It was a surprisingly warm day today, with wall to wall blue skies and with a Chiffchaff singing in the back garden, you would be excused in thinking that it was Spring. Also in the back garden was a Goldcrest, the first one this Autumn
In the Lower Horse Paddock there were over 50 Meadow Pipit, and without warning 30+ took off and headed north. Also here were 3 Chiffchaffs, a few Pied Wagtails, a fly-by Grey Wagtail and 10 Swallows.
In the Butterfly Reserve (West) there were 3 more Chiffchaffs, whilst on the East Reserve there was just the 1 Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechat.
The last leg of my walk was down the Lane, where there was just the one Chiffchaff calling from the Sallows and 2 Siskins and a Skylark overhead
Being Autumn there were lots of berries about, so below are a few images of the ones I came across.
Another pristine Meadow Brown
And a not so good looking female Common Blue. She is looking a bit worn and tatty.
Not so this Speckled Wood, though........
..........this one looks as if it's been in the wars.
A Dock Bug. I've not seen one for quite sometime and just like the buses......
.......there was another one close by.
And here are a few Autumn Berries
Rose Hips most likely from a Dog Rose (Rosa canina)
Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integrifoliusa)
The fleshy berries of Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Black Bryony (Dioscorea communisa)
Everyone's favourite, well most I'm sure. Blackberries (Rubus fruticosusa)
Possibly berries of Laurustinus 'Gwenllian' (Viburnum tinus)
Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus monogyna)
I hope I've got this right. I'm pretty sure these are the berries of the Wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana)
And Ted has suddenly realised he's lost sight of me.
A little later he has a drink and starts paddling in the water tub, before giving it a tap. He be a strange dog.
Birds Recorded: 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Skylark, 10 Swallow, 50+ Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Stonechat, Blackbird, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 2 Siskin and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and Common Blue
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral and Common Blue
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Beetles and Bugs Recorded: Dock Bugs (Coreus marginatus)
This is the Danish Tanker "Bro Designer" on its way from Plymouth to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
Ships Today
This is the Maltese Passenger Ship "Marella Explorer", which appears to be anchored just off Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.