With Storm Babet well on its way north, there was a bit of a reprieve in the weather and there was even a glimpse of some sunshine. There were a few light showers, but not that much to stop me and Ted having a good walk.
Main highlights were:
Shag - A lone bird feeding in the cove.
Meadow Pipit - Two in the lower horse paddock
Rock Pipit - Five on the beach (one with two rings)
Pied Wagtail - An adult male and a juvenile on the beach
Chiffchaff - One in Penns Wood
Goldcrest - Two in Penns Wood and one at the back of Church Ope Cove
Firecrest - One in Penns Wood
Siskin - Two over Wakeham Meadow and three in Penns Wood
Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel
The tail is a give away as this Grey Squirrel vanishes into the bushes in Penns Wood.
Birds Recorded:
1 Gannet
1 Cormorant
1 Shag
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Meadow Pipit
5 Rock Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
3 Goldcrest
1 Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
4 Raven
24 Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
5 Siskin
Goldfinch
A lone Gannet makes its way down Portland's east coast.
A Shag takes off from Church Ope Cove after a fishing session here.
Good to see five Rock Pipits at the cove including.........
...............this ringed individual I came across a couple of days ago.
It has two rings but......
............the metal ring is pretty difficult to read.
On the beach was this male Pied Wagtail and........
............a juvenile, both enjoying a Kelp Fly feast.
A male Siskin in.............
................ Penns Wood along with....................
.........this female and.......
..........I presume a juvenile.
Reptiles Recorded:
1 Wall Lizard
1 Wall Lizard
Even in October the Wall Lizards will be out basking if its warm and sunny enough.
Butterflies Recorded:
1 Speckled Wood
2 Red Admiral
Just a Speckled Wood and two Red Admirals seen today. This Red Admiral was in Penns Wood.
Moths Recorded:
Pinion-streaked Snout (Schrankia costaestrigalis)
Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
The Common Wasp nest in Wakeham Meadow
And one of the occupants on the Ivy next to the nest.
And another Common Wasp nest..................
................... on the south facing cliff at Church Ope Cove.
Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
A Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and..........
............a dark form.
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
1000's Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)
fly sp.
And my mystery fly today has......
.............white feet!!
Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
2 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) both form succinea
2 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
2 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) both form succinea
A pair of Bloody-nosed Beetles mating. Around them are several White-lipped Banded Snails (Cepaea hortensis)
A Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)........
..........and another. Both form succineas
White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
General Shots
The sea is still pretty rough at Church Ope Cove.
Ted stretching his legs after being stuck at home yesterday during Storm Babet.
Ships Today:
This is the British Fishing Boat PH 37 "Loyal Friend"...............
..............on its way back to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.
