7 Oct 20

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve (East & West) and Broadcroft Quarry Lane

A pretty decent day weather-wise, no rain, a little bit sun and less breezy than the past few days.

Main highlights today were a pair of Stonechat in each of the two reserves, where there were also 4 Chiffchaff and a flock of 80+ Linnets. Both Horse Paddocks had around 70+ Meadow Pipit in each, until the ones in the Upper Paddock were spooked and joined the others.

Along the Lane was a single Chiffchaff calling.

A pair of Swallows made their way down fast and low over the fields, whilst in the other direction a single Skylark headed north.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

One of quite a few immature Pied Wagtails in the paddocks

And another decent day for Meadow Pipits. They were either on the fences......

.....on the Rocks...........

............before flying off onto ......

..Tree tops.

As I was watching this Meadow Pipit a Stonechat Photo-bombed my shot.

It was pretty god day for Stonechats

.......with 4 in total. Sadly the males were camera shy.

This Stonechat didn't seem to bothered by my presence close by and even.......

.......decided to regurgitate a berry before swallowing it again.

And one of many Robins on the island.

The Ivy Bees are still going strong......

...........but apart from the "yellow-banded" ones like this one, there.....

.........are a few smaller Ivy Bees with...........

...."white-bands".

One of 4 Speckled Woods seen in the reserve.

And of course Ted, enjoying the heights again. I'm sure he does it to wind me up.

Mammals Recorded: Bunny

Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 150+ Meadow Pipit, 12 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 4 Stonechat, Blackbird, 5 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 80+ Linnet, 1 Siskin and  Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded: 3 Large White, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral and 1 Small Copper

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

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

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 2 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

Ships Today

This is the Maltese Cargo Ship "Peregrine" on its way from Dublin to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Tanker "Aral" on its way from Gdansk (Poland) to Avonmouth. More on this vessel Here.

Aral and Peregrine passing each other off The Bill

This is the British Ship "Avon" on its way from Poole to Plymouth. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cargo Ship "Fluvius Plym" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Teignmouth to Antwerp. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day
2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.