20 Sep 21

Fancy's Farm to the Grove and back

Somewhere different today and so Ted and I walked from Fancy's Farm to the Grove and back. It was really warm and that north-easterly breeze was actually quite a blessing.

There were a few highlights with10+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 5 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap and 10+ Chiffchaff. Oddly enough I didn't hear or see any hirundines.


Birds Recorded:
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Kestrel
60+ Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
10+ Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
3 Stonechat
5 Wheatear
Blackbird
4 Blackcap
10+ Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

One of the 5 Wheatear just south of Fancy's Farm

One of the local Raven's

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
5 Common Blue

It seems I have no problem in photographing female Small Whites, but as for Large White's, they just wont keep still for the camera

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

Note: Its been quite awhile since I have seen a Red-tailed Bumblebee on the island.

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

There are dozens of Common Droneflies about, like these two on a Buddleia.

Plants Recorded:

Apple sp

Dotted around the island are dozens of Apple Trees and they are bursting with fruit. I can only surmise that over many years, quarrymen may have thrown their apple cores into the hedgerows and the seeds germinated. However if you grew an apple tree from one of these pips, the chances are that it wont resemble the original apple. More Here.

They certainly look good though.

And another tree laden with apples.

I'll have to try one out, the next time I pass.

At first glance it looks as if someone has painted these dead trees white. Closer inspection and it looks like a white lichen.

General Shots:

And way way across Weymouth Bay is the headland of St Aldhelm's Head viewed from from Fancy's Farm. The building in the middle, on top of the headland is St Aldhelm's Chapel Here. More on the Chapel Here and Here. Just to the right you can just make out the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight and to the far right is St Catherine's Point Here.

This is Man o' War Cove Here.

Ted:

Way down the road is Ted.

Ah right that's what he's doing. Waiting for me.

I still can't get 5 Ted's. I'm not giving up!!

Ships Today

This is the Bahamian High Speed Passenger Craft "Condor Voyager" on its way from Poole to St Helier (Jersey). More on this vessel Here.

Here is "Condor Voyager" again, this time passing the Dutch fishing Boat "Dirk Dirk" at great speed. The fishing boat is on its way from Ijmuiden (Holland) to fishing grounds presumably out in the English Channel. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Destroyer "HMS Dragon" on Military Ops just off Portland. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Bermudian Passenger Ship "Aurora" anchored in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

This is Cypriot Bulk Carrier "Lemessos Castle" anchored in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.

And today's mystery sailing vessel. I was to late in checking this boat out on Marine Traffic. Mainly because I thought it was "Tenacious". How wrong was I, as Tenacious is at Southend.