With that bitter cold easterly wind coming across the island, I decided to head for the sheltered west side of Portland. It didn't make any difference at all!!
Highlights which were very few, were 6 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins (my first for the year), 20+ Swallows and 8 Meadow Pipits making their way alongside the west cliffs.
In amongst the Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) I came across 3 Chiffchaff.
Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Skylark
6 Sand Martin
2 House Martin
20+ Swallow
8 Meadow Pipit
3 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
3 Chiffchaff
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Two Meadow Pipits making their way up the island.
Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon
Bees Recorded:
4 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
4 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies
1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Many unidentified flies
1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)
Plants in flower:
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus arvensis)
Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) as far as the eye can see.
And lining the south side of Barleycrates lane are.......
................Wild Cherries (Prunus avium)
Its amazing what a treat can do.