It is definitely getting colder, especially as the wind was now coming from a northerly direction. Yep it was brrrr weather.
I'm not sure what's happening with the Chiffchaffs, but today I logged 10 and there were probably more about, but my count was hampered by the wind, blowing the leaves around. Most were along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings were I had 5, plus a Blackcap.
In the more sheltered and sunny spots I came across 5 Red Admirals.
There were no bees seen at all, but along with the 30+ Common Wasps, there were several Queens recorded.
Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
10+ Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
I'm not sure what's happening with the Chiffchaffs, but today I logged 10 and there were probably more about, but my count was hampered by the wind, blowing the leaves around. Most were along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings were I had 5, plus a Blackcap.
In the more sheltered and sunny spots I came across 5 Red Admirals.
There were no bees seen at all, but along with the 30+ Common Wasps, there were several Queens recorded.
Birds Recorded:
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Blackcap
10+ Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
1 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
One of many Robins seen and heard along my walk.
Wakeham Railway Cuttings was the place to..........
............see Chiffchaffs today.
Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon
Butterflies Recorded:
5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
A Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
None
Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
30+ Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
In amongst the Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris were these..........
..................two queens, plus at least five others.
Hoverflies Recorded:
None
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies
Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
1 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
1 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
1 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
3 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea
In the centre is a 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata on a bramble. On the left the evidence of a leaf miner Golden Dot Stigmella aurella AKA Golden Pigmy. More on the Golden Dot moth here.
Just the one Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina seen today.
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea
None
Spiders Recorded:
1 Nurseryweb Spider Pisaura mirabilis
A Nurseryweb Spider Pisaura mirabilis sat on the leaf of an Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Trees and Shrubs:
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Scarlet Firethorn Pyracantha coccinea
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster sp.
Dog Rose Rosa canina
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Other Plants:
Brown Knapweed Centaurea jacea
Hawkweed Oxtongue Picris hieracioides
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Ivy Hedera helix
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba
Elephant-ears Bergenia cordifolia
Elephant-ears Bergenia cordifolia. The name is reference to the leaves which can grow to spectacular sizes.
Ships today:
This is the Panamanian Vehicles Carrier "Amethyst Ace" on its way from Ennore (India) to Zeebrugge (Belgium). More on this vessel here.
This is the British Oil Products Tanker "Whitstar" on its way from Southampton to Plymouth. More on this vessel here.
This is the Container Ship "One Responsibility" flying the flag of Hong Kong. It is on its way from Cape Town (Africa) to London Thames. More on this vessel here.
This is the Norwegian Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Sten Moster" on its way from Amsterdam (Holland) to Dublin. More on this vessel here.
This is the General Cargo Ship "Hav Snapper" flying the flag of the Bahamas. It is on its way from Bremen (Germany) to Belfast. More on this vessel here.
This is the British Sailing Vessel "Rona II" on its way from Cowes to Weymouth. More on this vessel here.
This is the British Sailing Vessel "Donald Searle" on its way from Cowes to an unknown destination. More on this vessel here.