9 Mar 20

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penns Weare, Penns Copse, Rufus Castle, The Cuttings and the Mermaid Track

The early morning sun soon disappeared and unfortunately as I started my walk it clouded over, so no chance of any butterflies today.

Main highlights were 1 Firecrest at the back of the cove and singles of Chiffchaff in Penns Wood and the Mermaid Track.

Also about were 3 juvenile Wall Lizards which, as the sun went behind the clouds, also disappeared into their holes in the church walls.

Also in the church grounds were a few small bees about and an Ichneumon wasp, which I initially thought was an Amblyteles armatorius. However the abdomen on this individual is all black without the yellow banding. With females the yellow bands are a lot smaller, but not that small you wouldn't see them. Odd!!

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 today and a male here on the 12 Mar.

Here are a few images from today mostly bees

Honey Bee. Quite a few out at the top of Penns Wood.

And Andrena sp.

As above. This very small bee was on the Alexanders in the grounds of St Andrew's Church

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee on a Hebe at the back of the cove.

And a Garden Bumblebee just north of Rufus Castle.

They are some mandibles.

And the mystery Ichneumon wasp, which I initially thought was an Amblyteles armatorius.

However males have quite distinctive yellow bands on the abdomen and females, which this could be, have very small bands. Yet there are no bands at all that I can see. Most odd!! It transpires that this is a female Diphyus palliatorius

A Common Dronefly with.......

.........an odd looking pattern on its abdomen, which is not obvious on the other photo. Must be the trick of the light.

I just caught up with these juvenile Wall Lizards..........

............before they all disappeared.........

..........as the clouds gathered.

Good old Ted

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 3 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) and an Andrena sp.

Wasps and Ichneumon Recorded: 1 Diphyus palliatorius

Hoverflies Recorded: Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) and Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

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

Ships Today

This is the Cypriot Cargo Ship "Elbcarrier" on its way from Rotterdam (Holland) to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo ship "IMI" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Terneuzen (Holland) to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

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

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.