21 Oct 23

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Bumpers Lane, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Higher Horse Paddock, Lower Horse Paddock and Wakeham Meadows.

Today was forecast showers, as Ted and I found out 30 minutes into our walk. Unfortunately the shower that fell on us lasted a good 40 minutes and we got soaked.

Despite the drenching, the bird watching was pretty good with the main highlights being:
Sparrowhawk - One of Old Quarry Lane
Wood Pigeon - A large flock of 300+ circling over Wakeham before heading west
Meadow Pipit - Several small parties totalling 30+
Pied Wagtail - There was a passage of one's and two's heading south for a good hour or more.
Grey Wagtail - One calling over the Wakeham Railway Cuttings
Chiffchaff - Two Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) and two Broadcroft Quarry Lane
3 Goldcrest - One Old Quarry Lane and two Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east)
Brambling - One with 5 Chaffinches in Bumpers Lane. My first this year.
Chaffinch - Small parties passing overhead totalling 20+
Redpoll - At least 5 calling overhead at different locations along my walk.
Siskin - And a good 10+ seen and heard along my walk.


Birds Recorded:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
300+ Wood Pigeon
30+ Meadow Pipit
20+ Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
4 Chiffchaff
3 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
1 Brambling
20+ Chaffinch
5 Redpoll
Linnet
10+ Siskin
Goldfinch

Below are a few Goldcrest photos

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Red Admiral


Bees Recorded:
None


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

A Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) nest in Wakeham Meadow

Hoverflies Recorded:
None


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
None


Fungi:

#1 - fungi sp

#2 - Dog Vomit Slime Mould (Fuligo septica)

#1 - fungi

#1 - fungi

#1 - fungi

#1 - Possibly a fungi from the Russulaceae family here, which contains two genera: Lactarius and Russula.

#2 - Dog Vomit Slime Mould (Fuligo septica)

Ted:

All is well and........

...............Ted is enjoying being out.

And then it rained!!!!!!!!!!!

Ships Today:

This is the Container Ship "Allegro" flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. It is on its way from Rotterdam to Dublin. More on this vessel here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Penhar" on its way from Kiel (Germany) to Alumar (Brazil). More on this vessel here.

This is the Danish Container Ship "Santa Teresa" on its way from Bremerhaven to Algeciras (Spain). More on this vessel here.


Aircraft Today:

This is the British Airways A350-1041 Reg: G-XWBD flight BA190 on its way from Austin (USA) to London Heathrow. More on this aircraft here and here.