Well what an extraordinary afternoon with some great highlights starting off with a female Large Tortoiseshell in the Bottom Combe Railway Cutting Here.
Next was a Common Sandpiper which flew across the cove and disappeared around the cliff face at the north end of the beach. This was then followed by presumably the same Humming-bird Hawkmoth seen yesterday feeding on the same Blackthorn bushes Here..
Next highlight was a female and then a male Large Tortoiseshell flitting about between the back of the cove and the bottom of Penns Wood.
If that wasn't enough a Pipistrelle Bat put in an appearance at the bottom of Penns Wood and apparently just missed taking one of the Large Tortoiseshell butterflies in mid air, just before I arrived.
Other than that it was pretty quiet, with just the 1 Firecrest in Penns Wood and 3 Chiffchaff at the back of the cove.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
..........on the path leading up to the fence in the background a female Large Tortoiseshell was basking in the sun until I spooked it. Sadly I didn't see where she flew off to.
............Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) out in flower. Odd as I have never recorded them on my walks. So another new plant for my Portland List
The second Large Tortoiseshell I came across was on the south facing slopes at the cove. This is a male a female was close by.
And the shortest video I have ever made. Blink and you will miss it. It's a shame I dont have the means to slow the video down.
And now for something different. This I was reliably informed is a Pipistrelle Bat flying about in Penns Wood. I wouldn't say it was a particular warm day, even though the sun was out, as there was a stiff easterly wind coming right off the sea and up and over the cove into Penns Wood. Yet this bat was busy catching flies and at times just inches away from our heads. Once it had appeared both the male and female Large Tortoiseshells took cover, with the male I heard having a lucky escape as the bat homed in on it. Here are a few images and a video.
Mammals Recorded: 1 Pipistrelle Bat
Birds Recorded:1 Common Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 3 Large Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock and 2 Comma
Moths Recorded: 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis) and Syrphus sp.
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
This is the Container Ship "Mol Tribute", flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from Rotterdam (Holland) to the Suez Canal (Egypt). More on this vessel Here.
This is the Korean Cargo Ship "Glovis Condor" on its way from Vigo (Spain) to Zeebrugge (Belgium) More on this vessel Here.
This is the American Container Ship "Maersk Iowa" on its way from Norfolk (USA) to Antwerp (Belgium). More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Sailing Vessel "Liquid Tomcat", on its way from Lymington to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.
Next highlight was a female and then a male Large Tortoiseshell flitting about between the back of the cove and the bottom of Penns Wood.
If that wasn't enough a Pipistrelle Bat put in an appearance at the bottom of Penns Wood and apparently just missed taking one of the Large Tortoiseshell butterflies in mid air, just before I arrived.
Other than that it was pretty quiet, with just the 1 Firecrest in Penns Wood and 3 Chiffchaff at the back of the cove.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Bottom Combe Railway Cutting where........
On the banks of Cuttings were these..........
Along the Cuttings there were several Yellow Dung Flies
There were a few Peacocks about as well.
This one is on a flowering Blackthorn
Back again for the second day the......
........Humming-bird Hawkmoth on the Blackthorn.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church a Comma. A second one was on the slopes at the cove.
If the sun is out the Wall Lizards will be as well.
And now for something different. This I was reliably informed is a Pipistrelle Bat flying about in Penns Wood. I wouldn't say it was a particular warm day, even though the sun was out, as there was a stiff easterly wind coming right off the sea and up and over the cove into Penns Wood. Yet this bat was busy catching flies and at times just inches away from our heads. Once it had appeared both the male and female Large Tortoiseshells took cover, with the male I heard having a lucky escape as the bat homed in on it. Here are a few images and a video.
Mammals Recorded: 1 Pipistrelle Bat
Birds Recorded:1 Common Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 3 Large Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock and 2 Comma
Moths Recorded: 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis) and Syrphus sp.
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
Ships Today
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.