21 Sep 23

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Silklake Quarry, The Cuttings, The Mermaid Track, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Wakeham Meadows and Old Quarry Lane

It was a very late walk today, as I was waiting for a bit of sunshine, after a pretty dreary day. It finally appeared, and Ted and I set off around 5:30pm to see what was about.

On the bird front I didn't see or hear any Blackcaps, but there were a good 8 or more Chiffchaffs along our walk. Also flying about the paddocks were around 5 Meadow Pipits, with a Kestrel overhead keeping them alert!


Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel
1 Brown Rat

This Brown Rat was tucking into the birdseed on my friends wildlife site, next to Wakeham Meadow.

Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
5 Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
8+ Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

This Kestrel circling..........

...............over the paddocks was certainly keeping the Meadow Pipits on edge.

A juvenile Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Red Admiral


Bees Recorded:
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

No Ivy Bees - too late to see them.


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Hornet Plumehorn (Volucella zonaria)

There were a few Common Droneflies on the Ivy along with this Hornet Plumehorn (Volucella zonaria)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

Just the one Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea found.

Slugs and Snails Recorded:
5 Black Slug (Arion ater)


Plants:
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)

Bramble (Rubus fruticosusa)

Considering how windy its been lately, I was surprised to see that only one stem was broken on this Pampas Grass. Certainly a sturdy grass.

Just when you think Summer is over another show of Bramble flowers appear.

General Shots:

The Cuttings where once upon a time the Weymouth to Easton railway line use to pass through.....

.....Where I'm stood is where the track use to be about 20 feet below me, before The Cuttings was back filled.

Here's is a video of the last passenger train to Portland in 1965. At 1min 50sec there is a postcard photo of the The Cuttings before it was back filled.


Ted:

The Cuttings is now used by Rock Climbers. And no Ted you're not having a go.......

.........don't look at me like that.

Ships Today:

This is the Container Ship "BG Ruby" flying the flag of Madeira. It is on way from Cork to to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Container Ship "BG Emerald" on its way from Liverpool to Rotterdam. More on this vessel Here.

This is the Cypriot Offshore Support Ship "Siem Barracuda" on its way from Portland to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.