Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penn's Weare, The Cuttings, Bumpers Lane and Lower Horse Paddocks
Wow the weatherman promised blue skies and lots of sunshine and he was spot on. Mind you, despite it being very warm in the shade, there was still a bit of a bite from that southerly wind.
Just 3 Chiffchaffs today, with one singing at the back of the cove. The other two were in Penn's Weare. I've still not seen any hirundines, but the Meadow Pipits are still coming through, calling away as they head up the island.
Despite the pleasant conditions there were still very few butterflies about with just 3 Peacocks and a Small White seen.
However that wasn't the case with bees as there quite a few about, including my first Early Mining Bee and Grey-patched Mining Bees of the year.
Also seen today was my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the year which was by the steps just up from the cove.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
A Raven comes into land just above Penn's Weare.
There aren't many places on Portland where there aren't any Robins.
And quite a few singing as well.
Not too many butterflies about. This is one of the 3 Peacocks I saw today feeding on a Blackthorn
My initial thought was that this was.............
...................a Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), but it is the very similar looking.......
..............Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)
And a video.
This is male Grey Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria)
Also known as the Ashy Mining Bee
As I was watching the Grey Mining Bees this very tiny bee came into view..........
..........possibly one of the Sweat Bees.
As I was coming up the steps from Church Ope Cove I came across.................
......................this Dark-edged Bee-fly
And the caterpillars of the Brown-tail Moth, have, in one week, almost doubled in size.
Common Dog-violet, Viola riviniana
Common Hawkweed, Hieracium vulgatum
A few shots of Rufus Castle..............
.............from Church Ope Cove
Beautiful blue sea at the cove.
The WWll Pill box on Penn's Weare
Ted at the beginning of the walk.
And looking a bit hot as we finished our walk
Birds Recorded: 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 3 Peacock and 1 Small White
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), 3 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes), Grey Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) and a very small Andrena sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) and Syrphus sp.
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: 1 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major)
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