For once the weather forecast for rain by 9:00am was wrong, which was very fortunate as Ted and I had made our way down to the cove for around 8:30am. In fact it didn't start raining until gone 11:30am, so for once we had a nice dry walk.
Unfortunately, and yet again, there was very little about and the only highlight was coming across five Russian Comfrey's in flower. They have taken awhile to come out, but hopefully soon (if it ever warms up) there might be a few Hairy-footed Flower Bees (Anthophora plumipes) on the wing.
Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel
"If I keep still and hide behind these branches and twigs he wont see me". Funny creatures Grey Squirrels.
Cormorant
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
1 Rock Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush (singing)
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
As the British Fishing Boat "Quarter Bell" prepares for its fishing trip off Portland, so the Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls take advantage of the scraps being thrown over the side.
Plants:
Still plenty of Robins singing. Though this one stopped when I took a photo of it.
The other day there were 21 or so Carrion Crows at the top of Penns Wood...............
....Today they were in the Sycamores opposite in Church Ope Cove Car Park. This time there were over 30.
Plants:
Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x Uplandicum). It is a cross or hybrid of Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Rough Comfrey (Symphytum asperum)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Ted:
Ships Today:
This is the British Type 45 Destroyer "HMS Duncan" just off Portland's east coast. According to Marine Traffic it is located in Portsmouth Harbour Here. More on this vessel Here
This is the British Fishing Boat "Quarter Bell" on its way from Weymouth Harbour to its fishing grounds just west of Portland.
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
The Russian Comfrey is now in flower. That was a long wait.
Also in flower is this Wild Cherry
More on this Cherry Tree Here
Ted:
Another - Spot the dog photo. He's there somewhere!!
He does make me laugh, as he sticks his head above the "parapet" to see where I am.
And another funny look. I've no idea why he's looking at me like that.
Ships Today:
These two British Tugs are the "MTS Victory" and "Serval". As as to which is which, I haven't a clue. However both of them left Rotterdam and are heading to Waterford (Ireland). More on "MTS Victory" Here and more on "Serval" Here.
Here are the tugs again with HMS Duncan behind them.
This is the Cypriot Container Ship "Samskip Endeavour" on its way from Waterford (Ireland) to Amsterdam. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Law Enforcement Boat "Solent Guardian" making its way from Portland.....
..................... to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.