At long last a respite from the gale force winds and rain that has been with us for a good week or more. Today, it was wall to wall sunshine, but much much cooler.
It was an indifferent walk, as there was no Black Redstart at the cove or the Great Spotted Woodpecker in Penns Wood, yet I came across a male Blackcap, a few Chiffchaff, a couple of Goldcrests, 2 Grey Wagtails and watched 4 Stock Dove making their way up East Weares.
At the cove there were just 5 Rock Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and a few Wrens. All of which were feeding on the millions of Kelp Flies. Believe me it was pretty uncomfortable sitting on the boulders and having 100's of flies land on you. Also around the cove were 2 fly-by Oystercatchers, a Cormorant and a few Gannets far out to sea.
What did I miss. Well after I had passed through Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow towards the Railway Cuttings apparently a presumed Siberian Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler pitched up by the paddock next to the meadow. It happens!!
Other things of note was a juvenile Wall Lizard basking in the sun by Rufus Castle, singles of Red Admiral & Peacock butterflies, a Celery Fly just below Rufus Castle alongside the steps and a Grasshopper (which I need to ID).
And as a Footnote. It's always nice to meet up with other wildlife enthusiasts and today I met Kevin (Twitter @Kojak) who was making his way towards the cove and hoping to get back to the Grove, before the sun set.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
........very few about now and I should imagine that within the next few days they will have all disappeared for this year.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, 5 Rock Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 1 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Red Admiral and Peacock
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a Celery fly (Euleia heraclei)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Grasshopper sp.
This is the Vehicles Carrier "Weser Highway" flying the flag of Panama. It is on its way from Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Cargo Ship "Shetland Trader" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Ijmuiden (Holland) to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
This Grey Wagtail was having a bit of a fly fest.
In the excitement of catching a fly it decided to cross its tail!!
Here are a couple of videos...
....of the Grey Wagtail catching the Kelp Flies as they passed by.
A juvenile Pied Wagtail, with the yellowish face.
And it's off, in search of a good spot to catch some these flies.
An adult Pied Wagtail shows how its done.
And a slightly longer video of the Pied Wagtail in action. (Blogger only allows a video up to 100mb in size, so this video has been compiled using YouTube)
And both the Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail cross paths.
Just 5 Rock Pipits here today
I have no idea why but the diopter on my camera decided to play up, but this was a really lucky photo of a male Blackcap, where I couldn't tell if it was in focus or not. It wasn't unfortunately, but at least you can tell what it is.
This juvenile Wall Lizard (by Rufus Castle) is pretty small and even more so as its lost its tail and is in the process of growing a new one. Is it really possible it has its eye on the Greenbottle below!!
A Red Admiral, which despite the cool conditions was basking in the sun along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings.
Definitely one of my favourite bees, the Ivy Bee. There are......
I should know this one, but will check the ID tomorrow.
A Celery Fly and a diptera species.........
.......I really didn't think I would come across in November.
And of course a few photos of Ted.
A nice Cruft-like pose.
But I have no idea what this about LOL.😂😂
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Gannet, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, 5 Rock Pipit, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 1 Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Red Admiral and Peacock
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a Celery fly (Euleia heraclei)
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded: Grasshopper sp.
Ships Today
This is the Cypriot Cargo Ship "Wilma" on its way from Belfast to Poole. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Container Ship "Paper Star" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Ijmuiden (Holland) to Teignmouth. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Dutch Cargo Ship "Orcana" on its way from Poole to Castellion (Spain). More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Cable Layer "CS Sovereign" on the outer edge of Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
