A bit of an odd day, which started off with light drizzle, then it was cloudy, then the sun came out as I started my walk and then it clouded up some 40 minutes into my walk. Mind you when the sun was out it was pretty warm and quite sultry, especially around the cove.
Some good birds today especially in Penns Wood where there were a mixture of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the upper canopy of the Sycamores.
Also in Penns Wood were 2 males and 1 female Blackcap, with another Blackcap in Penn's Weare where there were also 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff singing.
I also had a solitary Swallow and my first Sand Martin of the year which flew over Wakeham Wood. The latter my 100th bird species this year. I ought to get out more. If only!!!
In fact today was definitely all about the Birds and the Bees, as I came across several bee species, which included two first for my Portland List. The first was a Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva). In fact I didn't just see one but at least 3, with 1 in Penn's Copse and 2 in The Cuttings. What a smart looking bee. And the second a Trimmer's Mining Bee (Andrena trimmerana)
A male Large Tortoiseshell was flitting about on the steps below Rufus Castle and there were singles of Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, plus 3 Orange-tip (2 males and a female)
Other invertebrates of interest included a Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber (Myopa testacea). This is one of the Thick-headed Flies with an unusual Vernacular name.
Here are a few images and a video from today:
This is either a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler........
...........either way it is a leaf warbler and you can see why.
A female Linnet. Unfortunately they male sat next to her decided to fly off.
Bees
Mining Bee - Andrena scotica
A faded female Mining Bee - Andrena scotica
This one is a mystery......
.........and not one that can be ID'd
This a female Trimmer's Mining Bee, Andrena trimmerana and a............
.................new bee for me.
Yellow-legged Mining Bee
Tawny Mining Bee
And another, both of which are firsts for me. A lovely looking bee.
A Grey-patched Mining Bee
And another Grey-patched Mining Bee
And last one
This looks like a Grey-patched Mining Bee but.............
............it is a Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)
And a nomad bee. I only managed the one shot, so it will remain a nomad sp.
An Ichneumon Wasp of the Campopleginae family. Sadly as far I can go with the species.
A Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria). There were dozens about today.
One of my favourites a............
..........Celery Fly
Not too many Wall Lizards about today. Well it was awhile until the sun came out.
Ted was a bit camera shy today.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 Large White and 3 Orange-tip
Moths Recorded: 1 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva), Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Yellow-legged Mining Bees (Andrena flavipe), Mining Bee (Andrena scotica), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Trimmer's Mining Bee (Andrena trimmerana) and a nomad sp.
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Ichneumon sp. from the Campopleginae family
Hoverflies Recorded: Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Epistrophe eligans and a few Syrphus sp.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa), Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria), Celery fly (Euleia heraclei) and a Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber (Myopa testacea)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 Large White and 3 Orange-tip
Moths Recorded: 1 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva), Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Yellow-legged Mining Bees (Andrena flavipe), Mining Bee (Andrena scotica), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Trimmer's Mining Bee (Andrena trimmerana) and a nomad sp.
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Ichneumon sp. from the Campopleginae family
Hoverflies Recorded: Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Epistrophe eligans and a few Syrphus sp.
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa), Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria), Celery fly (Euleia heraclei) and a Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber (Myopa testacea)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.