14 Jun 23

Pennsylvania Castle Woods, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, The Cuttings Quarry and Bumpers Lane

Well it was a 7:00am walk this morning, so that Ted and I would miss the expected high temperatures later in the day. In the shade it was quite chilly, but once you stood out in the sun, you could just tell it was getting warm already.

There were two really interesting highlights today, the first was a juvenile Razorbill/Guillemot calling for its parents, just off Church Ope Cove and the second was coming across Honey Bees entering a Beach Hut via the side panels to the hut. That's going to be one hell of a surprise for the owners!!!!


Birds Recorded:
3 Cormorant
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
1 Razorbill/Guillemot
Wood Pigeon
4 Swallow (heading south)
2 Rock Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
3 Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Three Cormorants head north up Portland's east coastline

And this poor little fella was calling continuously in Church Ope Cove

Whether it was the current pushing "him" along I'm not sure, but he was heading in the direction of Portland Harbour.

As to what species of auk it is, I'm unsure. But its most likely to be either a Guillemot or Razorbill, as both species breed on the west cliffs. Of course the question is, how did it end up on the Portland's east coast. One theory I have, is that it drifted around The Bill and continued down the east coast. But if I was a betting man (I'm not!!) I would put my money on it being picked off by a Great Black-backed Gull and then being dropped back into the sea. Either way I fear this is not going to end well for it.

One of the two adult Rock Pipits along Penns Weare

Something has got the attention of this juvenile Blackbird in Penns Wood.

One of the three male Common Whitethroats I came across which are still.........

...............in good voice with that scratchy song of theirs.

A Goldfinch breathing in and............

..............then breathing out. Okay it's just fluffing itself up.

Reptiles Recorded:
4 Wall Lizard

It doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is.......

..........if the sun is out and its warm enough, the Wall Lizards will be out basking.

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Dingy Skipper
6 Lulworth Skipper
5 Large Skipper
2 Speckled Wood
8 Meadow Brown
3 Red Admiral
2 Silver-studded Blue

A male Lulworth Skipper

And a female Lulworth Skipper

A male Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

And my first male Silver-studded Blue for the year. The female was close-by.

Here are its the upper wings. There's a good site here which helps with Id'ing Silver-studs.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

The owners of this beach hut at Church Ope Cove are in for a shock.

I can't say I have ever seen Honey Bees.......

........in a hut. I hope the owners like honey.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Dronefly sp (Eristalis sp.)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)

A dronefly sp in hover-mode.

A Dead Head Hoverfly

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:

Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa)

Just lately I have been photographing a few male Broad Centurians. Today I managed to find a female. More on this fly Here.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)


Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
grasshopper sps.


Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)


Plants:
Portland Russet (Sometime in the future!!)

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus)

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

Dog Rose (Rosa canina)

Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare)
Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)

Hopefully, when I get my act together.......

.........this unnamed apple tree will be known as a Portland Russet. Watch this space.

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and a............

............close-up of the flower-head.

Wild Thyme (Thymus polytrichus)

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and.............

..............a close-up of one of the flowers.

Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare)

My first Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) of the year.

General Shots:

The ruins of St Andrew's Church

Church Ope Cove

Bumpers Lane

Ted:

Please can I have some water and......

............a bit of shade. Of course you can Ted.

Ships Today:

This is the British Trawler 'Nicola-L' on her way back into Weymouth Harbour. There is no info on this vessel but there is a close-up photo of her in Weymouth Harbour Here.

This is the British PO9 Fishing Boat "Freya May". returning to Portland Harbour

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 Offshore Supply Vessel "Island Crown" on its way from Portsmouth to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Sailing Vessel "Laughing Gull" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Sailing Vessel "Voyager" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the British Sailing Vessel "Albatross" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Liberian Crude Oil Tanker "Saturn Moon" on its way from Odudu (Nigeria) to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.