3 Sep 18

Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood

A bit of a change in the weather as the morning sun gave way to a cloudy afternoon, which in turn turned to rain by the evening. I got the cloudy bit before the rain, which probably accounted to fact that i didn't find too much on my walk. Having said that a Little Owl calling from Penn's Weare was an unexpected surprise. Here's a sound track from Xeno-canto of what I heard - Little Owl.

It was a good day for the Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) with dozens flying about along the Mermaid Track and also in Penn's Wood. Other hoverflies recorded were Drone Fly (Eristalis abusivus) and Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri).

A few butterflies about with a Meadow Brown, Peacock and male Common Blue found.

A few Bloody-nosed Beetles seen along with a few deceased specimens, and several juvenile Wall Lizards in the grounds of St Andrew's Church again.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

Below the coast path in Penn's Weare a Little Owl was heard calling.

A male Common Blue showing its upper wings...........

..............and from below.

One of a few Bloody-nosed Beetles trundling along the paths and tracks.

A Wall Lizard on the steps leading down to Church Ope Cove from Rufus Castle.

This one is a youngster and was on the wall of the ruins of St Andrew's Church

If I'm not mistaken this is the Drone Fly - Eristalis abusivus. A species I first saw in the grounds of St Andrew's Church in August last year. It must be its favoured habitat.
Also in the Church grounds a Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri.