22 Mar 23

Pennsylvania Castle Woods, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Portland Museum

A very cloudy day, but at least it was dry. The sun did try to come out a couple of times, but it didn't last long.

Main highlights were:

Blackcap - a pair in Pennsylvania Castle Woods
Chiffchaff - 3 in Pennsylvania Castle Woods and 4 at the back of the cove.
Firecrest - Two in Pennsylvania Castle Woods

Also noted were two Chocolate Mining Bees and a Common Wasp.

Mammals Recorded:

1 Grey Seal

The Grey Seal was...............

.............back in the cove today.

Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
7 Chiffchaff
2 Firecrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

It was a bit of a Chiffchaff day

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica)

A Chocolate Mining Bee on an Alexanders.

Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

My first Common Wasp of the year and......

..........looking a bit lethargic

Hoverflies Recorded:
Hairy-eyed Flower Fly (Syrphus torvus)

Hairy-eyed Flower Fly

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)


Plants:
Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis)

Ivy-leaved Toadflax. Also known as Kenilworth Ivy, Coliseum Ivy and Oxford Ivy.

Ted:

Ted is really not happy about wearing his waterproof jacket.

Ships Today:

This is the Danish General Cargo Ship "Marianne Danica" on its way from Portland Harbour to Cherbourg. It actually looks more like a "Ghost Ship". More on this vessel Here.

This is the British PO9 Fishing Boat "Freya May" just south of Church Ope Cove.