Well Ted and I just made it back from our walk as the heavens began to open. I had intended to walk along the length of Penn's Weare and then back up through the Cuttings. However when we arrived at Church Ope Cove, it was quite obvious that it was going to rain, as there were thick clouds creeping up the island.
It was a shame really as we had left in glorious sunshine, but it soon clouded over. At least it cooled down a bit. However as I write this up, the mini cloud burst has gone and it looks as if its going to be a hot sunny end to the day.
Highlight this afternoon was watching 3 Sparrowhawks in Penns Wood and by the looks of it there were at least two juveniles, making an absolute din as they continually pursued the adults.
Also noted were the large numbers of Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blues at several locations along my walk. However there were fewer Gatekeepers seen of late and just a few Large Whites. I came across a couple of Speckled Woods in Penns Wood and there was a fly-by Red Admiral in the church grounds.
Lots of micro moths about and I suspect, given their locations, that quite a few were Sycamore Piercers. I also came across my first ever Madder Pearl (Mecyna asinalis) in Penn's Wood.
And also lots of hoverflies seen again. Yesterday I had quite a few species in my back garden and it seems that that has also extended to other locations. A majority were Marmalade hoverflies, Long Hoverflies and Vagrant Hoverflies, plus a couple of Lesser Hornet Hoverflies, which are definitely more numerous this year, than its larger cousin the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)
Its funny how that one year you find a particular species and then the following year it appears to be replaced by another similar one. Similarly to the Hornet Mimic Hoverflies, I have in the past few years found more Sicus ferrugineus Thick-headed Flies than Physocephala rufipes. But not this year as I keep finding lots of the latter.
Another new invertebrate was a European Potter Wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) which I came across as I headed up the steps to Rufus Castle.
Also along the paths and tracks were many grasshoppers. One of these days I will just do a grasshopper walk and see just how many species I can find. This is a Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus
Along the Mermaid Track the Hemp Agronomy is in full flower and attracting a whole host of insects like this Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes) and.........
Birds Recorded: 3 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 1 Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Moths Recorded: Six-Spot Burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae), Sycamore Piercer (Pammene aurita) and a Madder Pearl (Mecyna asinalis)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and an andrena sp.
Wasps Recorded: European Potter Wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) and Vagrant Hoverflies (Eupeodes corollae)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: No bugs or beetles seen.
Here are a few images and videos from this afternoon.
Two very noisy juvenile Sparrowhawks in the gardens adjacent to Penns Wood.
The grounds in St Andrew's Church are looking very dry and arid.
I haven't seen too many Wall Lizards this Summer, well certainly not sunbathing. This one put in a brief appearance.
A male Chalk Hill Blue
And this one is a male Common Blue on Hemp Agrimony
This is one of the andrena species of bee. One to ID later.
I said it was a good day for hoverflies. This is a Long Hoverfly and here.......
............are a few more. The small fly below them is one of the species Fruit Fly
From Penn's Weare looking south and the rain is on its way.
Before I got to Penn's Copse I came...........
............across this female Common Blue.
And we like finding new moths. This is a Madder Pearl (Mecyna asinalis) which was in Penn's Wood.
European Potter Wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) and a..........
.........short video of my first one on Portland
.......Lesser Hornet Hoverfly
Here is a short video of one of the two Lesser Hornet Hoverflies along the track.
Oh dear Ted it looks as if its nearly.........
..........time for a trip to the Dog Groomer.
Birds Recorded: 3 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 1 Wall Lizard
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue
Moths Recorded: Six-Spot Burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae), Sycamore Piercer (Pammene aurita) and a Madder Pearl (Mecyna asinalis)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and an andrena sp.
Wasps Recorded: European Potter Wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) and Vagrant Hoverflies (Eupeodes corollae)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: No bugs or beetles seen.
Ships Today
This is the British Yacht "Tiftie" on its way from Poole to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.