Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, The Cuttings, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddock.
Well the day started off pretty wet, then it cleared, then the rain came back and eventually the sun came out before it clouded over again. At least the showers were regular, allowing me to pick the time I wanted to go for a walk. And as soon as the sun was out I was off.
Still pretty dire on the birding front, however not so with the invertebrates, with many out in the sun and milder conditions.
So what did I see, well there were several Honey Bees on the Mahonia, at the top of Penns Wood. A big increase from the past few days, when there have only been singles seen. Whilst at the cove there were at least 3 White-tailed Bumblebees, all on the flowering Hebes.
Elsewhere I came across another Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly on the way up the steps below Rufus Castle, a Yellow Dung Fly at the top of Penns Wood and in several places there quite a few Empoasca vitisLeafhoppers.
I came across a new leafmine today on a Primrose, which I believe was created by the Primrose leaf miner, Chromatomyia primulae.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
The past few days has seen one or two Honey Bees on the Mahonia at the top of Penns Wood. Today as the sun came out there were several about.
This is a Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly, and quite "common" in the Winter months by all accounts
I know it was mild, but hadn't banked on seeing a Yellow Dung Fly. This one was on an Alexanders which has just flowered.
And there were dozens of these Empoasca vitisleafhoppers.
The mining on this Primrose is most likely the work of the Primrose leaf miner, Chromatomyia primulae. More on this leaf-mining fly Here.
This flowering Gorse certainly brightens up the day, especially when the weather closes in.
Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica) about to flower.
Ted taking in the amazing view on our doorstep
And Ted wouldn't be Ted if he didn't do a buzz every now and then.
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida), Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) and a "mined leaf" possibly by a Primrose leaf miner fly, Chromatomyia primulae.
Leafhoppers Recorded: Empoasca vitis
Ships Today
This is the Liberian Bulk Carrier "Pegasos" ................
..................on its from Las Palmas (Spain) to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Portuguese Container Ship "Independent Vision" on its way from Southampton to Cork. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Auxiliary Ship "RFA Mounts Bay" coming into Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is I believe a British Auxiliary Ship and judging by......
............its past track would suggest that it is the replenishment ship "RFA Tidespring" Here. However the shape of the boat is totally wrong including the position of the funnels. It took awhile of thumbing through images to confirm that the ship I photographed is the British Replenishment Ship "RFA Fort Victoria". So the past track above is "RFA Tidespring", and there isn't a past track for "RFA Fort Victoria". More on "Fort Victoria" Here.
Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Perryfield Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, The Cuttings, Shepherd's Dinner, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Lower Horse Paddock.
Well what started off as a lovely mild sunny day ended up as a real pea-souper as I finished my exercise walk this afternoon.
Not too many highlights and the one place where I thought I might come across some good birds was the Lower Horse paddock, but by the time I got there, visibility was very poor. However as I crossed over the field a male Sparrowhawk came zooming through and put up a good fifty or so Herring Gulls resting in the paddock.
A couple of interesting invertebrates with a Honey Bee again at the top of Penns Wood and a Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly in Penn's Copse.
Here are a few images and a video from today:
The last few rays of the sun as cloud and sea fog move in.
This 1st Winter Herring Gull is still in its usual spot on the rocks in the north east corner of the cove.
It looks like it's found something to eat.
After awhile it gave up trying to prize the mussel off the rock and flew off to another spot.
On the Southwest coast path up to Shepherd's Dinner was this solitary Meadow Pipit.
And once again a Honey Bee was out in the sun at the top of Penns Wood. Well I guess it was until it clouded over.
And another Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly. This one was in Penn's Copse.
This is the fungus Smoky Bracket (Bjerkandera adusta) on a felled Horse Chestnut Tree in Penns Wood. More on this fungi Here.
Early signs of Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x Uplandicum) in Penns Wood. This Comfrey is a cross or hybrid of Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Rough Comfrey (Symphytum asperum)
Who are you looking at. Scruff the dog!!!
It took me a few seconds to realise that Ted was barking at walker. Well I guess it makes a change from him barking at Foxes, Cats and Dogs sat in windows.
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel and Bunny
Birds Recorded: 1 Sparrowhawk, 50+ Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
Ships Today
Lots, but unfortunately those that were fairly close in like the British Tug "Willendeavour" Here, RFA Mounts Bay" Here and the Danish Tanker "Maria Theresa" Here, all slipped by unseen in the thick fog offshore.
