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.
Large White
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Common Blue
A female Common Blue on the flowers of a Goldenrod.
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:
Aircraft Today
This is the "Blue Islands" passenger plane on its way from Bristol to Jersey. More on this aircraft Here and Here.