5 Aug 17

Church Ope Cove

My usual walk but this time via Bumpers Lane Quarry.

Main highlights on this walk were 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and 2 Blackcaps. Also about were 6 House Martins, 2 Swallows, a single Swift and a Buzzard.

A few butterflies about with 2 Meadow Browns, 1 Ringlet, 2 Large Whites, 2 Commas, 2 Red Admirals, 3 Painted Lady's and Common, Holly and Chalkhill Blues.

I also came across a Jersey Tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) on the buddleia in the grounds of St Andrews Church where there was also a Blood-vein moth (Timandra comae). Also here were at least 8 Hornet-mimic Hoverflies (Volucella zonaria), a single Pellucid Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) and a dark coloured Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)

Other invertebrate recorded  on my walk were Common Carder Bees, White-tailed Bumblebees and another new hoverfly this time a wasp-mimic which I reckon is a Chrysotoxum cautum, though there are other similar looking species.

A couple of Wall Lizards today and what was that rustling around in the grass at St Andrews Church a rodent of some sort!

Here are a few images from today.

The view of The Bill from the back of Bumpers Lane

The track leading down to Rufus Castle

Overhead a Buzzard.

A juvenile Dunnock

One of 6 House Martins over Church Ope Cove

I do get confused with "blue" butterflies, but I believe this is a Chalkhill Blue.......

......and here is the underwing.

This is possibly a female Chalkhill Blue which was being chased by the male.

In the grounds of St Andrews Church a male Common Blue.....

.......with wings open.

And a female Common Blue close by.

A very worn Common Blue.

A lot of butterflies are looking very worn at this time of year.

Another Common Blue

And my first photo of a Holly Blue

There were at least 3 Painted Lady's behind Bumpers Lane. I'm sure there were many more on the island.

Not many Meadow Browns around. This is a very tatty one.

My first Jersey Tiger.....

......and the underside.

A chance photograph of a Blood-vein moth, Timandra comae

Two Common Carder Bees on a teasel.

A wasp-mimic hoverfly........

.......there are quite a few species of Chrysotoxum. I believe this one is Chrysotoxum cautum

This hoverfly appears "different" to both the Common and Tapered Drone Flies. I thought at first it could be Eristalis abusivus, which inhabits coastal areas, but in fact it is a dark coloured Eristalis tenax or Common Drone Fly.

A Pellucid Hoverfly

A Hornet-mimic hoverfly, Volucella zonaria.......

.....this is a female.

A Wall Lizard......

....apparently the main difference between a Wall and a Common Lizard is the length of their toes.