Port and Wey: 5 Oct 24

Wakeham

It was another day in the garden, plus a slow walk early afternoon to the local doctors surgery and back, for my covid booster and flu jab. It was certainly good to stretch the legs, especially in the warm Autumn sun, though I was glad to get home to put my feet up. At least Ted got to go for a walk.

Main highlight was my first Jay on Portland this year, which flew over the Surgery just as I was heading back home. There was also one at Old Hill reported on Social Media. Same bird or maybe a couple or so have just arrived on the island from the mainland!!

Other highlights were 2 Chiffchaff in Wakeham Meadow as I returned home, where there were also 4 butterfly species flitting about.

In the back garden there were still no butterflies, but there was another Chiffchaff, which joined the "resident" Chiffchaff briefly, before heading off south down the gardens towards The Bill. Also noted was a Grey Wagtail overhead.

Birds Recorded:
2 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
2 Swallow
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
1 Robin
4 Chiffchaff
1 Wren

1 Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

The resident Robin has..........

........a new friend. A Wren top left of photo.

This Chiffchaff that has been here for the past few days........

...........and appears to have a set "route" moving between my garden and the two gardens down. It continually calls and uses the two Sycamores, Hazel, Buckthorn and this Cypress sp. to feed on the abundance of insects there are at the moment. Unlike a Chiffchaff which joined it briefly, before heading off south, this individual I'm pretty sure is just fattening up before joining the others. Just my theory!!

And the Robin's new mate. A very......

............inquisitive Wren. Wrens are the only species of bird that Ted barks at when they call.....

....I've no idea why, but Ted gets well worked up when they are calling. Daft dog!! Thank goodness this individual was silent.

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White
3 Small White
2 Speckled Wood
1 Red Admiral

Bees Recorded:

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

A Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) on a Passion Flower (Passiflora sp.)

And a Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) on a Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

1 Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum) - Possibly

This is a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax). However.........

.............I think this very similar looking hoverfly might be a Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum). Its a shame I wasn't able to take a few photos of it from different angles!!

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies
5 Moth Flies (Tonnoiriella pulchra)