Port and Wey: 3 Nov 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.

After yesterdays storm, with winds reaching around 73mph, it was a very different day today, with the wind speed down to a "gentle" 20mph. Having not had a walk around my local patch for a few days, it was time to get the boots on and have a look to see what was about.

Main highlights were:
Shag - Two fishing in Church Ope Cove
Meadow Pipit - Two over Wakeham Meadow
Rock Pipit - Two on the beach
Pied Wagtail - A 1st winter on the beach
Blackcap - A male along Wakeham Railway Cuttings
Chiffchaff - One along Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Three in Broadcroft Quarry Lane
Goldcrest - Two along Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Two in Penns Wood
Lesser Redpoll - One over Broadcroft Quarry Lane
Siskin - Two over Rufus Castle

Other highlights were:
Wall Lizards - Two close to The Cuttings Quarry
Red Admirals - Five noted along my walk

Painted Lady - One in Broadcroft Quarry Lane

Birds Recorded:
1 Gannet
2 Shag
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Meadow Pipit
2 Rock Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
4 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
1 Lesser Redpoll
Linnet
2 Siskin
Goldfinch

One Shag......

..........and a second one, both fishing in the cove.

Close by to the Shags was this Great Black-backed Gull. I'm sure, given the opportunity, it would harass them into giving up their catch.

This 1st winter Pied Wagtail was enjoying the Kelp Fly feast on the beach.

One of the many Robins I came across this morning.

Two Goldcrests along Wakeham Railway Cuttings

The same birds again, with........

.............the obligatory twig in the shot.

These two Goldfinches were.......

............in Wakeham Meadow.

Reptiles Recorded:
2 Wall Lizard

If it's sunny and warm enough there will be a Wall Lizard or two basking in the sun.

Butterflies Recorded:
5 Red Admiral
1 Painted Lady

Moths Recorded:
Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis)

A worn Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) at Church Ope Cove

Bees Recorded:
None

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

The Common Wasp nest in Wakeham Meadow.

Close to the nest was this queen Common Wasp.

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

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

And my mystery fly for today.

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

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form spectabilis

Plants:
Bramble (Rubus fruticosusa)

And there are still Blackberries to pick.

General Shots:

Well Storm Ciarán has made a dramatic change to beach at Church Ope Cove.

There were two banks of shingle. The bottom one has disappeared completely and has been replaced with seaweed. The waves were that powerful during the storm that pebbles were thrown through the air..............

...........and severely damaged this beach hut.

Believe it or not these windows were protected by wooden shutters, but were totally destroyed leaving the windows to the elements. I feel sorry for the owners, as they only bought the hut 3 months ago from one of my neighbours!!

Ted: