Port and Wey: July 2022

31 Jul 22

Wakeham

My third day in the back garden and it's starting to look less like a jungle and a bit more open space, with the main aim to make sure its still wildlife friendly.

Main highlight today was a Toad which Ted found under one of the Fuchsia's. Sadly there wasn't much else to write about.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Magpie

Carrion Crow

1 Raven again
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

Amphibians Recorded:
Toad

This Toad had a lucky escape from Ted's hunting exploits in the garden.

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Large White

1 Chalkhill Blue

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

30 Jul 22

Wakeham

Day 2 in the back garden and another 5 hours trying to tidy it up, but also leaving enough "set-aside" for the insects.

It was another warm sunny day, but this time with a bit of a south-westerly breeze.

Not too many highlights as my head was down again, though I did look up a couple of times when the local Buzzard flew over, along with a Raven.

No butterflies today or the two male Blue-tailed Damselflies seen yesterday!!

Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

A pair of House Sparrows on the seed feeder

A Goldfinch comes into land on the Nyjer Feeder

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

Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)

Harvestmen Recorded:
harvestman sp.

Aircraft Today:

This is the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter AgustaWestland AW189.

It took off from Portland and headed east. More on this helicopter Here.

29 Jul 22

Wakeham

Despite any rain for the past few weeks or so, the garden has been taken over by Buddleia, Valerian and a few self-seeded Sycamores. So it was an afternoon spent cutting back as much as I dare. All I can say is, its going to take a least three builders merchants bags to get rid of the green waste.

I might have had my head down, but I did note a few things in and around the garden, including one of the adult Peregrines being "screamed" at by one of its youngsters.

There were quite a few flying ants about this afternoon, and it wasn't long before there were around 60 Herring Gulls cashing in on them.

Its been awhile since there have been any noticeable numbers of butterflies in the back garden. Today there were 4 species. No photos I'm afraid.

On and around the "Bath" pond were 2 Blue-tailed Damselflies and 3 Common Wasps.

Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
2 Peregrine Falcon
60+ Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Swift
2 House Martin
Dunnock
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

Not a Peregrine Falcon I'm afraid, they were very distant. This is one of the.........

..............local Common Buzzards circling over Wakeham

Two Goldfinches getting stuck into the Nyjer seeds.

Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
2 Blue-tailed Damselfly

On the pond today were these........

................two Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White
1 Meadow Brown
1 Red Admiral
2 Comma

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Wasps Recorded:
3 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Its that time of year when the wasps begin to appear in increased numbers. This one and........

.............this one are both Common Wasps.

Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)

Ted:

Ted's got the right idea and has found a shady spot. Mind you Benji probably had a better idea and that was to lay on the cold stone kitchen floor.

28 Jul 22

Strouden Park Nature Reserve

It was another trip to Bournemouth this morning and a slightly longer walk at Strouden Park Nature Reserve Here.

Our walk today at Strouden Park Nature Reserve

It was a pleasant walk, but unfortunately there wasn't much about today. at least Ted had a good walk through the woods, without me stopping every few minutes.

Birds Recorded:
Wood Pigeon
Robin
Blackbird
Coal Tit
Wren
Magpie

A Robin in the woods.

By the entrance to the park was this Coal Tit in the conifer.

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Large White
2 Speckled Wood

Sadly just 3 butterflies seen. A Large White and two of these Speckled Woods.

Wasps Recorded:
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

A German Wasp in flight.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:

Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus)

A Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) and it..........

..............has caught a small fly.

Plants:

flower sp.

Well I'm absolutely stumped on this one.

The closest I could get was either a speedwell or toadflax. Those I found on google were certainly not as blue as this!!

General Shots:

The recreation park with Strouden Woods surrounding it on three sides. In the centre.........

............the "Tree of Life".

Ted:

Strouden Woods and Ted..........

..................is certainly enjoying it.

27 Jul 22

Blackdown Woods

It was another trip to Blackdown Wood (here) today and this time I had an extended walk. There were many highlights with 16 butterfly species seen, including my first ever Brown Argus.

Blackdown Wood

My route from the "red" spot.

Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
1 Pheasant
2 Herring Gull
1 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
3 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
2 Chiffchaff
7+ Willow Warbler
2 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
3 Jay
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
4 Bullfinch
7 Yellowhammer

There were plenty of birds about including several Willow Warblers.

Reptiles Recorded:
Common Lizard

Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
4 hawker sp.

Butterflies Recorded:
Small Skipper
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
2 Brimstone
Speckled Wood
Ringlet
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
1 Marbled White
4 Red Admiral
1 Peacock
3 Comma
1 Small Copper
2 Brown Argus
Common Blue

A female (left) and male Small Skippers. To the far right a pair of Common Red Soldier Beetles.

Lots of Green-veined Whites about

And quite a few are looking a bit tatty now.

And another Green-veined White

This stunning yellow butterfly is a Brimstone.

The poor camera really didn't cope well with all that yellow.

A smart looking Ringlet. On Portland they have all but gone this Summer.

A Meadow Brown, missing part of its wing.

And there must have been another brood of Gatekeepers, they..........

..............were everywhere.

Just one Marbled White seen!!

One of the 3 Commas I saw on my walk.

And a Small Copper.

There were lots of Common Blues about as well.

Here's another male Common Blue

And my first ever Brown Argus. This is the male and........

............this is the female.

The female Brown Argus with her wings folded up.

Moths Recorded:

#1 - moth sp.

#2 - moth sp.

#3 - moth sp.

#4 - moth sps. (Three similar looking moths)

#1 - moth sp.

#2 - moth sp.

#3 - moth sp.

#4 - moth sp.

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

A Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

A Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum) and...........

..........another taking off.

Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula)

A Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) on Ragwort

The closest I can get to ID'ing this wasp is a European Paper Wasp.

Ichneumon Wasps Recorded:
7+ Ichneumon Wasp sps.

Sawflies Recorded:
50+ sawfly sp.

Whatever this sawfly is, there.............

.............were dozens of them around the brambles.

And another.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Orange-belted Hoverfly (Xylota segnis)

Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

An Orange-belted Hoverfly (Xylota segnis)

And another view of it.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
#1 - Red Spotted Parasite Fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata)
#2 - Notch-horned Cleg-fly (Haematopota pluvialis)

#3 - Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

#4 - Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus)

#5 - fly sp.

#1 - Red Spotted Parasite Flies (Eriothrix rufomaculata)

#2 - The last time I walked around these woods there were these really annoying flies called Notch-horned Cleg-fly (Haematopota pluvialis). They are members of the Horsefly family and they bite!! More on Notch here.

#3 - Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

#4 - Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus)

#5 - fly sp.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
#1 - Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
#2 - shieldbug sp
#3 - Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva)

#4 - Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)!!

#5 - Miridae sp.