Another extended walk, in much cloudier conditions, though it feel much warmer now that the bitter northerly wind has now died down.
Main highlight today was an increase in Chiffchaffs numbers with at least 12 noted on my walk. One of the birds was really yellow with a very distinct black eye stripe. The Lower Horse Paddock is proving to be a bit of a magnet for migratory birds and along with the 5 Chiffchaffs, there was also a Goldcrest and 20+ Meadow Pipits.
Elsewhere there was a Blackcap at the top of Penns Wood where a Grey Wagtail flew over the tree tops towards the cove. No Siskins here today.
Main highlight today was an increase in Chiffchaffs numbers with at least 12 noted on my walk. One of the birds was really yellow with a very distinct black eye stripe. The Lower Horse Paddock is proving to be a bit of a magnet for migratory birds and along with the 5 Chiffchaffs, there was also a Goldcrest and 20+ Meadow Pipits.
Elsewhere there was a Blackcap at the top of Penns Wood where a Grey Wagtail flew over the tree tops towards the cove. No Siskins here today.
Here are a few images from today:
A Chiffchaff
And one in flight.
And another one. In fact I saw at least 12 today.
One of the many Robins on the island.
A Kestrel hovering over Church Ope Cove.
One of many Ivy Bees out today.
In fact there were dozens of them. Its been a good Autumn for them
A Common Dronefly
And another hoverfly this time an Eristalis arbustorum
A Lesser Hornet Hoverfly
This is a Turnip Sawfly on an umbellifer.
Lots of spiders about especially at this time of year. This one is a Garden Spider.
And of course Ted, catching me up after a bit of exploring
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and a Greenfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), 1 Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) and an Eristalis arbustorum
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: 100's Cranefly and a Turnip Sawfly
Spiders Recorded: Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
Ships Today
This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Palatine" on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.