21 Apr 22

Wakeham

This evening a pair of Linnets visited the garden along with several Goldfinches.

A male Linnet under the bird feeders.

Here he is again in the Sycamore Tree.

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Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, Penn's Copse, Penn's Weare, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church and Pennsylvania Castle Woods

Despite a fairly strong north-easterly it was actually quite pleasant around Church Ope Cove.

Just for a change I did one of my regular walks clockwise, which was a good call, as I watched an Osprey coming up the Portland's east coast and over Rufus Castle before heading towards Easton. Another first today was a Lesser Whitethroat singing in Penn's Weare.

It was a good morning for raptors, not only did I see the Osprey but also 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Peregrine Falcon and a Kestrel.

Other highlights were my first Wall Brown of the year, 4 Holly Blues, several Carnation Tortrix moths which were just emerging, and my first Rose Chafer of the year.

Mammals Recorded:
Bunny

Birds Recorded:

3 Cormorant
1 Osprey
2 Sparrowhawk
2 Buzzard
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Kestrel
Oystercatcher (heard)
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Rock Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Three Cormorants heading up the island over Pennsylvania Castle Woods. I just caught the last bird before it flew out of view.

And the main highlight from this morning was my first Osprey this year.

It came up Portland's east coast and then flew..........

...........over Rufus Castle before flying over Easton.

One of two Sparrowhawks over the cove this morning.

Wherever there's a Buzzard, there will be a Herring Gull not far away.

One of 3 male Blackcaps I.......

............came across this morning. This one was in Pennsylvania Castle Woods.

A Wren poses for the camera alongside the steps below Rufus Castle.

Reptiles Recorded:
Wall Lizard

One of many Wall Lizards basking in the sun.

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Small White
Wall Brown
Peacock
4 Holly Blue


Moths Recorded:
7+ Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)


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

Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica)

Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)

There were definitely more Common Carder Bumblebees today.

This one is resting up on a Borage, Borago officinalis

One of the Andrena species. I believe it is a Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica)

And a very out of focus Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)

Ahh that's better.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

Stripe-backed Dasysyrphus (Dasysyrphus albostriatus)

Syrphus sp. (Common Banded Hoverfly, Syrphus ribesii or Glass-winged Syrphus, Syrphus vitripennis).

A male Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

Spring Epistrophe in flight.

A Stripe-backed Dasysyrphus (Dasysyrphus albostriatus)

And another Stripe-backed Dasysyrphus (Dasysyrphus albostriatus)

Syrphus sp. (Common Banded Hoverfly, Syrphus ribesii or Glass-winged Syrphus, Syrphus vitripennis).

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa)

Dung Fly (Neomyia viridescens)
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Muscid Fly (Phaonia subventa)

Dung Fly (Neomyia viridescens)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
2 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
1 Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata)

Common Green Shieldbug

And another Common Green Shieldbug

My first Rose Chafer of the year.

General Shots:

Church Ope Cove

St Andrew's Church (The Pirates Graveyard)

Pennsylvania Castle Woods

Ted:

Ted sat behind a carpet of Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis), which is also known as Kenilworth Ivy, Coliseum Ivy, Oxford Ivy, Mother of Thousands, Pennywort and Wandering Sailor.