Port and Wey: October 2022

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Church Ope Cove Wood, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve and Lower Horse Paddock

The weather forecast was spot on this morning blue skies and warm sunshine, especially around Church Ope Cove. And then as forecast, the clouds gathered from the south and the rain began to fall in the afternoon. Fortunately I was up early this morning and so my 3 hour walk began.

And what a walk it was with the following highlights:

6 Buzzards - 5 over Penn's Weare, 1 Broadcroft Quarry Lane

2 Skylark - Penn's Weare

2 Swallow - Bumpers Lane

3 Meadow Pipit - Lower Horse Paddock

18 Rock Pipit - Church Ope Cove

2 Stonechat- Lower Horse Paddock

2 Black Redstart - Church Ope Cove

1 Redwing - Broadcroft Quarry Lane

22 Chiffchaff - 4 Old Quarry Lane, 2 Wakeham Meadows, 2 Wakeham Railway Cuttings, 4 Penns Wood, 1 Church Ope Cove Wood, 2 Penn's Copse, 3 Bumpers Lane, 4 Broadcroft Quarry Lane

8 Goldcrest - 2 Wakeham Railway Cuttings, 1 Penns Wood, 2 St Andrew's Church, 1 Church Ope Cove Wood, 2 Broadcroft Quarry Lane

5 Firecrest - 2 Wakeham Railway Cuttings, 3 Penns Wood

4 Siskin - Over Bumpers Lane

2 Greenfinch - Broadcroft Quarry Lane

1 Bullfinch - Broadcroft Quarry Lane

Unsurprisingly a Wall Lizard was out basking in the sun, in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

The warm sunny conditions also saw lots of butterflies out, with 10 Red Admirals and 2 Painted Lady's. And yes I had another Rush Veneer moth.

Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel
Brown Rat

A Brown Rat on one of the local Bird Feeders.

Birds Recorded:
6 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Skylark
2 Swallow
3 Meadow Pipit
18 Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
2 Black Redstart
Blackbird
1 Redwing
16 Chiffchaff
8 Goldcrest
5 Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
2 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
4 Siskin
Goldfinch
2 Greenfinch
1 Bullfinch

A few Common Buzzard Photos

Two Carrion Crows mobbing.........

........... a Buzzard over Wakeham

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One of the 18 Rock Pipits at the cove this morning.

This was an interesting encounter. A juvenile female Pied Wagtail (top) "displaying/begging" towards the juvenile male below.

The two met with the female begging for food!!

A little later the "pair" were on top of the cliff face with the male being very vocal.

Back on the beach the male was busy catching........

............flies, and...........

............very successfully to.

In the Lower Horse paddock were.........

..............these two Stonechats.

Here are a few photos and videos of the two Black Redstarts at the Cove today.

Black Redstart no. 1

And the second bird.

Even high up on the rock were hundreds of Kelp Flies.

And off again for another snack.

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A lone Redwing in Broadcroft Quarry Lane

A few Chiffchaff photos and a very short video:

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It was a good day for Goldcrests, with.......

...........eight seen on my travels.

And it wasn't just the Goldcrests out in force but also 5 Firecrests.

A Raven heading down the island

Mainly Goldfinches, but I think there maybe a few Linnets in amongst this flock, which was a good 50+

A Goldfinch on a Buddleia.

Reptiles Recorded:
1 Wall Lizard

A lone Wall Lizard basking in the grounds of St Andrew's Church

Butterflies Recorded:
10 Red Admiral
2 Painted Lady

Moths Recorded:
Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)

Bees Recorded:
2 Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)