11 Apr 24

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Rufus Castle and Bumpers Lane

Today started off where yesterday ended, with thick fog covering the island. The sun did try to break through, but only very briefly.

On the Spring migrant front, the best I could find were  a Blackcap singing in Penns Wood and 3 Chiffchaff.

There were quite a few species of bees about, but there is a big absence of Honey Bees. The last time I saw one was on 2 April. Where have they gone!!

There was also an absence of butterflies, again. But I did come across a female Green-longhorn Moth (Adela reaumurella). One the earliest I have seen on Portland.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded:
Wall Lizard

Just the one Wall Lizard seen, which was a surprise, considering it was pretty foggy.

Butterflies Recorded:
None again

Moths Recorded:
Green-longhorn Moth (Adela reaumurella)

This was also a surprise. A female Green-longhorn Moth (Adela reaumurella), which....

...........was on the Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) by Rufus Castle.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)

Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)

Note:

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) - None seen since 2 Apr 24

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

An Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)..........

...........which also goes by the name of Orange-tailed Mining Bee.

And a..........

...........Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Yellow-tipped Darwin Wasp (Ichneumon stramentor)

A Yellow-tipped Darwin Wasp (Ichneumon stramentor) by Rufus Castle

Hoverflies Recorded:

Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis)

Syrphus sp.

Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

A female Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

And a male Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis)

Syrphus sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

A female Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
3 Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

A Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

And another Bloody-nosed Beetle, which felt threatened, exuded a bright red fluid from its mouth.

Spiders Recorded:

#1 - Mettellina sp.

#2 - spider sp.

#3 - spider sp.

#4 - spider sp.

#1 -Mettellina sp.

#2 - spider sp.

#3 - spider sp. & #4 - spider sp.

Plants:

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella locusta)

Theo pointing to the Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) growing on this wall. This plant is also known as Red Robin, Death come quickly, Storksbill, Fox Geranium, Stinking Bob, Squinter-pip, Crow's Foot, or Roberts Geranium

Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella locusta). Also known as Corn Salad

Ted and Theo:

Theo showing off as usual.

Ships Today:

This is the British Fishing Boat - WH296 "Portland Isle" on its way back to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel here and here.