Well if it was supposed to rain here after midday, it certainly didn't happen and instead we had wall to wall blue skies and lots of sun. However looking towards the mainland it didn't look good there.
It looks pretty stormy to the north
Main highlights today were my first Marbled White butterfly of the Summer and a Chiffchaff singing. Both were along the Mermaid Track. And on Penn's Weare there was a Lesser Whitethroat also singing.
Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch
A Chiffchaff singing
Reptiles Recorded:
Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
It was a good day for basking in the sun especially for the Wall Lizards.
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
A large blue Dragonfly sp. seen along the Mermaid Track but it didn't stop.
Butterflies Recorded:
Large White, Meadow Brown, 1 Marbled White, 2 Red Admiral and 1 Common Blue
My first Marble White this Summer. Hopefully there will be many more emerging soon.
Still low numbers of Meadow Browns.
Just the 2 Red Admirals seen today, both in the church grounds on the Valerian.
Moths Recorded:
4 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) and a possible Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata)
4 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) and a possible Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata)
Possibly a Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata) with a misplaced wing.
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare), Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
A Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
Sawflies Recorded:
Large Rose Sawfly (Arge pagana)
A Large Rose Sawfly..............
............... in the grounds of St Andrew's Church
Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and 3 Rose Chafers (Cetonia aurata)
One of 3 Rose Chafers I came across today.
Plants Recorded:
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) and Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre)
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)
Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) with a Swollen-thighed Beetle for company.
A Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre) with Rufus Castle as a backdrop.
Fungi Recorded:
Jelly Ear Fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae)
Ted
Ted was that far away I had to zoom in on him
Can you spot him!!
Ships Today
This is the Passenger Ship "Norwegian Bliss" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is returning to Weymouth Bay having just completed a short journey out into the English Channel. More on this vessel here.
This is the German Container Ship "Ragna" on its way from Southampton to Cork. More on this vessel Here.
And an aircraft carrier off Portland. I haven't a clue as to which one as it isn't showing on any of the Marine Traffic websites. All I know is that HMS Defender is close by, but out of view from the coast.