Caspian Tern - West Bexington

When I heard that the Caspian Tern was still at West Bexington this morning I didn't waste any time in grabbing my second chance. I still don't know why I didn't go yesterday with it being a potential lifer an' all. The weather wasn't looking very promising with patchy fog and constant drizzle on the drive over there. When I arrived I could see what I assumed was the bird fishing over The Mere, It was too distant to get a positive id on though as I was still in the car park. By the time I'd walked closer it had gone. I had to wait almost an hour before it reappeared, the weather was deteriorating, my parking ticket was due to run out and I was on my way back to the car when I spotted it flying towards me along the beach. It did a coupe of circuits of The Mere before heading off east along the shore again. Then the rain really set in so I decided to call it a day. The conditions were dreadful for photography but I managed to get a few shots none the less. A superb bird, one I've always really wanted to see. So glad I got a second chance ...and took it, even if it was rather nerve-racking for a while there!

Challenging conditions on West Bexington Beach. 

A couple of birders just visible on the ridge.

Normal Service Will Resume.....

Sometime. I was hoping to say shortly... yes, shortly. Well hopefully...  I'm afraid going out birding etc and especially blogging about it afterwards have had to be put on the back burner of late. It wasn't until today I realized just how long it is since I wrote anything on here. Quite a bit of upheaval on the home front I'm afraid. Shouldn't last forever though.

I did go over Beer Head to Hooken Beach on  Sunday looking for Small Blues but drew a blank. I almost, very nearly, went for the Caspian Tern at West Bexington today... I didn't. I'm regretting it immensely now :-(

On  Beer Head I saw this new information board. Strange mixture of illustrations on it. I did see the Purple Gromwell which was as lovely as ever but try as I might the Monarch, (yes that's right the Monarch!) eluded me!

Just a Few Bugs

During the heady, sunny days of summer i.e. last week! I took a few 'macro' shots of inverts, mostly from the garden  but also from Axe Cliff and Aylesbeare Common, including several Hoverflies to test out my new book. Feel free to correct me on the IDs, I'm probably wrong.

Eristalis intricarius on Seaton Marshes

  Helophilus pendulus 

 ( I did see the hind tibia clearly on another photo)

Eristalis pertinax

 Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa)

Spiderlings of Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)

Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Glow Worm Larvae (Lampyris noctiluca)