Flower Power

Marsh Helleborine, Epipactis palustris. Restharrow (predictive text changed it to testosterone).   :-)? Ononis repens. Bee Orchid, Ophrys apifera.

In addition birding was excellent with Marsh Harriers, LEO, Barn Owl, Little Egret and numerous family parties of our local breeders (no not the ones from Hadston).

Saturday Saunter

Young Marsh Harriers starting to show. Common Blue Polyommatus icarus, Self-heal Prunella vulgaris, Eyebright sp? Eurasia, Yellow Wort Blackstonia perfoliata,

Variety the Spice of Life

Another posting from the phone so no control over labels. Will edit at work?

Red-legged Partridge 'singing' from woodpile.
Eyeball to Eyeball with Tawny Owl and biting Horse flies the high/low lights the morning.

Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis. Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica. Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata. Mesembrina meridiana Noon Fly. Harvestman.

 

I think the gnat-like fly is Empis livida.

Busy Busy

3 Otters started the morning well, followed by Bearded tit and Great Crested Grebes. One pair had the fiercest and longest scrap I've ever seen. At one point I thought one was dead. Thankfully they all survived.

Must get some more field guides ...

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)

Ringlet

Big Caterpillar

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

I think the photo below show the orchid's pollinia attached to the forehead.

Latticed Heath Moth

??

Closest I got to ID was perhaps Agriphia sp?

Thee were hanging on webs across the open shutters. Interesting light?

Finally a bird!

Birding Brightens Bay

An early start and a male Marsh Harrier was quickly followed by a Long-eared Owl carrying a chunky field vole, its orange eyes giving me the stare as it flew past (the owl not the vole).

Then a Bearded Tit pinked and gave a brief but close fly by.

Later three birds overhead almost didn't get the second look they deserved as one was a Black-headed gull. As most birders know, when you see something not quite right you look again. In my brain the tern like bird deserved a second glance. Long-tailed Skua ... whoop-dee-doo! The third bird was an Arctic Skua. The two skuas continued inland, perhaps on their way to the West coast?

Mosquito sp?

Anyone know a good ID website?

A Cuckoo ended a very satisfying morning (9:00am). So with the birding slowing I changed tack and looked at the insects.

Greenbotte (Luclia sp?)

Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens)

Large (oops) Skipper

Ochlodes venatus

Patch Perfect

Words not necessary :-)