Dorset Walks

Friday April 21st
Church Ope Cove and Penn's Weare

list of species seen

Trip Report

The first notable sighting was of an early Holly Blue - the first any of us had seen this year. Next we examined the high-growing Sea Spleenwort and were delighted to find a second plant. Another first for the year came in the shape of a very smart Speckled Wood flying amongst the Buddleia. A movement on the bank caught our eye and we saw a pair of mating Bloody-nosed Beetles.	© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Some tiny plants growing in some short turf by the edge of the path turned out to be Rue-leaved Saxifrage. Once out of the cutting we started to look for the Ravens, and soon saw one of the breeding pair which persisted in circling us to check if we were a danger to its nest and offspring. Not wanting to risk disturbing the young chicks we turned and started the return journey back.

The day's list...

Birds

Fulmar
Cormorant
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Raven
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Greenfinch

Plants

Dog Violet
Maidenhair Fern
Hartstongue Fern
Sea Spleenwort
Sycamore
Buddleia
Rue-leaved Saxifrage

Insects

Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Peacock
Bloody-nosed Beetle

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