29 Jun 21

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

After yesterday's sun, it was back to overcast conditions and feeling very close.

Main highlights were two more Marbled White butterflies on Penn's Weare, where there were also dozens Wavy-barred Sable moths (Pyrausta nigrata) and at least 5 Silver Y's (Autographa gamma)

Birds Recorded:
2 Cormorant, Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch

There is one particular tree overlooking the Cove, where this male Blackbird likes to perch and sing his heart out.

This male Blackbird was singing from his favourite tree on Penn's Weare

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Small Skipper, 2 Marbled White and 1 Red Admiral

One of the two Marbled Whites close to Penn's Copse

And also here was this Small Skipper

Moths Recorded:
Dozens of Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata), Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) and at least 5 Silver Y's (Autographa gamma)

Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata)

Another Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata)

And one more Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata)

Oh okay last one, another Wavy-barred Sable (Pyrausta nigrata). Thank you to Martin Cade (Warden at Portland Bird Observatory), who corrected me on this particular Pyrausta nigrata as I had it down as a Straw-barred Pearl (Pyrausta despicata)

Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella). There have been hundreds arriving on our shores and also Silver Y's (Autographa gamma) Check out PBO Here

Bees Recorded:
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) and Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a Dune Spurge Bug (Dicranocephalus agilis)

A Dune Spurge Bug (Dicranocephalus agilis)

Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissima)

A Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) on Penn's Weare

Slugs and Snails Recorded:
White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis), Brown-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea nemoralis) and Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)

Spiders Recorded:
Spider sp

This spider has manged to catch a beetle.

Woodlice Crustaceans Recorded:
Woodlouse (Porcellio spinicornis)

Woodlouse (Porcellio spinicornis) in the grounds of the Church

Caterpillars Recorded:
Lackey Moth

A "U" moth caterpillar. Oh okay a Lackey moth caterpillar, which I'm fairly sure hatched on the Elms about 20 feet away in the grounds of the church.

Plants Recorded:
Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

A few more Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre). In fact just about everywhere you looked there were Stonecrops growing in clumps along Penn's Weare.

Fungi Recorded:
fungi sp.

These have just appeared in Pennsylvania Wood

One to ID later

Of Interest
As I was stood on Penn's Weare there was a mini rockfall from below St Andrew's Church.
Somewhere in the middle of that are..........

........a few fallen rocks and boulders.

Ted
Here are a few photos of Ted



Just the three Ted's today

Ships Today

This is the British Yacht "Jandina" on its way from Brixham to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Portland Isle" on its way back into Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Maltese Tanker "Monjasa Provider" on its from Portland Harbour to Dover. More on this vessel Here.

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here