What an extraordinary day, not only because of the NATO Exercise just off The Bill, which involved at least 15 vessels from 7 Countries, but also 12 or more Clouded Yellows I saw in the Cuttings Quarry and along Bumpers Lane.
Also in good numbers were Green-veined Whites and Large Whites. There were a few Speckled Woods and Red Admirals, but no Painted Lady's. I bumped into Martin Cade by the Quarry and apparently a Long-tailed Blue butterfly had been reported being seen an hour or so earlier, just a bit further up the path from where we were standing. Unfortunately neither of us got to see it. More on this exotic butterfly Here.
On the migrant front, birds of note were 8 Swallows, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Blackcap and 8 Chiffchaff
Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel
Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel
A Grey Squirrel.............
.................along the railway cuttings.
1 Fulmar
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
1 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
8 Swallow
20+ Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
1 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
8 Swallow
20+ Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
A Stock Dove along Bumpers Lane and........
A female Blackcap keeps a wary eye on me as I walked passed here.
This Chiffchaff didn't seem to mind me at all.
Though another beat a hasty retreat.
1 Wall Lizard
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
Hawker sp.
Butterflies Recorded:
8+ Large White
10+ Green-veined White
12 +Clouded Yellow
5 Speckled Wood
3 Red Admiral
One of the many Clouded Yellows that came across in the Cuttings Quarry and along Bumpers Lane
On the path alongside the Railway Cuttings was this well-camouflaged Speckled Wood
Whilst sat on a Sycamore leaf was this Red Admiral.
2 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)
Just two Rush Veneers seen today.
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Ivy Bees (Colletes hederae)
Images below are of Ivy Bees
Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Gall Wasp (Dipoloepis rosaea)
German Wasps (Vespula germanica)
German Wasps (Vespula germanica)
And a Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
A Robin's Pincushion (bottom right) on a Dog Rose. It is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny Gall Wasp, Dipoloepis rosaea.
And a close-up of the Robin's Pincushion. More on this wasp Here.
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded:
Ichneumon sp.
An Ichneumon sp.
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
#1 - hoverfly sp.
#2 - hoverfly sp.
#1 - hoverfly sp.
#2 - hoverfly sp.
10+ Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
#1 - plant sp.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
#1 - plant sp.
General Shots:
The Cuttings Quarry where there were dozens of butterflies this afternoon.
Along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings Ted picked up the scent of either a Fox or a Badger and he was off. Fortunately I had the lead on him at the time.
Ships Today:
NATO Exercise
Ships Today:
NATO Exercise
