It was a lovely warm start to the day and for once it was great to sit in the garden, without having to put up with those strong westerly winds we had last week.
As I walked down the back garden a Song Thrush took off from the pond. And judging by the amount of water falling off it, it would fair to say it was having a good bath before I disturbed it.
Lots of bees out, especially Yellow-legged Mining Bees with a good 30 or more in the flower beds. Other bees noted were Honey Bees and White-tailed Bumblebees.
A Common Wasp was by the pond and I also came across 2 Ruby-tailed Wasps working their way along the borders.
Here are a few images and videos from early this morning:
A female Small White
This is a male Large White
Honey Bee
A male Blue-tailed Damselfly
One of the many species of Sawfly
A female Semaphore Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus)
And a male
Here are several males displaying to at least one female
A Picture-winged fly (Herina nigrina), which landed on my arm.
And Ted looking a bit sorry for himself. Please can I go for a walk!!
Mermaid Track, The Cuttings Quarry and Easton Railway Track
A short walk this morning so that Ted could have a walk before we headed out in the boat this afternoon.
The walk might have been short, but there was lots to see, with quite a few highlights, especially with two species of Thick-headed Flies. The first was a Sicus ferrugineus and the next a Physocephala rufipes.
Along the Mermaid Track I came across a female Common Darter.
Here are a few images and a video from today.
A Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) which I came across......
.........along the Mermaid Track
Close to the Cuttings Quarry was this Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus) and its.........
.........cousin the Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)
When the weather is hot, this is Ted's favourite shady spot in the Cuttings Quarry.
Portland Harbour, The Hood, Balaclava Bay, Church Ope Cove and Weymouth Bay
An afternoon spent fishing, but unlike yesterday when we had over 16 Mackerel, today we only caught one.
However the highlight of the trip was seeing a Sunfish in Balaclava Bay. I have only ever seen one before, which was back in the early 80's just out of Padstow, Cornwall. So this was a real treat to see one again.
It was a rare treat to see a Sunfish. This is a very small individual, especially when you consider they can grow up to 2.3 tonnes. It looks like we found junior. More on Sunfish Here.
Before we left Portland Marina I noticed at least 3 Grey Mullet swimming in amongst the pontoons. This one was about 3lb, but others I saw were easily in excess of 5lb.
Church Ope Cove and Rufus Castle as a backdrop.
And this rock formation is known as the "Steamer"
Fauna Recorded Today
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, Shag, Buzzard, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Little Tern, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, and Goldfinch
Fish Recorded: Sunfish, Grey Mullet, Mackerel and Black-faced Blenny's
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) and a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) and a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Butterflies Recorded: Lulworth Skipper, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and 30+ Yellow-legged Mining Bees (Andrena flavipe)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and 2 Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis sp.)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Flies Recorded: Semaphore Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus), a Picture-winged fly (Herina nigrina), Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus) and a Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Ships Today
This is the Container Ship "Expansa" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Cargo Ship "Aasfjord" flying the flag of Gibraltar. It is on its way from Tilbury to Swansea. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Minesweeper "HMS Middleton" out in the English Channel.
Later it came into Weymouth Bay when were out fishing. More on this vessel Here.
This looks like an old Lifeboat.