9 Oct 20

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Mermaid Track, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Upper Horse Paddock  and Lower Horse Paddock

A sunny start to my walk which ended with me and Ted legging it home, as a heavy shower caught us out, as we were walking through the Lower Horse Paddock.

Not that I cared much as I had had an excellent walk, with my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year and my second Firecrest for this Autumn.

Listed below are my highlights from today

Old Quarry Lane - 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Siskin overhead
Penns Wood - 2 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap
Church Ope Cove - 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail. Overhead 8 House Martin and 9 Swallow
Penn's Copse - 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and 1 male Blackcap
Rufus Castle - 7 Siskin heading south
Mermaid Track - 1 Blackcap
Bumpers Lane Quarry - 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and 1 Goldcrest
Bumpers Lane Bump - 1 Chiffchaff
Upper Horse Paddock - 2 Wheatear
Lower Horse Paddock - 50+ Meadow Pipit and 10 Pied Wagtails.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

A beautiful Autumns day in Penns Wood, with a Firecrest, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap

Next stop St Andrew's Church and plenty of wildlife here to with both....

.........Wall Lizards and.........

.........Red Admirals basking in the sun.

A White-tailed Bumblebee on the Ivy.

And one of my favourite bees, the Ivy Bee.

And I even managed a video of one giving itself  a good clean up.

This year has been extraordinary in the fact that there have been very very few Harlequin Ladybirds in Penns Wood and other locations I have seen them in great numbers over the past 3 years, yet this year I have only come across a handful, if that. It can only be a blessing for our native Ladybirds, which can't compete with this invasive species. Having said that I haven't seen that many native Ladybirds either. This Harlequin is the form succinea. More on this Ladybird Here.

And what a great spot this turned out to be today, with my first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year in the Sycamores here in Penn's Copse.

And I was that close to photographing the Yellow-browed Warbler when this Chiffchaff photo-bombed my shot. One second there's a Yellow-browed Warbler in my viewfinder only to be replaced by this Chiffchaff. You couldn't write it. Also here were 2 more Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap

Its that time a year again when the Rock Pipits begin their Winter visits to the cove. And.......

..........you can see why, with a good supply of Kelp Flies to keep them interested. Hopefully we might get an overwintering Black Redstart and Stonechat here. We shall see!!

Not really evident in the photo, other than it looks dark, but it was absolutely hammering it down, so much so.........

..........that I my head down and nearly stood on this Wheatear. Fortunately it saw me coming and took off with a second bird to the safety of a fence post.

A change of coat today for Ted. What a mistake that was, when the heavens opened.

Birds Recorded: 2 Gannet, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 8 House Martin, 9 Swallow, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 12 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 2 Wheatear, Blackbird, 4 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 8 Siskin and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 3 Large White, 2 Speckled Wood and Red Admiral

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), Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) and Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis, form - succinea)

Ships Today

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

This is the Cypriot Cargo Ship "Samskip Endeavour" on its way from Rotterdam to Waterford. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Container Ship "Aurora" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Southampton to Liverpool. 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.