29 Jul 21

Sweethill Farm, Top Fields, Wallsend Cove and Southwell Business Park

It was another breezy day today and going by the forecast for tomorrow morning, it is going to get a lot worse with an amber warning which reads: "Storm Evert will bring a swathe of very strong winds with coastal gales and severe gales along the South coast during the early hours of Friday". Time to batten down the hatches.

Highlights today were 100's of Swallows covering the Top Fields and a lone Wheatear in one of the horse paddocks at Sweethill Farm. 

Despite the wind there were good numbers of butterflies which included 4 Painted Lady's and a good 10 or so Wall Browns.

Birds Recorded:
1 Gannet
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
100+ Swallow
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Wheatear
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

A female/juvenile Wheatear in the horse paddocks

Here is a short video of it feeding in one of the horse paddocks.

It was quite noticeable that all the Jackdaws and Carrion Crows in this field were sticking close to Barley Field on the left, for protection from the strong wind blowing across the fields.

This Raven didn't seem to bothered by the strength of the wind.

It's not often you get an opportunity to photograph birds close up. This Goldfinch landed conveniently on the bush right next to me.

There I was sorting my backpack out and Ted was really pulling on the lead. When I turned round to see why, there in the field next to us was this chicken. Thank goodness Ted was on his lead.

Butterflies Recorded:
Small Skipper
Large Skipper
Large White
10+ Wall Brown
Meadow Brown
50+ Gatekeeper
15+ Marbled White
1 Red Admiral
4 Painted Lady
Common Blue
Chalk Hill Blue

A Large Skipper

There were a good few Wall Brown's out today.

And another basking in the sun.

There are still good numbers of Gatekeepers about.

This one is looking a bit worn, whereas...........

..........this one has just emerged and is pumping its wings up with blood.

I was just thinking that I hadn't seen too many Marbled Whites about, when as I turned right on my last leg of my walk, there was a meadow full of them.

Every time I went to take a photograph of this Red Admiral, it took off as I approached it. So how did I photograph it in the end. Well I just stood still and it landed at my feet. I couldn't believe my luck!!

There I was photographing this male Common Blue, when I suddenly realised it.........

........was paired up with a female below it.

Along with the Common Blues were a few Chalk Hill Blues.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Eristalis sp

A Common Dronefly

Just as a precaution I always take a record shot of most things I photograph, just in case they fly off before I get a chance to move in closer to them. Well I'm glad I did, as on my next step forward I plonked my boot right on top of one of the trailing stems of this bramble and this Eristalis sp. was gone.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Flies sp.


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva)
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

Well this could be very confusing, but taking it stage by stage, the first thing is, this is a Ladybird, which is still waiting to "colour" up. Even though thee appears to be only 7 spots, I'm pretty sure this is a 10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata). The remaining spots could appear later as it colours up or as in the case of  this particular species it could have fewer.


Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Grasshoppers sp.


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

A Garden Snail

Caterpillars Recorded:
Cinnabar moth

I have yet to see a Cinnabar Moth on Portland, yet there are plenty......

............of caterpillars about.

Scenic Shot

On top of the hill is the Round House, formerly known as Blacknor Fort. More on the fort Here.

Ted:

I had hoped to have managed at least 4 individual shots of Ted and then placed them on one photo. However safety first as there was a 150 foot drop behind me, so I couldn't get back any further.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this day..........

2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Today's Sightings Here.

2017
Today' Sightings Here.