6 Sep 18

Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Sadly the beautiful blue sky of the morning gave way to a cloudy and breezy afternoon. There were a few threatening rain clouds, but fortunately for us on Portland it looked as if any rain was falling on the mainland.

Main highlights were the increased number of warblers heading down Penns Weare with Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs making their way down towards The Bill. In Penns Wood there was a good flock of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits making their way through the tree canopy. Also here a Spotted Flycatcher.

Only 2 butterflies seen on the walk, both of which were Speckled Woods found in the grounds of St Andrew's Church. Also here a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria).

Interestingly the first of the Ivy flowers have opened on a plant in Penn's Weare and has become the focus of dozens of hoverflies, bees and wasps. Hopefully in the next week or so, the Ivy at Rufus Castle will bloom soon and the possibility of some Ivy Bees.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

A Bloody-nosed Beetle in its usual spot along the South-west Coast Path

A Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) on Ivy flowers.

The rear end of a Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea)

The view looking south over Church Ope Cove from Penn's Weare.

This Kestrel was well hidden in the trees overlooking St Andrew's Church. 

A Wall Lizard. This is the first time I have noticed those blue scales along its flanks. Something else I also learnt today was that Wall Lizards are threatening the existence of our native Sand Lizards, a bit like the Grey Squirrels pushing out the Reds. More on this Here.

One of the 2 Speckled Woods in the grounds of St Andrew's Church...........

........where there was also this Hornet Mimic Hoverfly.

After an absence of a week or so, these Harlequin Ladybirds............

.......have popped up again in Penn's wood.

Wakeham

Early this morning a Willow Warbler was feeding on insects in the neighbours overhanging Clematis. Also plenty of activity on the Sunflower Feeders with Great Tit, Blue Tit and Greenfinch all visiting.

At 12:05pm a Tree Pipit passed over the house heading south.

An adult male Greenfinch...........

........and one of its youngsters, judging by the moult.

Ships Today

This the Dutch Cargo vessel Lady Anne Lynn on its way to Fowey from Poole. More on this General Cargo ship here.

5 Sep 18

Wakeham

A relaxing day gardening and also cutting the lawn for only the third time this year. For several weeks there was no grass to cut, but after recent rain, the rejuvenated grass was a good 4 inches.

The pond had a make over as it was was full of blanket weed, and as I pulled it out, there were dozens of Common Darter nymphs trapped in amongst it. Having freed them all, I placed them back into the pond. The ones I missed made their own way back. Just amazing how they knew where the water was! Also lurking in the pond were 2 Frogs.

Also about were dozens of Common Wasps coming down to the pond for a drink, and with them a Honey Bee.

Away from the pond there was a Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock and a juvenile Greenfinch in and around the back garden, whilst overhead there were a few Swallows and House Martins making their way south.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

One of the many Common Darter nymphs.......

.......making their way back to the pond.

Follow my lead.......

........and in we go.

Dozens of Common Wasps......

....were visiting the pond as well.

And another.

Not just the wasps but also a Honey Bee after refreshments.

A juvenile Frog looks on.

Lurking in the the neighbours Buckthorn a shy Robin.

Well maybe not that shy.

4 Sep 18

Fancy Farm

A tweet sent out this morning at 8:00am was that there were 2 Ortolan Buntings at Fancy Farm, so it was a quick wash and out the front door to see if I could catch up with them. When I arrived at 8:20am there were several cars parked up alongside the fence, but no sign of any birders.

So having no idea where to go, I decided to head to the southern end of the Farm and walk along the track here. I'm glad I did, as I met up with Paul Ward who had already seen both birds along the track I was walking Here. In fact as we chatted one of the Ortolans appeared on the path I'd just walked along and the other flew up onto the fence in front of us.

I managed a quick and absolutely awful photo of one of the birds and was feeling very jealous of the wonderful shot Here which Paul had taken just before I got there.

Unfortunately there were a lot of dog walkers about and a fair bit of noise coming from the farm, which sadly pushed the buntings to the south of our position. Despite an extensive search, along with several other birders, the last time I saw them was at 8:35am.

