17 Jan 22

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, The Windmills, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve, Upper Horse Paddock and Lower Horse Paddock

It might have been cold today, but in the sheltered spots it was a very nice, especially at the cove where the sun was just warm enough to encourage a few bees and hoverflies to visit the flowering Hebes again.

Main highlights were a Firecrest & Goldcrest in Pennsylvania Castle Woods, and a female Stonechat in the butterfly reserve. Not sure where the male Stonechat got to though.


Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel
Bunny


Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
Shag
Buzzard
3 Oystercatcher
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Rock Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
1 Goldcrest
1 Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
4 Greenfinch

This Oystercatcher is in full breeding plumage.

It was pretty busy flying from rock to rock in search of........

............Limpets, which it then took to a higher and drier rock to eat.

Here it is again, on its way back to find another Limpet.

Here are a few videos showing how busy this Oystercatcher was:

Still plenty of Kelp Flies on the beach, but just two Rock Pipits.

In butterfly reserve was this female Stonechat. There was no sign of the male!!

One of the four Greenfinches along Broadcroft Quarry Lane.

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

A Honey Bee on the flowering Hebe at the cove.

And one of the two Buff-tailed Bumblebees as well.

Hoverflies Recorded:

Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Just the one Common Dronefly seen. No doubt there were others on the wing.

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


Ted:

Ted in a hurry to get to the beach.

Though when he got there, all he wanted to do was soak up the sun. I don't blame him.

Ships Today:

This is the Container Ship "Aurora" flying the flag of Antigua Barbuda. It is on its way from Clydeport Greenock to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Sailing Vessel "One Life" on its way from Hugh Town to an Unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Fishing Boat "Portland Isle" returning to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

This is the fishing boat NN7 "Girl Jo"............

.........on its way back to port.