In the footsteps of Mary Anning

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) *, The Cobb

Mediterranean Gull *
(Larus melanocephalus)

* Additional photos by R:

Birding Bob's Blog

Accommodation

Lyme 1 Hotel

Food and Drink

Amid Giants and Idols

Lyme Regis Brewery

Strawberry Tree

Lyme's Fish Bar

Independent Bookshop

Lyme Regis Bookshop

Adventures in Orchidaceae pt 9 .. upon a Chalk Hill Fort ..

Hambledon Hill (ascent from the South)

looking West

looking East

heading East

East end of Hill Fort

descending Westerlie

Adonis blue (Polyommatus bellargus)

Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)

Adventures in Orchidaceae pt 1 .. Shelob's Lair ..

A and I enjoyed a "socially distanced" meet with R on the Purbeck coast to explore the breeding birdlife, and to (hopefully) connect with all three resident auk species at Dancing Ledge.

Walking down through the field system between Worth Matravers and the coast, we unexpectedly stumbled across the local population of Early spider orchids (Ophrys sphegodes). Most plants were very much over, or certainly past their best, but across the distinct colonies along the short expanse of the coast, we found several that were still in very good condition.

Early spider was an orchid "lifer" for A and I, and most definately made up for the disappointment of not seeing any individuals from the extant population of Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica).

However, cracking views of guillemot (Uria aalge), razorbill (Alca torda), Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) and an albeit briefest of Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) were also enjoyed. A whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), and singing Lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) also added keen interest.

Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus L.) Portland Bill

Heavily cropped record shot of the rose-coloured starling hanging about Portland Bill at the end of May.

Unfortunately, I was to miss the black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) by a day.

Fossil Hunting - Charmouth, Dorset

A small sample of collected and in situ: Ammonites, Belemnites and Iron pyrites.

Reference

Coram, R. (1989) Finding Fossils in Lyme Bay, A Guide to Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Surrounding Areas Ocean Colour Print, Bournemouth

Silver studs on Gore Heath, Dorset

The briefest of an afternoon's exploration of the southern slopes of Gore Heath in Dorset (off the B3075) enabled me to connect with silver-studded blue (Plebejus argos) for the first time this summer.

Also noted large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), small heath (Coenonympha pamphylis), and meadow brown (Maniola jurtina), a pale moth sp. caught my eye, hopefully identified correctly later as a female four-spotted footman (Lithosia quadra).

Lulworth Cove fossilised forest; and Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)

A cross-referenced BLOG update from the sister site of "part-time Naturalist":

http://awalkamongstthestones.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/fossil-forest-lulworth.html

Scaup (Aythya marila L.), Poole Park, Dorset

Spending a weekend in Poole with friends provided an opportunity to catch up with the scaup reported on the little lakes at Poole Park.

Based on an erroneous assumption on my part, combined as it was with my limited experience of this species - we wasted valuable time searching for an adult bird of either sex, scanning the groups of tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula), on the small water bodies, but failing to find it. A diversionary scan on the main lake produced a welcome sighting of a single male red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), but still no scaup.

As the levels of interest and patience were beginning to wain amongst us, I remained determined to get the bird - working on the principle that it was so well reported that " .. it still must be here! Mustn't it?" .. So I took out Collins, scanned the species entry for the first time that day, and carefully squinted at the small picture, top left "winter flock" .. Nudging my companion .. I commented that all was not lost we should look for 1w birds as well. Almost as the words were out of my mouth the scaup "suddenly appeared" within the raft of tufted we had been viewing. Head up it stood out like only a 1w male scaup could. Before setting its head down and going to roost as soon as my camera came out of the bag.

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus L.), Lodmoor RSPB, Weymouth

short-billed dowitcher

Photographs © Zara Hitchcock

Dorset heathland reptiles

 

Top to bottom: ♂ Vipera berus; ♂ Lacerta agilis # 1; ♂ Lacerta agilis # 1; ♂ Lacerta agilis # 2

Via a Dorset heathland, surveyed under Dorset amphibian and reptile conservation licence.

See: http://www.arc-trust.org/dorset/