Well rain stopped play again, and not just here, but also at the Oval as well. Fortunately it stopped late afternoon at the Oval and the England cricketers were able to draw the Ashes series with a terrific win against the Aussies.
So with no walk here today, here are a few images from this day over the past 6 years.
2022
A Common Toad in the back garden. I've still not seen a Toad this year.
2021
Thick-legged hoverfly (Syritta pipiens)
2020
An Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus), which was one of the moth species I caught on this day in 2020 using my homemade Moth Trap in the back garden Here.
Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve
It was a change of scenery today, in the hope of finding a Ringlet or two. Unfortunately I failed in finding any. Its not been a good year for this species on Portland.
Biggest surprise though was a Slow-worm out in the open on one of the reserves tracks. Very vulnerable to say the least.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Collared Dove 1 House Martin Dunnock Blackbird Song Thrush Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Linnet Goldfinch
A male Linnet on the reserve
Reptiles Recorded: 1 Slow-worm
A Slow-worm taking a chance in the open.
Butterflies Recorded: Large White Small White 1 Speckled Wood 15+ Meadow Brown 20+ Gatekeeper
2 Marbled White 1 Red Admiral
1 Comma 2 Small Blue 4 Common Blue 8 Chalk Hill Blue
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
A Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Common Red Soldier Beetles (Rhagonycha fulva)
Aircraft Today:
This is a 2000 Rockwell Commander 114B registration N116SB on its way from Kemble to Guernsey. More on this aircraft here and a few close up images of this aircraft here and here.
Bumpers Lane, The Cuttings Quarry, The Mermaid Track and Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east)
It seems I timed it pretty well for a walk today. As no sooner had I got home it started to rain. It didn't last long, but later it did cloud over with a threat of heavier stuff to come.
Despite it being overcast, it was still pretty warm with the main highlight being the number of Chalk Hill Blues on the wing, with well over 20 seen.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Wood Pigeon Collared Dove 2 House Martin 1 Pied Wagtail Dunnock Robin Blackbird 2 Chiffchaff Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow Jackdaw Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Linnet Goldfinch
Reptiles Recorded: 2 Wall Lizard
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded: 1 dragonfly sp.
Butterflies Recorded: 10 Large White 5 Small White 2 Green-veined White 1 Wall Brown 1 Speckled Wood 10 Meadow Brown 15 Gatekeeper 3 Red Admiral 1 Peacock 4 Common Blue 20+ Chalk Hill Blue
A Wall Brown
And a Speckled Wood
On top of the grass stem is a male Common Blue and below it an unusual looking female.
Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church. Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track
It was a miserable day, with sea fog pushing through on strong south westerlies.There were a few breaks, so I took a chance and headed off to see what was about. The one thing that was very noticeable was the humidity. It was pretty sticky.
Despite the unseasonable weather there were was still quite a bit about, other than the Wall Lizards.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Collared Dove 20+ Sand Martin & House Martin Dunnock Robin Blackbird Great Tit Blue Tit Wren Magpie Carrion Crow House Sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch
This juvenile Carrion Crow has.........
............got its eyes on something. I'm not sure what its seen, but they are really inquisitive birds.
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Large White 5 Meadow Brown 8 Gatekeeper 3 Red Admiral 1 Small Blue 4 Common Blue 2 Chalk Hill Blue
With wings closed, this Meadow Brown is pretty non-descript, with.........
............a little bit more colour when its wings are open.
On the other hand this Gatekeeper is very orange.
There are still few Red Admirals about. Most were.......
............on the Buddleia.
The wind was pretty breezy and the..........
................Chalk Hill Blues were desperately trying to hang onto the grass stems.
