1 Sep 18

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

Another lovely warm afternoon after a cloudy start this morning. Main highlights today were 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths (one at Church Ope Cove and the other in the grounds of St Andrew's Church) and 12 juvenile Wall Lizards also in the Church grounds.

A few migrant birds about with Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Blackcap in the Buddleia bushes along Bumpers Lane. Also here several Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits.

Here are a few images from this afternoon:

A Willow Warbler feeding in the buddleia alongside a Chaffinch.

And another Chaffinch.

At the back of Church Ope Cove around the beach huts this Hummingbird Hawkmoth was feeding on the Buddleia.

Also here a Bloody-nosed Beetle which I picked up to show a couple and their two daughters, to show them its defence mechanism, which was to exude a red solution onto the palm of my hand. I think they were quite impressed, and I was very grateful for the wet wipes they gave me to clean my hands. Thank you......

One of the dozen or so baby wall Lizards out on the stone ruins of St Andrew's Church.

Here are three one above each other. 

And another further up the wall.

On one of the grave stones a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria).