4 Apr 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle, The Cuttings Quarry. Silklake Quarry and Bumpers Lane.

After the early morning rain had cleared, it turned out to be another very sunny day. The only downer was that cold north-easterly which is still with us.

Highlights today were 2 Swallows, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaff and my first 2 Willow Warblers for this Spring.


Birds Recorded:
2 Kestrel
Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
2 Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
2 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
2 Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

A Kestrel hunting over Penns Weare.

A Stock Dove in Silklake Quarry

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Reptiles Recorded:
1 Wall Lizard
1 Slow-worm

A Wall Lizard

My first Slow-worm of the year under one of the corrugated metal sheet along my walk.

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Peacock
3 Comma
5 white sp.

A Comma

Bees Recorded:

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

An Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

A male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)

Hoverflies Recorded:
The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)

Common Copperback Hoverfly (Ferdinandea cuprea)

Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Syrphus sp.

The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)

Common Copperback Hoverfly (Ferdinandea cuprea)

A Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

A Syrphus sp.

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

Face Fly (Musca autumnalis)

A fly sp.

A new species for my Portland List, Face Flies (Musca autumnalis) on an Alexanders in Penns Wood. This species breeds in cattle dung with the nearest cattle field a good mile away. More on this fly here.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
1 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)

My first Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) of the year. I also found a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina), which "flew" off before I could photograph it.

Woodlice Crustaceans Recorded:
Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)

And another new beastie for my Portland List. This time a Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)

Plants in flower:
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Common Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)

Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum) in Penns Wood. It is a cross or hybrid of Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Rough Comfrey (Symphytum asperum)

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Also known as Sloe

And this plant in..............

............flower is Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum). Also known as Red Robin, Death come quickly, Storksbill, Fox Geranium, Stinking Bob, Squinter-pip, Crow's Foot, or Roberts Geranium

Ted:

Ted being very energetic.

And here waiting for a treat and a drink of water.

Ships Today:

This is the British Fishing Boat - WH296 "Portland Isle" on its way back to Weymouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here and Here.

This is the British General Cargo Ship "Scot Bay" on its way from Amsterdam to Teignmouth. More on this vessel Here.

Aircraft Today:

This is a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on its way from Bogota to London. More on this flight here.

3 Apr 25

Barleycrates Lane, West Cliff and Reap Lane Barn

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)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies
1 Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

A Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) and a Small Black Ant (Lasius niger) on this flowering Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

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)

Ted:

Its amazing what a treat can do.

2 Apr 25

Wakeham

I've been putting off for weeks now, but today the new lawn had a trim. But as per normal, after a good mow, I found plenty of other things to do in the garden.

I'm glad I chose today to stay at home as not only did two Chiffchaffs pass through, but a male Blackcap was singing (sub-song) from a couple of gardens down. Sadly it didn't stay long and headed up the island.

The wildflower garden is coming along well, and the whole area is covered in plants. I've just got to remember what seeds I threw over it.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch


Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Bees Recorded:
3 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
1 bee sp.

bee sp.

Hoverflies Recorded:
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Cheilosia sp.

A Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

A Cheilosia sp.

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


Plants:

Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)

The Wildflower Garden

The Wildflower Garden

The Wildflower Garden

Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Also in the Wildflower Garden are the following:

Borage (Borage officinalis)
Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)
Ox-Eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)
Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus)

Ted:

What do you reckon Ted!!

1 Apr 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Silklake Quarry, Bumpers Lane, Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east), Wakeham Railway Cuttings and Wakeham.

It was a quick walk around my local patch with Ted, before I headed off to see the Audiologist in Weymouth. There wasn't much about in that biting cold easterly and the best I could find were 5 Meadow Pipits and a single Chiffchaff.

Other than that the more notable sightings were 3 Peacock Butterflies and several bee and hoverfly species.

Birds Recorded:
1 Cormorant
1 Sparrowhawk
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
5 Meadow Pipit
1 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Cormorant taking a short cut across the island. Its not often you see them flying over the island. This one was heading east.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Butterflies Recorded:
3 Peacock

A Peacock soaking up the morning sun.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Furrow-bee sp.
Nomad Bee sp.
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipe)

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Two nomad bees sp. on this Common Dandelion flower (Taraxacum officinale)

A possible Furrow-bee sp.

And this is............

............a Yellow-legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipe).

Here is a short video of it on an Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Hairy-eyed Flower Fly (Syrphus torvus)
Cheilosia sp.

A Hairy-eyed Flower Fly (Syrphus torvus)

Top left a possible Cheilosia sp. along with two bees sp.

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

Flowering Plants:
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Also known as Sloe
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)
Weeping Willow (Salix alba x babylonica = Salix x sepulcralis agg.)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)

The first flowers appearing on these Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) along the Wakeham Railway Cutting

General Shots:

Lots of white horses with that brisk easterly wind 

Ted:

Ted disappearing into the distance

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RSPB Radipole Lake

After having my ears seen to I spent a good hour walking around Radipole Lake. And I can tell you it was good to hear properly again. A useful tip, don't wait over 10 years to have them seen to!

Highlights here were 2 Marsh Harriers north of the North Hide Screen, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 5 singing Chiffchaff. Still no Blackcaps or Willow Warblers.

Other highlights were 10+ Peacock butterflies seen along my walk. No other species were seen.

Birds Recorded:
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Grey Heron
6 Mute Swan
Canada Goose
1 Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Tufted Duck
2 Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
50+ Herring Gull
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
4 Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
5 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
5 Reed Bunting

A Great Crested Grebe..................

........fishing in the River Wey on the reserve.

And very successfully to. Here it has caught what looks like a Shanny (Lipophrys pholis). The water here is brackish and both Common Carp, Mullet and it seems Shanny's live here. Something was bothering me about this fish and on further investigation it turns out it is a Bullhead (Cottus gobio).

I'm glad I'm on the right side of the platform from this cob Mute Swan. He didn't seem that happy that I stopped to take his photo.

When you've been sat around for a long time...............

................its good to have a stretch. A drake Mallard, with his mate close by on a nest.

Here another pair of Mallard are in flight.

A drake Tufted Duck doing the backstroke.

A male Marsh Harrier over the north end of the reserve.

Just the one Lesser Black-backed Gull in amongst the many Herring Gulls

A male Reed Bunting

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

Butterflies Recorded:
10+ Peacock

So many Peacock butterflies about today. This one landed by my feet.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum)

A Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

And another "hovering"

Possibly a Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum)

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


Plants:
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Also known as Sloe
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

Cuckooflowers (Cardamine pratensis)

General Shots:

Whoops, it looks like someone left the door open at the back of the man-made Sand Martins nest site.