20 Mar 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penn's Weare and Penn's Copse

A very chilly day, especially with a fairly strong ENE wind blowing straight in off the sea and up through the cove to the wood.

Not so many Chiffchaffs today with just 1 in Penns Wood, 1 in the church grounds and 8 on the slopes at Church Ope Cove.

A male Blackcap was in Penns Copse very briefly, hence the naff photo and there were singles of Firecrest and Goldcrest in both Penns wood and at the back of the cove.

No butterflies to day, to cold and the only other invertebrates I came across were 3 Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a new species of bee for me on Portland and in fact the UK, a Trimmer's Mining Bee, Andrena trimmerana.

Best highlight today though was watching a pair of Long-tailed Tits building a nest at Church Ope Cove.

Here are a few images and a video from today:

Church Ope Cove where in this area alone there were Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits. Sadly no butterflies today.

One of the 8 Chiffchaffs along the slopes today.

The Blackthorn seems to be the "food plant" today. Yesterday it was the Alexanders, but apart from one Andrena bee there were no other insects on them today.

A male Blackcap. And quickly moving on........

.........I came across a pair of Long-tailed Tits..........

..........building this nest.

In fact this is only the second Long-tailed Tit nest I have ever come across.

The work that has gone into making this nest is absolutely amazing. Here is a photo of one I found on google Here.

Well I wasn't expecting this bee to be identifiable, but I have been reliably informed that this is a Trimmer's Mining Bee, Andrena trimmerana. And a new one for me on Portland and in fact the UK.

Ted, or should we be changing his name to Scruff.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and a Trimmer's Mining Bee (Andrena trimmerana)

Ships Today

This is the Cypriot Research Vessel "Eagle Explorer" on its way from Torangsvag (Norway) to Portland. More on this vessel Here.

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

2018
Today's Sightings Here.