Portland: Day 9.

A cloudy start then clearing, 18°, light SW.

A cloudy and damp start to the day looked very promising but it soon fizzled out to be followed by glorious sunshine for the rest of the day which made for hard work in finding birds.

However, an improvement on the last few days.

The long staying Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 60+ Meadow Pipit, 6 Tree Pipit, 2 Skylark, c35 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Whinchat, 5 Stonechat, a Sedge Warbler, a Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, c25 Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher.

A brief look at the sea when someone called: 3 Common Scoter but no prolonged sea watch.

Approx. 17:00 we noticed hundreds of Gull feeding high in the air just off the east cliffs. Flying Ants were the prey and swarming in 1000’s. Most of the Gulls noted were Mediterranean Gull (150+).

Dragonflies: Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: Large and Small White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

A couple of interesting Moths: Gold Spot and Beautiful Gothic.

Plus, a Sexton Beetle and a Black Slip Wasp.

All captive insects safely released.

some photos courtesy Loren.

Pied Flycatcher

Chiffchaff

Raven

Starlings on the lighthouse

Little Owl

Beautiful Gothic

Black Slip Wasp

Birds & the rest

Mainly cloudy with some sunny spells, 15°, light NW.

A walk out to Lollingdon hill today proved somewhat fruitless. Nothing much to shout about on the hill, the usual Corn Bunting and Common Whitethroat present but little else.

A hovering Buzzard was a distraction but albeit too briefly before disappearing over the top.

Nothing out of the ordinary on the way back, just the regulars.

However on walking back thru the Brook meadow to Church road when I saw one of the local Red Kite being vigorously pursued by 5 Rook. As they passed over I noticed the Kite had a young Rook gripped in its talons. Presumably it had just taken one from a nest in the Rookery. Last saw them flying off towards West End!

Alan on his usual patch along the river today: Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff to name a few.

Mammals: Stoat & Muntjac Deer.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly & Large Red Damselfly.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Brown Argus (yesterday per TR), Marsh Fritillary, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma & Small Heath.

Other Insects: Black Slip Wasp & Nettle Weevil.

Black Slip Wasp courtesy Alan (A parasite of Large White Butterfly)

Yellowhammer

Mistle Thrush (youngster)

Chiffchaff courtesy Alan

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy Alan

Nettle Weevil courtesy Alan