It was one of those days where showers weren't too far away and so it proved to be, as Ted and I just made it home as the rain began to fall.
Main highlight today was the same/different Reed Warbler in the same location I found one a few days ago. This time though it was being pretty secretive, showing briefly a couple of times, as well as singing a few notes.
Also about were 2 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs (5 Wakeham Meadow and 4 Broadcroft Quarry Lane) and 2 Goldcrests (Meadow).
There were very few butterflies about but a Clouded Yellow was good to see, even if it didn't settle for a photograph.
There were good numbers of Ivy Bees about and I also came across a wasp nest in Bumpers Lane. The latter were not too happy by my proximity to the nest and a couple deliberately flew into my head to warn me off. Needless to say I moved pretty sharpish.
Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Reed Warbler
2 Blackcap
9 Chiffchaff
2 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
2 Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
2 Greenfinch
This Ivy patch in front of the Buddleia appears to be a temporary stopover for a Reed Warbler, now in its 3rd day here.
A Rook, not rare but quite scarce on Portland.
3 Large White
1 Clouded Yellow
2 Speckled Wood
3 Red Admiral
3 Common Blue
A Speckled Wood
And a male Common Blue
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
A Common Carder Bumblebee
And an Ivy Bee
And another Ivy Bee soaking up the sun.
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
In the centre of the photo is a rectangle stone, just a couple of feet off the ground and underneath it a.........
...........German Wasp nest.
That's a pretty scary face.
Here are the German Wasps coming and going. To tell the difference between a Common Wasp and a German Wasp, there's a pretty good guide Here.
Not a German Wasp but a Common Wasp.
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
A Common Dronefly
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
#1 - fly sp.
#2 - fly sp.
Hiding in the undergrowth one of many Craneflies
#1 - As I was photographing the Common Carder Bee on this Knapweed, this fly....
..........joined it briefly, before flying off.
#2 - And another fly sp. with a possible Sweat Bee on the right.
Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
A Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
And here's the next shower on its way.
Ted:
A very patient pooch.
Ships Today:
