30 Sep 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east), Silklake Quarry and Bumpers Lane

With the remnants of two Hurricanes, Humberto and Imelda about to hit our shores by the end of the week, I thought I would attempt an extended walk around the block, before the gale force winds arrive in a few days. With blue skies, light winds, and warm sunshine, my walk today was really enjoyable, especially as I need to build up my strength again before my heart op in November.

Main highlight was seeing my first Grey Wagtail of the year. With not just one, but a pair along the footpath in Glen Caravan Park. I can't believe its taken 9 months to record my first one this year and that includes hearing one!!

Other highlights were 8 Swallows, 4 Meadow Pipit, a Blackcap, 10+ Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and 3 Rooks. The latter not a corvid we see that often on Portland.

On the butterfly front, the main highlight was a fly-by Clouded Yellow


Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel

A Grey Squirrel in Glen Caravan Park


Birds Recorded
:
1 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
8 Swallow
4 Meadow Pipit
2 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
10+ Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
3 Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

I can't believe this is my first Grey Wagtail of the year. Where have I been!!!

On of the many Chiffchaffs seen along my walk.


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc
.
Feral pigeon


Reptiles Recorded:
1 Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis

A Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis


Butterflies Recorded
:
8+ Large White Pieris brassicae
5 Small White Pieris rapae
1 Clouded Yellow Colias croceus
1 Wall Brown Lasiommata megera
7 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
10+ Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

A record shot of a Wall Brown Lasiommata megera on a Field Scabious Knautia arvensis


Bees Recorded
:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Ivy Bee Colletes hederae

Ivy Bees Colletes hederae


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
German Wasp Vespula germanica


Hoverflies Recorded:
Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Hoverfly Syrphus sp.
The Footballer Helophilus pendulus

A Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax

A Hoverfly Syrphus sp.

The Footballer Helophilus pendulus


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded
:
Many unidentified flies
1 Celery fly Euleia heraclei

This is a Celery fly Euleia heraclei. And the aberrant Orange-brown morph.


Plants
:
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster sp.
Dog Rose Rosa canina
Elder Sambucus nigra
Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis
Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Ivy Hedera helix
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalbaatus


Ted:

On a hill far far away is a Ted.

29 Sep 25

Barleycrates Lane and West Cliff

I'm afraid it had to be done. So after avoiding the fact that there was a long-staying Wryneck on top of the West Cliffs, which has been present for a good 4 days or so, I decided I would go and have a look.

Mind you when I arrived early afternoon, a couple of birders were sad to point out, that it hadn't been seen for a couple of hours, having been scared off by a biker and then a dog.

But as luck would have it, one of the birders called Mark, spotted it in the same area as he had two hours earlier. And it was showing well.

Other birds of interest were 50+ Swallow, 8 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaff. Plus a bird with a very sweet song, which could well have been a Woodlark, but proved very difficult to find.

Birds Recorded:
Buzzard
Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Wryneck
4 Skylark
50+ Swallow
8 Meadow Pipit
4 Pied Wagtail
2 Yellow Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Wheatear
Blackbird
2 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
20+ Linnet
Goldfinch

Below are a few photos and videos of the Wryneck along the top of the West Cliffs just north of Barleycrates Lane here.











A lone Wheatear along Barleycrates Lane


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc
.
Feral pigeon
1 Woodlark - possibly


Butterflies Recorded:
5 Large White Pieris brassicae
3 Small White Pieris rapae
4 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
20+ Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

A very worn Painted Lady Vanessa cardui


Bees Recorded
:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Ivy Bee Colletes hederae

An Ivy Bee Colletes hederae


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded
:
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
German Wasp Vespula germanica


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies


Plants:
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Ivy Hedera helix


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Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Wildlife Site and Wakeham Meadows

After my walk along the top cliffs, I headed back home and straight down Old Quarry Lane and the meadow, to see if there were any Chiffchaffs and possible Yellow-browed Warblers still hanging around from yesterday. The answer was no, and all that remained were 2 Chiffchaffs and a single Blackcap.

