6 Oct 20

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, The Grove, Grove Cliffs, East Weare's, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, St Andrew's Church and Penns Wood.

A much extended walk in the hope of spotting either one or both Yellow-browed Warblers seen along the East Weare's this morning. Unfortunately by the time I got there, they were well gone.

And what a difference a day makes. The huge flocks of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and finches in the Lower Horse Paddock yesterday had all dispersed, just leaving a small handful of Meadow Pipits.

So what did I come across. Well here is a breakdown of the migrating birds:

The Grove - 2 Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and a Siskin
East Weare - 10 House Martin, 2 Swallow, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs
Penns Weare - 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff
St Andrew's Church - 1 Chiffchaff

Other bird sightings of note were 2 Sparrowhawks flying at speed over the butterfly reserve and 2 Ravens having a disagreement with a Peregrine over Grove Cliffs.

Also noted were dozens of Red Admirals, Large Whites, 2 Common Blues. and apart from 2 Common Green Shieldbugs, I came across my first ever Spiked Shieldbug in the butterfly reserve.

Here are a few images and video from today:

Just 2 Wheatear today. This one and........

...........this one were both at the Grove sheltering from the wind.

A Magpie and a.........

.............new species, a Red-billed Magpie.......

.............or maybe not, this Magpie has found a nice ripe Rose-hip and decides to hide it.

Just for a second I thought I had found myself a White Wagtail. Sadly not, its just a juvenile Pied Wagtail having a stretch.

I wouldn't say it was a sunnier day than yesterday, but it was a bit drier and obviously what the Ivy Bees needed.

Another Ivy Bee, but a very small individual. There were quite a few of these smaller ones. Perhaps males. I will check.

UK wide I hear that butterfly numbers are down this year. Not for Red Admirals on the island. It has been a bumper year for them. This one has been through a few scrapes.

Two Common Green Shieldbugs and a...........

..............new bug for my Portland List a Spiked Shieldbug (Picromerus bidens). This is a large predatory shieldbug with thorn-like projections just behind its head..

A Nursery Web Spider on the prowl.

With squally showers and the occasional burst of sunshine, a rainbow was always on the cards.

This is something I wouldn't do myself.......

........but Ted seems quite happy to live life close to the edge.

Hmm not something I would do. He's just a fearless dog.

Birds Recorded: 6 Gannet, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 10 House Martin, 4 Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Wheatear, Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 1 Siskin and Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, 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: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax),  Eristalis arbustorum and Syrphus sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Cranefly sp.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and a Spiked Shieldbug (Picromerus bidens).

Spiders Recorded: Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)


Ships Today

This is the Vehicles Carrier "Gravity Highway" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Bremerhaven (Denmark) to Santander (Spain). More on this vessel Here.

All lit by the sun is the British Passenger Ship "Britannia". The ship on the left, in the squally shower, is the Passenger Ship "Azura" flying the flag of Bermuda. Both are anchored up in Weymouth Bay.
More on the Britannia Here. and Azura Here.

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On this day
2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.