Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, The Cuttings, Rufus Castle, Penn's Copse, Penn's Weare, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church and Penns Wood.
We are doing pretty well with the weather here on Portland and though it was pretty cloudy first thing, the sun did come out late morning. There was still an easterly breeze, but it did feel a lot warmer. However, looking at tomorrow's weather forecast, we could be in for some rain.
Highlights today were a Lesser Whitethroat along Penn's Weare, a Chiffchaff along Broadcroft Quarry Lane and a pair of Blackcaps in Penns Wood. No other migrants were noted other than a few Meadow Pipits moving through.
A few Butterflies about with 2 Peacock along Penn's Weare, and both Orange-tip and Large White in the church grounds.
Not so many bees today, but still plenty of hoverflies.
Yet again I came across a very very small Dark-edged Bee-fly. Unfortunately I didn't photograph it, as at that precise moment I saw it, I also spotted a small bird flitting about in the bushes to the side of me, which turned out to be the Lesser Whitethroat.
Here are a few images and a video from today:
The old Weymouth to Easton railway track running through the Cuttings.
A Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)
A Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa)
Penn's Weare with The Cuttings in the background. In the "Brush" was this............
...........Lesser Whitethroat singing away away.
It was pretty mobile........
.......and a job to keep up with it. A new addition to my year list which now stands at 99.
Here is the song it was singing.
A Wren keeps a beady eye on me and Ted.
And a Linnet. From not seeing any a few weeks back, they are now everywhere.
A very quiet Church Ope Cove.
The only life at the cove was this Bloody-nosed Beetle...........
........trundling along the path. Plus this...........
.............Peacock Butterfly
This is I believe a male Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Penns Wood looking..........
.........very green
In the wood were many Syrphus Hoverflies............
...........This Epistrophe eligans hoverfly
This is a Ferdinandea cuprea hoverfly. Sadly photographed from over 10 feet away. Shame I couldn't get closer.
And of course I think most of us know........
.......that this is Ted. A great companion on my exercise walk.
Birds Recorded: Fulmar, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Peacock, 1 Orange-tip and a Large White
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida) and Andrena sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), Epistrophe eligans, a Ferdinandea cuprea and many Syrphus and other hoverfly species.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: 1 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) and Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and 2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
Wakeham
Late evening and whilst I was in the back garden, 2 Rooks flew over the cottage heading south. Personally I've not seen too many Rooks on Portland so a good garden tick for my Lockdown list, which now stands at 39. Full List Here.
Ships Today
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.