock butterfly.............

.................. at the back of the cove.

And a Muscid Fly cleaning itself

And Ted. I forgot to mention that yesterday was his 5th Birthday.

And his daily buzz

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, 7+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 7+ Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 1 Peacock and a Comma

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and a Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: 1 Diphyus palliatorius

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax), Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis) and 2 possible Syrphus torvus

Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa)

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

Ships Today

This is the British Frigate "HMS Lancaster" heading down the east coast of Portland. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo Ship "Hoop" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Landskrona (Sweden) to Bilbao (Spain). More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.