16 Oct 23

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Higher Horse Paddock, Lower Horse Paddock.

No Ted today, he was having a day out on Weymouth Beach with David, so it was just me braving the raw south-easterly on my own.

From what I could gather on social media, the best birding was along the well sheltered West Weare's, with lots of Chiffchaffs, Stonechats and a male Ring Ouzel. The best I could muster was 3 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechats

A bit of a surprise, considering how bitter it was, was watching a Hummingbird Hawk-moth along Wakeham Railway Cuttings.

Birds Recorded:
5 Gannets
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
Blackbird
3 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
4 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
2 Siskin
Goldfinch

A Kestrel hovering over Wakeham Meadow.

This male Pied Wagtail had the whole beach to himself, without a single Rock Pipit in sight.

And boy he was certainly enjoying those Kelp Flies.

This female Blackcap was.......

........tip-toeing towards these Blackberries.

A slight pause before she..........

.........got stuck in. A male was close by.

In the butterfly reserve the male Stonechat and.............

...........his mate were........

..........sat close together on this bramble.

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Red Admiral


Moths Recorded:
1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
1 Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)

A nice surprise was this Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on this Geranium!!

And a Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana) on a nettle leaf.

Bees Recorded:
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)

Once the Ivy flowers have gone so will the Ivy Bees until next September.

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

The Common Wasp nest was so busy, I only managed one shot before I outstayed my welcome..

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
1 Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

A Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)

And a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
1000's Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea

Just the one Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) form succinea seen on my walk.

Sandhoppers Recorded:
Sandhopper (Talitrus saltator)

Under a big pebble on the beach was this Sandhopper.

General Shots:

The sea was a little rough today............

...........especially with that strong south-easterly

Ships Today:

What's that coming over "hill" that will.............

...........be the Belgian Frigate F931 "Louise Marie" on its way from Aalborg (Denmark) to Portland. More on this vessel here and here.

This is the Vehicles Carrier "Crystal Ray" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from As Suways, Suez (Egypt) to Zeebrugge. More on this vessel here.

This is the Liberian Refrigerated Container Ship "Caribbean Star" on its way from Dakar (Senegal) to Portsmouth. More on this vessel here.

I think this is the British yacht "Tosi" on its way from Poole to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel here.