Wow what a beautiful warm sunny day, that saw at least 12 Lepidopterists at the cove looking for the Large Tortoiseshells. I arrived around midday and the first butterfly I saw was a female Large Tortoiseshell heading up into the cove wood and then shortly after I spotted a male heading down the path towards the stream.
Apparently I was the only one to see them initially, but not long after other Large Tortoiseshells started to appear and for those that had travelled miles to see them, there was great delight in the fact they got to see them as well.
It looks as if there could be at least 4 of which there are definitely 2 males and a female, plus a very tatty one which my friend Andy saw 3 days ago Here.
Also at the cove I had at least 3 Brimstone (2 male 1 female), 4 Peacock and a Small White. The latter my first for the year.
On the bird front there was a Firecrest and Chiffchaff in Penns Wood, a Firecrest and Chiffchaff in the cove wood and another Chiffchaff in Penns Weare. Along Penn's Weare I had 9 Wheatear and a male Black Redstart.
Also recorded today was a Celery Fly, a Common Wasp and a Nomad bee sp. all of which were on the Japonica in Penns Wood, where incidentally on my return leg a Large Tortoiseshell was flitting about at the bottom of the wood and in the church grounds. Sadly it didn't stop for a photo.
Here are a few images from today:
The grounds of St Andrew's Church where a couple of Large Tortoiseshells showed up today.
In the church grounds more Wall Lizards basking in the sun.
I have no idea what the liquid is on the back of this Wall Lizard, let alone the red "bug" which is a fair size!!!
Looking up the east coast of Penn's Weare and there were at least 9 Wheatears making their way north.
They all appeared to be males, though I did eventually find a female, which was camera shy.
Another male
And another.
Last one. Well not quite here are a few short videos.
It is of course a male Black Redstart.
A Tree Bumblebee
And a Common Wasp
Church Ope Cove from Penn's Weare
And Rufus Castle with the archway on the right where the path takes you up to Portland Museum.
And Ted doing a bit of mountaineering.
Birds Recorded: Fulmar, Cormorant, 4 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Black Redstart, 9 Wheatear, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Large Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 3 Brimstone and 1 Small White
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) and a Nomad Bee sp.
Wasps Recorded: 1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) and 3 Syrphus sp.
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida), Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa) and a Celery fly (Euleia heraclei)
Ships Today
This is the British Aircraft Carrier "Prince of Wales" .............
.....................carrying out manoeuvres in Weymouth Bay.
More on this vessel Here.
This is the American Container Ship "Safmarine Mafadi" on its way from...........
