27 May 18

Rufus Castle and Church Ope Cove

I spent an afternoon with 2 of my daughters and granddaughters on Church Ope Cove. It was boiling, but every now and then a bank of "sea cloud" passed over just to take the heat off.

Lots of bugs and things in amongst the rocks and a few on the plants at the back of the beach by the huts. We had Kelp Flies (Coelopa vanduzeei), Red Mites (Neomolgus littoralis), Sandhopper (Talitrus saltator), Swollen-thighed Beetles (Oedemera nobilis), a very small Bumblebee and an even smaller black bug about 3mm long.

Below are a few images from this afternoon and click Here for a selection my 5 year old granddaughter Holly took on the beach and in my back garden. She certainly has an eye for a photo.

Holly practices her skimming skills with mum watching on......

........whilst Lottie is collecting coloured stones with her Auntie.

Some of the stones also had some colourful seaweed attached.

Beautiful colours.

The empty shell casing of a Spider Crab.

This is small, very small and one to ID.

Also on the rocks and pebbles hundreds of Red Mites (Neomolgus littoralis).

On the remains of a Spider Crab, dozens of Kelp Flies, Coelopa vanduzeei are having a feast.

A Sandhopper, Talitrus saltator

This very tiny Bumblebee was by Rufus Castle

Another view.

A few Wall Lizards out today.

A male Swollen-thighed Beetle, Oedemera nobilis.............

..........and another.

Always a delight to see a Wall Brown.

Out and about

A quick trip into Chickerell this morning and en route a Coal Tit in the grounds of All Saints C of E Church, Wyke Regis Here. On the way back at Ferrybridge there were 8 Bar-tailed Godwits on the shore-line.

Bar-tailed Godwits at Ferrybridge this morning.

Bar-tailed Godwits