Birds Recorded:
Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Butterflies Recorded:
Large White Pieris brassicae
Small White Pieris rapae
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta


Moths Recorded:
1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella


Bees Recorded
:
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Ivy Bee Colletes hederae

Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Ivy Bees Colletes hederae


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded
:
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
German Wasp Vespula germanica


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
1 Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form spectabilis

Dock Bug Coreus marginatus


Spiders Recorded:
Garden Spider Araneus diadematus


Plants:
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Ivy Hedera helix
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba

28 Sep 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Wildlife Site and Wakeham Meadows

I'm liking this weather and the birdwatching is proving to be quite interesting as well. This afternoon I recorded 2 Blackcaps, at least 10 Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and possibly 2 Yellow-browed Warblers. Try as I could, I just couldn't get a visual on either bird, even though they they were both calling well. I will try again tomorrow!

With less wind and very little cloud, the sun was certainly warm enough to see that there were plenty of butterflies about, including a late female Common Blue.

Birds Recorded:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
10+ Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
2 Linnet
Goldfinch

This Sparrowhawk certainly upset the local birds as it circled overhead.

Below are several Chiffchaff photos








In amongst the Chiffchaffs was this "silent" Goldcrest.


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc
.
2 Yellow-browed Warblers - possibly
Feral pigeon


Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
1 Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
1 Chaser sp.


Butterflies Recorded:
5 Large White Pieris brassicae
3 Small White Pieris rapae
8+ Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
10+ Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
1 Comma Polygonia c-album
1 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

There were a lot of Speckled Woods Pararge aegeria out today.

This Comma Polygonia c-album has been in the wars.

And a late.............

.............female Common Blue Polyommatus icarus


Moths Recorded
:
1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

A Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella


Bees Recorded
:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Ivy Bee Colletes hederae

Despite it being very warm and sunny................

..............there still seems to be low numbers of Ivy Bees Colletes hederae


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded
:
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
German Wasp Vespula germanica


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
3 Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

A Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded
:
Many unidentified flies


Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
1 Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera

A Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera soaking up the Autumn sun.


Spiders Recorded:
1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus


Plants:
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Dog Rose Rosa canina
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Ivy Hedera helix
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus


Ted:

Ted making the most of a bit of shade.

27 Sep 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Wildlife Site and Wakeham Meadows

After 36 hours of being laid up in bed with what felt like covid, but was probably just Man-Flu, I finally managed to drag myself outside into the fresh air.

At least it was a half-decent day weather-wise and my walk this afternoon turned up 5 Chiffchaffs along the lane and around the meadow. Other birds of interest were 4 Common Buzzards circling together over Wakeham.

A big disappointment though, was the very low number of Ivy Bees, with just 6 seen at 4 different locations along my walk.

Birds Recorded:
4 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
5 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

The four specks are.............

#1 - Common Buzzard

#2 - Common Buzzard

#3 - Common Buzzard

#4 - Common Buzzard


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc
.
Feral pigeon


Butterflies Recorded:
4 Large White Pieris brassicae
2 Small White Pieris rapae
7 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Along with several Speckled Woods Pararge aegeria there.......

............were quite a few.................

......................Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta


Moths Recorded
:
1 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

Just the one Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella seen today.


Bees Recorded:
2 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
8 Honey Bee Apis mellifera
6 Ivy Bee Colletes hederae

An Ivy Bee Colletes hederae


Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded
:
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
German Wasp Vespula germanica


Hoverflies Recorded:
4 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
3 Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea

A Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded
:
Many unidentified flies


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
2 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora 22-punctata
1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis

A Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina

On the same Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba leaf were................

.............these two 22-spot Ladybirds Psyllobora 22-punctata

A Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea


Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded
:
Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

A Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus


Spiders Recorded:
2 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus

Garden Spider Araneus diadematus


Plants
:
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Ivy Hedera helix
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba