Devil's Coach Horse

This insect ticked a couple of 'first' boxes for me. I saw it at Baston and Langtoft 'wader pit' (the place is phenomenal for wildlife!), near Baston south Lincolnshire on 29.6.19, the first really hot day we've had this year. It was on the top a tall grass stem, with the wings extended (the first thing I had never seen). I presume it had only recently 'hatched' as an adult and the wings were yet to be folded behind the small, earwig-like elytra. After a while, it flew off, strongly, and directly, a remarkable sight and the second new experience for me (I had only ever seen these large rove beetles on the ground before).

Double Sandwich Terns at BLGP, S Lincs

Bird number 181 for my PBC year list and the first I have seen in the 'Deepings area', and the first multiple record I have had of the sepecies locally since 2003! These were particularly pleasing after missing an early morning Sarnie (foudn by Hugh Wright) in the spring at exactly the same site, by minutes. The 'wader pit' continues its amazing record of drawing in good birds throughout the year. While I was watching the terns, a first-winter Mediterranean Gull popped in for a bathe. And the next evening, a flock of 23 Black-tailed Godwits were present, as well as an adult Med Gull.

Black-tailed Godwits, Baston & Langtoft 'wader pit'

Part of a flock of 23 yesterday afternoon. I guess this is a party of 'failed breeders' heading south. Initially, the flock was on the west shore of the 'wader pit', but after doing a few circuits, they appeared to go down two pits to the west (where the islands have some reasonable edges).

Long-eared Owl begging calls (plus bonus baby Tawny Owls)

Many thanks to AG and Jammy Jim for the tip off about these wonderful birds. Thanks also to Tom B for the lift. The LeOs were fully winged and flying strongly. Also the tawny Owl chicks (not seen) were well separated (by 50m or so) so were also presumably at the flying stage.

Water Rail, Cambs, 23.6.19

Spotted Crake, Cambs, 21.6.19

These recordings were made by Hugh Wright (mine came out too quiet!). It sounded like two Spotted Crakes having a bit of a heated discussion, with Water Rail, Snipe, Redshanks and Black-headed Gulls and Corn Crake in the background.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser, Castor Hanglands NNR

Fragrant Orchids at Barnack Hills and Holes

Sanderling, BLGP 'wader pit, 9.6.19

Watched from the daisies

Chinese Water Deers, Great Fen, Cambs

Sky Larks, Great Fen, Cambs

On a baby elephant

In song

Four-spotted Chaser, BLGP

Male Scarce Chaser, Morton's Leam, Eldernell

Water Vole, Great Fen, Cambs

Baby conkers

Man Orchids

Lackey moth caterpillar, Bedford Purlieus

Four-spotted Chasers, near Baston, south Lincs

Turtle Dove, Maxey Cut, Cambs

Muntjac in our garden

Fly Orchids

Sanderling, Baston and Langtoft (wader pit), Lincs

The 'wader pit' at BLGP was a little bit on fire yesterday. In the morning, Josh Jones pulled off his usual trick of finding us something good on returns to his former patch. This time it was a Sanderling, hanging out with hadnfuls of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin (one of which was displaying and singing!). Meanwhile, the same pit had a Grey Plover (for its third or fourth day), plus an outrageous four Avocets (very scarce birds in this neck of the woods). In the evening, Sandy was still there on the small islands with his friends, now 6 Ringed Plovers and 6 Dunlin.
At one stage a gang of waders departed high (Sanderling, 5 Dunlins and 2 Ringed Plovers). After about five minutes, the Ringed Plovers came back. And even stranger, after 12 minutes so did the calidrids. And another 15 later, a mob of 6 new Dunlin came down and joined the gang: big, beefy, dark birds, with more extensive black bellies than the ones already present. So, I left the situation with Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plovers, 1 Little Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover.

Immature male Broad-bodied Chaser, Castor Hanglands