27 Jul 18

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

A lot cooler today under a welcome cloud cover. The sun did try to come out and when it did briefly you could really feel the heat. Hopefully the rain, forecast over the next few days will give us all some welcome rest bite. With the ground so hard though, there's going to be some real run off before it soaks in. Sand Bags are ready!

Main highlights today were in the grounds of St Andrew's Church where I came across my first Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) of the year. This is a month later than my first one here on 26 Jun 17. Also here was a very busy Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the buddleia and 2 Painted Lady's.

Going back to the start of my walk there were dozens of Chalk Hill Blues on the wing again, mainly along the Mermaid Track, where I also saw a Painted Lady briefly as it flew north.

Also in good numbers again were Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, which only goes to show that cooler and "duller" conditions are very much appreciated by these butterflies. Also about were 5 Speckled Woods and as usual lots of Large Whites.

Apart from the Hummingbird Hawkmoth, other moths about were Six-spot Burnets and a couple of Silver Y's.

Other invertebrates recorded were 2 Rose Chafers (Cetonia aurata), Common Green Grasshoppers (Omocestus viridulus) and a reddish coloured Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera).

A few Chiffchaffs calling around Bumpers Lane and as I was walking down the steps from Rufus Castle a Kestrel dive-bombed a Sparrowhawk which took refuge in the woods behind the huts at the back of Church Ope Cove.

Here are a few images from today:

My second Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the Summer.

A very busy moth.......

........which didn't stay long in one place.

Here it's feeding on a Buddleia

A very short video and sadly not that clear a view. Maybe next time.

A Chalk Hill Blue

And another.

I'm guessing this another Chalk Hill Blue, this one on Penn's Weare as I made my way down the steps from Rufus Castle.

Quite a few Speckled woods out today in the much cooler conditions.

One of many Gatekeepers back out today.

A Five-spot Burnet Moth or...........

.....maybe not. As it flew from the thistle to the Teasel I had a much better view of it. And yep there's definitely a sixth spot. So a Six-spot Burnet Moth.

Another Sixer and a pristine one at that.

And another. Most likely a freshly hatched one.

My first Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) of the year. As in my comments above, a month late this year.

One of many Marmalade Hoverflies on the wing.

I'm sure this a Small Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum). It just looks paler than ones I have seen before.

Common Green Grasshopper

A Rose Chafer in a Hemp Agrimony 

And another on Ragwort. Both in the grounds of St Andrew's Church

A few Wall Lizards making the most of the cooler conditions.

And another

Love seeing these close-up.

A Harlequin Ladybird.

And finally Cuckoo Pint or Lords and Ladies (Arun Maculatum) just coming into fruit. Green berries at first and then turning to red.Very poisonous so best not touched. More on this plant Here

Butterflies recorded today were: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, 5 Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, 6 Gatekeeper, 3 Painted Lady and Chalk Hill Blue

Ships Today

This is the Liberian Oil/Chemical Tanker the Elka Bene on its way from Tema, Ghana to Fawley in the Solent via Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.