Other birds here for a short time (they all moved south over the next hour or so) were approximately 12 Wheatears, 4 Whinchats, 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 9+ Meadow Pipits.

Here are a couple images from this morning including probably the worse photo I have ever taken of a bird.

Honest this is one of the Ortolan Buntings. Here's a better shot which Paul took - Photo. 

One of the 4 Whinchat heading south.

3 Sep 18

Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

A bit of a change in the weather as the morning sun gave way to a cloudy afternoon, which in turn turned to rain by the evening. I got the cloudy bit before the rain, which probably accounted to fact that i didn't find too much on my walk. Having said that a Little Owl calling from Penn's Weare was an unexpected surprise. Here's a sound track from Xeno-canto of what I heard - Little Owl.

It was a good day for the Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) with dozens flying about along the Mermaid Track and also in Penn's Wood. Other hoverflies recorded were Drone Fly (Eristalis abusivus) and Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri).

A few butterflies about with a Meadow Brown, Peacock and male Common Blue found.

A few Bloody-nosed Beetles seen along with a few deceased specimens, and several juvenile Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church again.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

Below the coast path in Penn's Weare a Little Owl was heard calling.

A male Common Blue showing its upper wings...........

..............and from below.

One of a few Bloody-nosed Beetles trundling along the paths and tracks.

A Wall Lizard on the steps leading down to Church Ope Cove from Rufus Castle.

This one is a youngster and was on the wall of the ruins of St Andrew's Church

If I'm not mistaken this is the Drone Fly - Eristalis abusivus. A species I first saw in the grounds of St Andrew's Church in August last year. It must be its favoured habitat.

Also in the Church grounds a Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri.

2 Sep 18

Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve and Bumpers Lane

A quick walk this afternoon just to see if there was anything about. Sadly not, apart from a Common Buzzard and 2 Kestrels, with the latter not to happy to be in the same location as each other.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

A Common Buzzard over the butterfly reserve.

Also here two Kestrels..........

.......and a bit of scene as the one above didn't seem to happy about the Kestrel below on the branch. 

Wakeham

A bit of gardening and nice to see a Painted Lady in the back garden, just a shame it was only passing through. Also about a male Common Darter, 3 Common Wasps and 6 Common Carder Bumblebees. Overhead were 2 Yellow Wagtails calling as they headed south.

Here are few images:

A male Common Darter by the pond and then.......

.......on the fence by the vegetable patch.

I think this is only the third male Common Darter I have come across on Portland, all the others being females.

A Common Wasp comes down to the pond for a drink.

A Common Carder Bumblebee on the Lavender.......

........and also in a Nasturtium.

And Finally

The new housing estate on Bumpers Lane.

A very busy place at the moment..........

............and unfortunately........

..........a very messy one at that.

Such a shame that what use to be a nice walk along Bumpers lane has now turned into a bit of a tip. I did wonder how long it would take before the workman started to forget about the environment they were working in!!!!

1 Sep 18

Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Another lovely warm afternoon after a cloudy start this morning. Main highlights today were 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths (one at Church Ope Cove and the other in the grounds of St Andrew's Church) and 12 juvenile Wall Lizards also in the Church grounds.

A few migrant birds about with Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Blackcap in the Buddleia bushes along Bumpers Lane. Also here several Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

A Willow Warbler feeding in the buddleia alongside a Chaffinch.

And another Chaffinch.

At the back of Church Ope Cove around the beach huts this Hummingbird Hawkmoth was feeding on the Buddleia.

Also here a Bloody-nosed Beetle which I picked up to show a couple and their two daughters, to show them its defence mechanism, which was to exude a red solution onto the palm of my hand. I think they were quite impressed, and I was very grateful for the wet wipes they gave me to clean my hands. Thank you......

One of the dozen or so baby wall Lizards out on the stone ruins of St Andrew's Church.

Here are three one above each other. 

And another further up the wall.

On one of the grave stones a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria).