It was absolutely bitter out there this afternoon. The wind was gusting to around 30mph and coming straight off the sea from a ENE direction.
Highlights on my exercise walk were a Chiffchaff and 2 Greenfinches close to Perryfields. Very few birds seen or heard in the wind and not too many insects about either.
Just 1 Peacock butterfly seen at the cove and along the tracks there were a couple of Bloody-nosed Beetles.
The only bees I came across were Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a few Mining Bees.
The caterpillars I came across a few days ago are definitely those of the Brown-tail Moth, which have hairs which are an irritant to human skin. More on this Moth Here.
I did come across an interesting looking fly on the south facing slopes at the cove. It had a blue/grey thorax and orangey abdomen. Apparently it is a member of the Heleomyzid family of which several have this blue-grey thorax and orange abdomen.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
I did come across an interesting looking fly on the south facing slopes at the cove. It had a blue/grey thorax and orangey abdomen. Apparently it is a member of the Heleomyzid family of which several have this blue-grey thorax and orange abdomen.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
There are very few Greenfinches on Portland, by the sounds of it there are at least two birds in the Buddleia close to Perryfield Quarry butterfly Reserve.
And this is a male Tapered Dronefly. A distinguishing feature in identifying E pertinax from E. tenax (Common Dronefly), is that the front and mid feet are pale/orange with E. pertinax
............which apparently is a member of the Heleomyzid family of which several have this blue-grey thorax and orange abdomen. The two photos here really dont do it justice as the thorax was very blue.
Mammals Recorded: 4 Bunnies
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Peacock
Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Mining Bees sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Heleomyzid Fly sp.
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
Just 2 Wall Lizards seen this afternoon.
Now that they have grown in size.........
..........they can be easily identified as the caterpillars of the Brown-tail Moth.
Lots of movement with their "tent"
A Bloody-nosed Beetle on his travels.
A very short video of the second Bloody-nosed Beetle I came across this afternoon.
This is a female Tapered Dronefly, Eristalis pertinax
My mystery fly.........
It is so easy to get Ted to pose. Just say the word cat and he stands absolutely still in the hope of seeing it.
Mammals Recorded: 4 Bunnies
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Peacock
Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Mining Bees sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Heleomyzid Fly sp.
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
Caterpillars Recorded: Brown-tail Moth
Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.
Aircraft Today
Earlier today this Merlin helicopter came over Wakeham.........
.........and pretty low as well.
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.