As I covered a wedding, at 22:00 hours I stepped outside the castle with a Bat detector. This picked up the strongest signal at 45 hertz. This suggested Pipistrelle Bats. More were “heard” through the device than those seen. Increasing speed “zzziiiippppp”s indicated a Bat honing in on, then catching an insect in flight. Around midnight, returning to the office, a glow was spotted at the foot of the solid block Limestone seat. This of course was a female Glow-worm! In the chalet a Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle scuttled across the lino, and refused to be picked up. This morning was cool and cloudy.
This morning Ryan & Duke open last night’s moth traps to reveal Black Neck, Scorched Wing, V Pug, Elephant Hawk Moths, Lakey, Dark Arches and only the wings of an Eyed Hawk Moth.
My morning highlight was at Tilly Whim ledge. Bird calls revealed an interaction at the cliff top. Spread tailed feathers indicated on Kestrel that fled. Searching the cliff top I found another Kestrel with a small but obvious dark patch beside it. It held a Small Mammal in its left talon, which it began to tear apart with its sharp beak. Offshore noisy splash was heard, this was due to a Cormorant preening on the waters surface. A pair of Herring Gulls were amongst the cave resting Guillemots. I hoped the Gulls were not trying to snatch fledglings. Plenty more of the seabirds were upon the water. A Fulmar was active, however, in the not-too-distant future most of our seabirds will leave the cliffs….
Two Meadow Browns and one Bumblebee were upon the wing despite the cloud. Nursery tents strung between Gorse needles, had at white core consisting of Hunting Spider eggs.
At least three Swifts were heard before being seen fly high heading east. Flying low over the ground and between scrub into the upper gully, I believed it was a Sparrowhawk. A Yellowhammer was heard. Near the walling centre a silent pair of Bullfinches were a lucky find.
Whilst Pyramidal Orchid flowers were still to be enjoyed, Kidney Vetch had converted to mostly seed fluff. The violet flowers of Self Heal and the 20-centimetre tall Yellowwort were enjoyed.