6 May 24

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

Yet another short walk, but an interesting one with the main highlight being a Garden Warbler singing in Wakeham Meadow, where there was also a Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff.

On the butterfly reserve, highlights here were 7+ Swallow heading up the island, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, a Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff.

Lowlight was that it started to rain, which was a shame as I had hoped to stay a bit longer on the reserve.

Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
7+ Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Garden Warbler
2 Common Whitethroat
2 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Garden Warbler in Wakeham Meadow.

A Common Whitethroat on the butterfly reserve

And a Lesser Whitethroat in Wakeham Meadow.


Butterflies Recorded:
1 Large White
2 Small White
1 Peacock


Moths Recorded:
1 Buff Long-horn (Nematopogon metaxella)
1 Vetch Piercer (Grapholita jungiella)
2 Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)

A Buff Long-horn (Nematopogon metaxella)

A Vetch Piercer (Grapholita jungiella)


Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena chrysosceles)

A side-profile of a Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena chrysosceles)

And head-on.


Hoverflies Recorded:
1 Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)

Spring Epistrophe (Epistrophe eligans)


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Blue Blowfly (Calliphora vicina)


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

A Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea


Caterpillars Recorded:
Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea) - Possibly

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea)

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea)


General Shots:

Dark clouds building up behind the Young Offenders Institute.


Ted:

This spot where Ted is sat, is one of my favourite places on the island to watch the world go by. Unfortunately the rain cut our stay short!!


Ships Today:

This is the British RFA Replenishment Ship "Tidespring" just off Portland Bill. More on this vessel Here.