Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church Grounds, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum
Today's weather was a complete contrast to yesterday's sunny weather, and as I left the cottage late morning you could feel a bit drizzle in the air. It was still T-shirt weather, but you had a sense that it would probably get worse. In fact by mid-afternoon, there was a fair bit of rain falling. Just what the garden needs.
Today's weather was a complete contrast to yesterday's sunny weather, and as I left the cottage late morning you could feel a bit drizzle in the air. It was still T-shirt weather, but you had a sense that it would probably get worse. In fact by mid-afternoon, there was a fair bit of rain falling. Just what the garden needs.
So what highlights were there today, well moths to be honest with 4 species found along the south facing slopes at the cove. They were Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana), Swan-feather Dwarf (Elachista argentella), a Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) and Blackthorn Argent (Argyresthia spinosella). The latter a new moth for my Portland List
Here are my sightings from today:
The track from Pennsylvania Road down to Penns Wood. On the nettles...........
.........along here was this miridae, but as to which one I'm unsure. Possibly a Lucerne Bug - Adelphocoris lineolatus.
With the Blackberry flowers now appearing a number of bees were visiting them, including this Common Carder Bee.
In Penns Wood, there was a Blackcap calling but not a lot else. In fact it was quite eerie.
From the Penns Wood, I walked down through the church grounds, which was also quiet, and then down the steps to the cove where there is now a new..........
..........Signpost.
Hmm not a plant I believe I have come across before. One to ID later
Oh dear I'm not doing to well ID'ing stuff today. All I can say is that this is an Andrena Bee. But which species!!
At long last something I can ID. A Dock Bug and a very glossy green male Swollen-thighed Beetle
Its definitely getting easier, this is a Long Hoverfly
And when I lifted up a bit of roof lining dumped around the beach huts I came across a family of Slow-worms.
This a Common Field Grasshopper and is our commonest and most widespread grasshopper in the UK.
This Hebe was absolutely alive with bees.
Apart from a couple of Buff-tailed Bumblebees on the Hebe there were also a few Red-tailed Bumblebees.
Coming off the beach, Ted and I made our way up the track on the south facing slopes. And there he is, making sure I'm keeping up.
Along the path here were several small moths flying about. This is a Blackthorn Argent (Argyresthia spinosella) and a new one for my Portland Moth List
Another one I came across was this Plum Tortrix.
There were a couple of Carnation Tortrix and.............
..............this Swan-feather Dwarf (Elachista argentella)
As I approached Penn's Copse a Marbled White flew up from the grass and landed in the top of this tree.
The drizzle was still coming down, so I guess this is where it felt protected from the elements.
And what a day it was for Bloody-nosed Beetles with several........
.........seen along the paths and tracks.
Reptiles Recorded: 4 Slow-worms
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Marbled White
Moths Recorded: Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana), Blackthorn Argent (Argyresthia spinosella), Swan-feather Dwarf (Elachista argentella) and a Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and 4 Andrena sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus), Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a miridae sp.
Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis) and Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)
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On this day..........