Port and Wey

29 Oct 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, The Mermaid Track and Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east).

It was another late afternoon walk, and unsurprisingly there were very few insects about, with just 7 Common Wasps seen.

On the bird front a lone Chiffchaff along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) was the only warbler noted.

There were quite a few finches about with a "Charm" of 50+ Goldfinches, 20+ Linnets and ones & twos of Chaffinches overhead.

Mammals Recorded:
1 Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded:
1 Gannet
1 Cormorant
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
20+ Chaffinch
20+ Linnet
50+ Goldfinch

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

The female Kestrel was back hunting again in the meadow.

Just one Chiffchaff seen and heard this afternoon. This individual was quite vocal as it was catching small insects along Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east).

This Linnet was on the otherside of the old railway track from the Chiffchaff. It was calling away, but on playback you can see its beak opening, but all you can hear is the Chiffchaff calling from behind me.

Feel free to count the Goldfinches. I managed 51

And zoomed in on a few of them, before they flew off to their roost.

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

One of just 7 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris seen this afternoon.

Trees and Shrubs:

Ash Fraxinus excelsior

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus

Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum

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

Pink Toadflax Linaria purpurea

This is Pink Toadflax Linaria purpurea. However Linaria purpurea is actually Purple Toadflax and doesn't have any variation in colours. However if it is cultivated through methods like grafting, cuttings, and tissue culture etc, then different colours can be produced. This flower was growing alongside Wakeham Railway Cuttings.

Ted:

A few Teds following me along the old Weymouth to Easton Railway track.

Ships today:

This is the Gibraltan Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Claus" on its way from Milford Haven to Moerdijk (Holland). More on this vessel here.

This is the Portuguese Container Ship "Samskip Endeavour" on its way from Waterford to Rotterdam. More on this vessel here.

This is the British Cargo Ship "Admiral P" on its way from Ramsgate to Torquay. More on this vessel here.

This is the Dutch General Cargo Ship "Tucana" on its way from Sluiskil (Holland) to Waterford. More on this vessel here.

This is the British Utility Vessel "SD Navigator" on its way from Plymouth to Portland. More on this vessel here.

28 Oct 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, The Mermaid Track and Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east).

It was a late afternoon walk around my local patch, with the main highlights being 4 Chiffchaffs. 1 along Old Quarry Lane, 1 at the Wildlife Site and 2 along Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east).

My walk takes me to the edge of the South West Coast Path here, where there are excellent views across Weymouth Bay and east towards the Isle of Wight.

Out to sea this afternoon were at least a dozen or more Gannets close in, along with many Herring Gulls and a few Great Black-backed Gulls.

Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel

A Grey Squirrel raiding a local bird table.

Birds Recorded:
12+ Gannet
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
4 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
2 Siskin
Goldfinch

One of the dozen or so Gannets just off Portland's east coast.

A Magpie, most likely up to no good. Such mischievous birds.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

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

A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris fighting its way out of a spiders web. It succeeded.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis

Just the one Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form spectabilis seen today

Spiders Recorded:
1 Nurseryweb Spider Pisaura mirabilis

And just the one Nurseryweb Spider Pisaura mirabilis seen in the nettle patch as well.

Trees and Shrubs:

Ash Fraxinus excelsior

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
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

Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana growing close to the main meadow.

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

...............Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Ships today:

In fading light I just managed to photograph the British Sailing Vessel "Musketeer" on its way from Portland Harbour to an unknown destination. More on this vessel Here.

27 Oct 25

Wakeham

It was an afternoon spent in the back garden, weeding, cutting back dead plants and shrubs, and having a general tidy up after all the storms we've had.

The only highlights, as Dawn and I were working away, was a Chiffchaff calling from a few gardens down, dozens of Chaffinches on the move overhead and a bird of prey which could quite easily have been a Goshawk heading south over Wakeham. I say easily, as at first I thought it was a Sparrowhawk and then realised that on size, it was a far bigger bird. We shall never know!!

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
1 Chiffchaff
1 Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
12+ Chaffinch
Goldfinch

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon
Goshawk - possibly

Butterflies Recorded:
None

Moths Recorded:
1 moth sp.

A micro moth flew out from the rose garden, but I lost sight of it as it headed towards the back of the house.

Bees Recorded:
None

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
None

Hoverflies Recorded:
None

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
None

Trees and Shrubs:

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus

Buddleia Buddleja davidii

Scarlet Firethorn Pyracantha coccinea

Bramble Rubus fruticosusa

Common Fig Ficus carica

English Oak Quercus robur

Buckthorn Rhamnus sp.

Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus

Buckthorn Rhamnus sp. with those very long thorns which can reach to 1.5in in length.

The autumn leaves on this Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus

Other Plants:

Common Marigold Calendula officinalis

Ivy Hedera helix

Lavender Lavandula sp.

Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus

Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

Common Marigold Calendula officinalis

Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum

Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaicais

A bit of a surprise was seeing these Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare flowers in wildflower patch.

And an even bigger surprise was this flowering Common Marigold Calendula officinalis also in the wildflower patch. A plant which I know I didn't add when I seeded the patch last Autumn.

And these plants are Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum in the wildflower patch. These seeds were added last Autumn, but it seems they don't mature until the second Spring.

26 Oct 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadows, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) and The Mermaid Track

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

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

Bees Recorded:
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

3 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea

Just the one Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina seen today.

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.

Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea

Crickets and Grasshoppers Recorded:
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

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.

25 Oct 25

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Wildlife Site, Wakeham Railway Cuttings and Wakeham Meadows

Weather-wise the only difference from yesterday was that the showers were replaced by "rainless" clouds, which was a blessing. However that wind is still pretty relentless, but in sheltered sunny spots, it was actually very warm.

The Autumn sunshine was certainly appreciated by many Red Admirals, bees, hoverflies, flies, and bugs & beetles.

There was a slightly better return on Chiffchaffs today with 3 noted.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
3 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

Two male House Sparrows and a female below, sat in the brambles in the main meadow

And above the House Sparrows was this Goldfinch

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

Butterflies Recorded:
7+ Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

A tatty looking Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Bees Recorded:
1 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
1 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

3 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Honey Bee Apis mellifera

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
50+ Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris head on.

Hoverflies Recorded:

1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
8 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
1 Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
1 The Footballer Helophilus pendulus
1 Common Banded Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii

On this Hawkweed Oxtongue Picris hieracioides is a Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax

The Footballer Helophilus pendulus

A Dead Head Hoverfly Myathropa florea

Common Banded Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies

# 1 - fly sp.

Root-maggot fly Anthomyiidae family

House Fly Muscidae family

Blue Blowfly Calliphora vicina

I only just managed to photograph this #1 - fly. It had alluded me twice as I tried to photograph it. Each time I pressed the shutter, it flew off. This was my third and best attempt. I'm still non the wiser.

This a Root-maggot fly and one of the Anthomyiidae family

And this House Fly is one of Muscidae family

Blue Blowfly Calliphora vicina

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
8 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
1 Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
2 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata

6 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea
3 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form spectabilis
1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form conspicua