24 May 18

Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, St Andrew's Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

A late evening walk and over 30 Swallows over the Sycamores along Bumpers Lane, plus several resting on the temporary fences put up by Betterment's to stop the public straying onto the building site.

Also 3 Bloody-nosed Beetles around Rufus Castle again, well 2 live ones as the the third had been predated and was host to several ants. Hmm.

With it being fairly late a few micro moths were on the wing, mostly around Church Ope Cove on and around the privet hedges. Thank you to Nigel Sluman for helping me ID them and they were a Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) and most likely a Vine Moth (Eupoecilia ambiguella).

A White Crab Spider had just caught a Dagger Fly and was making its way across the path.

Here are a few images:

Several Swallows take advantage of the fencing along Bumpers lane.

A Bloody-nosed Beetle on its travels..........

........and another up high on a plant.

And a third which was completely hollow and full of Small Black Ants

A White Crab Spider, Misumena vatia and its prey, which looks very much like a Dagger Fly.

This privet hedge above Church Ope Cove was full of micro moths.........

..........this looks good for a Vine Moth, Eupoecilia ambiguella.................

............and is a new moth for me on Portland.

There were certainly plenty of them about.

As above.

This is a Plum Tortrix, Hedya pruniana........

.............and another view of it.

And another individual, possibly a Plum Tortrix as well. Which makes me think that the one above might be slightly worn or paler.