18 Mar 21

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 and Portland Museum

A much cloudier day, which may or may not have had an influence on the Spring migration, as news was out on Social Media that a good number of Chiffchaff had landed on our shores.

So it was no surprise that I came across 2 Chiffchaff singing. The first at Perryfields Quarry Butterfly Reserve and a second bird singing in the gardens adjacent to Penns Wood.

Other highlights were the pair of Long-tailed Tits, which have almost built their nest at the cove and an unusual looking "micro" insect, which I found scurrying over the rocks on Penn's Weare. I also found another on an Alexanders. After a bit of investigation, it turns out that they are Red Velvet Spider Mites (Trombidiidae sp)

Here are a few images and a video from today:

A few of the Robins on Portland are very friendly. This one at the "Pirates Graveyard" (St Andrew's Church Grounds) landed within a few feet of me and Ted

A pair of Goldfinches nested at the back of the cove last year. Hopefully they will again this year.

I have no way of telling if this is the "local" Long-tailed Tit which, with its partner nested at the cove last year, but........

...........they have nested again!! about 20 metres from their last nesting site.

And today's mini bug is a............

.........Red Velvet Spider Mite (Trombidiidae sp) and quite large for a mite compared to the size of the ant at the start of the video.

In fact it wasn't the only Red Velvet Spider Mite I came across. This one was close by on an Alexanders.

And a mystery fly to be ID'd along with the "mite" above.

Who would have thought there were sandy beaches on Portland.

And Ted, waiting for me to walk the 151 steps from the cove to Rufus Castle. He's a right show off as he ran almost double that, as he ran up and down them.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 2 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Bees Recorded: White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and fly sp.

Mites, Ticks & Pseudoscorpions: 2 Red Velvet Spider Mite (Trombidiidae sp)

Ships Today

This is the British Tanker "Lizrix" on its way from Southampton to Falmouth. 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

2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.