25 Apr 24

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve

Can you believe that with just under a week to go before the 1st May and it's absolutely freezing here on the island, especially with the really chilly south-westerly we are experiencing.

Needless to say there were just a few highlights with a Chiffchaff singing in Old Quarry Lane, and singles of Common Whitethroat and Blackcap on the Butterfly Reserve. Also noted were 3 Swallows heading north over the Lower Horse Paddock.


Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant
Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
3 Swallow
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
Rosy Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

It appears we have a Pheasant in Old Quarry Lane. In fact having just spoken to one of my neighbours, he's also brought his mate with him. The Pheasant that is!!

This Chiffchaff was in...................

...........good voice along Old Quarry Lane.

And on the Butterfly Reserve a male Greenfinch keeping guard near to his nest.

Butterflies Recorded:
None


Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

A Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)

A Dock Bug with a few Small Black Ants for company on this Alexanders flower head.

Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)


General Shots:

A path to............

..........nowhere.

And the first house brick to be laid for the new housing development in Wakeham Meadow. I hope not!!

Ships Today:

This is the Cypriot Cement Carrier "Cembay" on its way from Plymouth to Dunkirk. More on this vessel here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Arklow Vale" on its way from Dunkirk to Runcorn. More on this vessel here.