From
a couple of nights ago, a sight of the Portland Bill Lighthouse as most
have never seen it before. Why it was illuminated no one seems to know
but it did coincide with a visit by the Prime Minister to the Portland
Olympic Complex. Thanks go to Martin Cade (Warden of the PBO) for kind
permission to publish this amazing shot.
Also
of great coincidence, today has been one of wall to wall sunshine
(along with a gentle breeze) as we hoist the 'sunshine' flag of
KAZAKHSTAN as the latest addition to the readership. Country number 173
we extend the usual warm welcome and hope that the LINK is spread
throughout that land - Thank You!
Another contribution from regular reader Paul Harris of this beautiful SMALL ARGENT and SABLE Moth
My
day, as usual, started in the cemetery where all the singing was coming
from singles of Goldcrest and Coal Tit but was soon blocked out by a
cacophony of noise from the other side of the road. As I approached 2
large Fir Trees c6 CARRION CROWs flew off leaving just c55 others
clinging to the branches. This has to be a record count for the site,
and I feel sure there were more hidden by foliage that went uncounted.
Low tide at Ferry Bridge found several RINGED PLOVER and a similar number of Dunlin keeping company with
and c2 MEDITERRANEAN GULLs
one of which obligingly did a little wing stretching.
c4 SANDERLING and singles of both Oystercatcher and Turnstone were also seen.
Across
Beach Road the grassy west shore of Portland Harbour was pretty much
alive with COMMON BLUE Butterflies, one even managing a balancing act
atop a Snail Shell.
There was also a BUSH CRICKET Sp on a LICHEN covered post
as the BRAZILIAN SAILING TEAM VAN drove past.
At
the Bill the MERLIN HELICOPTER from HMS Bulwark were flying much closer
to the shore making for a fine photo opportunity. I was thinking and
hoping that they were giving crew members a chance of viewing this
extraordinary coastline from above? Apart for a single Wheatear and a
Melodious Warbler that was seen only briefly by a few (not me) there
were little in the way of birds, but that was certainly redressed by
numbers of Moths caught overnight.
of which the 'first' was in my own trap
about 30 years ago when it qualified as only the 16th record for the
United Kingdom. Since then this migrant has become more frequent but
still considered a very good capture by any Mother.
but then things started to get a little more common with this pair of RUBY TIGERs,
a good number of SILVER Y's, which a a very common migrant and
One of my personal favourites is KENT BLACK ARCHES and finally another couple of photographs from the Warden,
Another DEWICK'S PLUSIA from a few days ago
and 2 WORMWOOD SHARKs from around the same period.
COMMON TOADFLAX while stopping for a Cider with the Secret Lemonade Drinker,
there was a STOCK DOVE, Great Spotted Woodpecker (unusual here),
a COMMON DARTER and Southern Hawker Dragonflies.
