After yet another morning of rain, it did eventually clear, leaving a very sunny but still windy day.
Main highlights, on an extended walk, were my first Stonechat for this Autumn, 6 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 50+ Meadow Pipits and a huge mixed flock of around 60 Goldfinch and several Linnets.
The Fox was in Bumpers Lane Quarry again, much to the excitement of Ted, who barked and barked at it until the Fox decided it had had enough and turned around and walked back into the hedgerow.
Mammals Recorded:
Fox
This Fox seems to have taken up residence in Bumpers Lane Quarry.
Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
50+ Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Stonechat
Blackbird
6 Blackcap
12 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
60+ Goldfinch
A male Stonechat in the butterfly reserve, my first one here this Autumn.
There seem to be Blackcaps everywhere along my walk and some very vocal ones as well.
A very agitated Blackcap calling from within a Buddleia close to Wakeham Meadow
As for Chiffchaffs, well along Wakeham Railway Cuttings there were around 8 here with 3 singing.
If they weren't calling or singing, they were busy catching........
...........insects. Or just.......
..........chilling out on a branch.
3 Hawker sp.
Butterflies Recorded:
6 Large White
4 Speckled Wood
4 Red Admiral
1 Small Copper
2 Common Blue
A Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Small Copper
And a male Common Blue
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
On the slopes above the Cuttings Quarry were these Ivy Bees at their nest site.
Ivy Bees
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
A Common Wasp
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
A Common Dronefly and........
...........another one covered in pollen
A Dead Head Hoverfly
Harlequin Ladybird larvae
The larvae of one of the Harlequin Ladybirds
Looking east down Wakeham Railway Cuttings, with Ted leading the way.
And standing above The Cuttings Quarry this was the view looking south.
He's here.........
.............he's there. Ted is everywhere.
Aircraft Today:
This is the privately owned aircraft: CZAW SportCruiser. This was its flight path today Here.
This is the Lithuanian Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship "Regina Seaways" on its way from Dunkirk to Rosslare. More on this vessel Here.
This is the British Training Ship "Prolific" on its way from Cowes to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Cypriot Container Ship "Elbfeeder" on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel Here.