In the back garden this afternoon a Peacock Butterfly and a Riband Wave moth, well at least I think it was. Overhead a pair of Ravens "cronking" and 2 Swifts.
Church Ope Cove
Another sunny day and a lovely walk behind the Cottage down to Rufus Castle and up past the remains of St Andrew's Church before heading home.
En route there were at least 12 Chalkhill Blues just behind Bumpers Quarry, with 6 sucking up minerals from a wet patch of Portland Lime.
With the temperature just slightly down on recent highs and with a welcome breeze, there were lots of other butterflies about with Gatekeepers, Red Admirals, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Large Whites, Small Whites, Large Skippers, Small Skippers, Dingy Skippers and a Painted Lady. The latter in pristine condition.
On the buddleia in St Andrew's Church grounds were 3 Hornet-mimic hoverflies (Volucella zonaria) and 2 Pellucid Hoverflies (Volucella pellucens).
Up by Pennsylvania Castle there were Speckled Woods and my first Hornet.
There were also lots of wasps about and a very odd looking ichneumon wasp which turns out is a fly, Sicus ferrugineus.
Not too many birds seen, the main highlights were a Spotted Flycatcher by Pennsylvania Castle and a Kestrel which landed on one of the boulders close to Church Ope Cove.
A Kestrel close to Church Ope Cove.
Chalkhill Blues
Chalkhill Blues
Chalkhill Blues with a male with outstretched wings.
And a few more.
A pristine Painted Lady. Newly hatched here or just flown in!
A Common Wasp. They are everywhere
