Port and Wey: August 2022

31 Aug 22

Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadow

It was a fairly quick walk today, to see if there was anything about. Sadly no migrants, but then it was quite late in the day. There are still quite a few butterflies about with 6 species recorded, including 3 Holly Blues

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Great Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Greenfinch

Butterflies Recorded:
4 Large White
3 Speckled Wood
1 Small Heath
2 Meadow Brown
3 Holly Blue
2 Common Blue

A Speckled Wood and deceased Small Black Ant

A Small Heath

Meadow Brown

One of the three Holly Blues seen along my walk.

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

Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

A Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

And a Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

Lacewings and Scorpionflies Recorded:
lacewing sp.

A lacewing sp.

Plants:
Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba)

Scarlet Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)

Old Man's Beard and Scarlet Firethorn

Ted:

A few Ted's today

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Wakeham

I set the Trail camera up last night and had a Fox drinking from the "Bath" Pond around 10pm, and this morning it was bathtime for the House Sparrows, Goldfinches and the Fife Canary.

Mixed bathing this morning in the "Bath" pond, with juvenile House Sparrows, a Goldfinch briefly and the Fife Canary

Nothing unusual I know, but it was interesting to note that one of the juvenile House Sparrows (perhaps an advanced juvenile) was visually more contrasty than its siblings.

30 Aug 22

Sweethill Farm and Top Fields

A change of scenery today with a trip to Sweethill Farm and the surroundings tracks, fields and bushes.

Main highlights were 20+ Sand Martin, 30+ House Martin, 100+ Swallow, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 17 Wheatear, 1 Common Whitethroat and 3 Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler

With the exceptionally warm weather I wasn't too surprised to find some early emerged Ivy Bees of the Autumn.

In past years I have seen them first on:

19 Sep 17

15 Sep 18

10 Sep 19

2 Sep 20

2 Sep 21

Birds Recorded:
1 Sparrowhawk
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
20+ Sand Martin
30+ House Martin
100+ Swallow
5 Pied Wagtail
2 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
17 Wheatear
Blackbird
1 Common Whitethroat
3 Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

A distant shot of one of the 17 Wheatear I came across.

And another one.

Plus this one, which literally flew up onto the wall next to me!!

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood

Small Heath
Meadow Brown

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

And my first Ivy Bee for this Autumn. This species was first seen in the British Isles in Dorset in 2001, having arrived from continental Europe and is solely dependant on Ivy flowers. It is what I call a "seasonal" bee and is "normally found between September and the end of October / start of November, depending on the amount of Ivy still in flower.

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

A Common Wasp and 2 Small Black Ants (Lasius niger)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)

Plants:

Ivy (Hedera helix)
Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).

This Ivy was the only one I found in flower along my walk and it was covered in hoverflies, flies and bees including a few Ivy Bees.

Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris). Also known as Yellow Toadflax and Butter-and-eggs

Ted:

Despite the brisk North-easterly it was pretty warm, as Ted found out. At least there was plenty of shade and a supply of water along our walk.

Ships Today:

This is the British F239 Frigate "HMS Richmond" on its way from Plymouth to Stavanger (Norway). More on HMS Richmond Here and Here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Arklow Viking" on its way from Limerick to Southampton. More on this vessel Here.

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Wakeham

The Fife Canary was on the bird feeder this morning. Later I set up the Trail Camera overlooking the "Bath" Pond to see if anything visited it during the night. The answer was yes, two cats and a Fox.

Fife Canary and a House Sparrow.

A Fox having a drink from the "Bath" Pond in the back garden

29 Aug 22

Wakeham

It was a day spent at home and then editing the footage of the Trail camera I set up last night.

Nothing much during the night, just two cats patrolling the garden, but the morning session was pretty good as you will see on the 5 minute video below.

In this mornings video there was a Grey Squirrel, 1 Collared Dove, 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit, House Sparrows, 1 Chaffinch, several Goldfinches (mainly juveniles) and the Fife Canary

Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Escapees Recorded:

1 Fife Canary

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White

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

28 Aug 22

Bumpers Lane, Coast Path (east), Bumpers Lane Quarry and Lower Horse Paddock

The intention this afternoon was to walk around Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve and Lane. However the sound of Power Boats racing each other along Portland's east coast was a bit of a lure, especially as I've missed them in previous years due to the pandemic and other distractions.

On my way to the coast path above The Cuttings and on my way back home I had some good birding highlights with 3 Gannets, 3 Buzzard, several Swallows, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Chiffchaff and 5 Raven.

Birds Recorded:
3 Gannet
3 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
7+ Swallow
2 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
5 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Escapees Recorded:

Fife Canary (On the feeder as I walked past the back garden)

This juvenile Common Buzzard was making a right din by Bumpers Lane Quarry.

But once it spotted me it was gone.

There were at least 5 Ravens patrolling along Penn's Weare.

And there were also a pair sat together overlooking the cliffs.

A Linnet at Bumpers Bump.

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Common Blue

A female Common Blue on the flowers of a Goldenrod.

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

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

One of the two Bloody-nosed Beetles I came across trundling along one of the tracks.

Plants:
Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)

Goldenrod with a female Common Blue sat on one of the flower heads.

Ted:

Oi what are doing down there!!

Ships Today:

This is the British Training Ship "Prolific" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Lady Alida" on its way from Santander (Spain) to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

Power Boats

For most of the afternoon there were Power Boats racing around Portland. Below are a few of them.

Aircraft Today

This is the "Blue Islands" passenger plane on its way from Bristol to Jersey. More on this aircraft Here and Here.

27 Aug 22

Wakeham

It was a day spent at home, as Portland came under siege from holidaymakers swarming onto the island.

It was a shame not to get a walk in, but there was plenty to see in and around the garden, with my first Goldcrest for this Autumn, a small flock of Long-tailed Tits passing through and a Common Sandpiper calling from my neighbours garden!!!

Well it certainly sounded like a Common Sandpiper, so you can imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a juvenile Robin singing. If its still around tomorrow, I will try and get a recording of it. Most bizarre.

Just one Large White butterfly seen, but yet again one possibly 2 another Hummingbird Hawk-moths seen.

Birds Recorded in and around the back garden:
1 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
House Martin
Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

Escapees Recorded:
Fife Canary

A juvenile Goldfinch

And here is Fife Canary again, keeping an eye on a Kestrel passing overhead

The coast is clear and back.......

..........to the feeders.

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Large White

Moths Recorded:
1/2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

I read somewhere that it has been a bumper year for Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Spiders Recorded:

Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

One of the first Garden Spiders to appear in the garden this Autumn. There will be many more for sure.

Plants:

Water Lily (Nymphaea)

One of many Water Lily flowers I have had in the "Bath" Pond this year.

26 Aug 22

Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Upper Horse Paddock and Lower Horse Paddock

A late morning walk around the lanes, butterfly reserve and horse paddocks, produced just two Willow Warblers. However it was a pretty good walk with 3 Cormorants heading west over Wakeham, a fly-by Clouded Yellow butterfly and two Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

Only unusual sighting was a "mini" wasp in Broadcroft Quarry Lane.

Birds Recorded:
3 Cormorant
Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
House Martin
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Linnet
Goldfinch

Three Cormorants cut across Portland from east to west over Wakeham.

One of the local Buzzards circling over the Lower Paddock

One of many Carrion Crows in the Upper Horse paddock

For a split second I thought I had come across a Spotted Flycatcher in the dead branches of this Cypress. Unfortunately not, it's a juvenile Goldfinch.

Escapees Recorded:
Fife Canary

In the same Cypress, which is in the Lower Horse paddock, was the escaped......

............Fife Canary. It seems to be following the Goldfinches around.

Butterflies Recorded:
8 Large White
3 Small White
1 Clouded Yellow
2 Speckled Wood
2 Small Heath

4 Meadow Brown
4 Common Blue

A Speckled Wood

And a Small Heath

This is a Meadow Brown.

And there were a handful of......

............Common Blues about.

Moths Recorded:
2 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

This Hummingbird Hawk-moth was in............

...........the Butterfly Reserve.

Whilst this one was resting up on the......

.............Brambles in the Lower Horse paddock.

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

This unusual bumblebee was in the Butterfly reserve. It was fairly large and quite long.

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
1 wasp sp.

A Common Wasp.

I'm not sure what this wasp is though.

This is probably the best shot I managed of this very small wasp.

And a couple more.....

.........photos of it. If I had to compare it with anything I would say it was half the size of a Common Wasp. Perhaps that is what it is!!!

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)