Posing common toad

        This common toad was very much the "king of the hill", posing beautifully on top of a mole hill.

  

Barn owl demise

Barn Owl remains

   After a long spell of heavy winds, then torrentail rain over a near 24 hr period, this barn owl was probably pretty weak and hungry, however this is the second predated barn owl I've come accross this winter. The remains suggested a fresh raptor kill, from earlier in the morning. The predator in question had clearly left the scene, having had very little to eat! The bird was ringed details with BTO. 

A Barn Owl on Holme Marsh

Barn Owl, Holme Marsh, 3rd February 2019

A cold sunny day on the saltmarshes

Redshank, Lavender Marsh, 2nd February 2019

Teal, Lavender Marsh, 2nd February 2019

Off Patch - WWT Welney (part 2)

  A great day out in the field with Mr Brown and Mr Lane. A few extra photos from the day.

Agonum marginatum - a common but lovely ground beetle none the less.

Great catching up with this species Hydrophassa marginella, Andy and Steve found this at the Relief Channel last year on buttercups, so a nice find in mid-winter.

Another slumbering leaf beetle Chrysolina polita.

The signs of the flea beetle Longitarsus fowleri on teasel rosettes. Despite Steve's best efforts there were no signs of any adults under the leaves. Found in car park and east side of Observatory, facing sunny aspects.

Although another picture of Stenus guttala, we agreed that this was the species of the day, two were found in a cock's-foot tussock on the east bank of the New Bedford River.

Off Patch: Welney WWT

Water Ladybird Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata, Welney WWT, 14th January 2019

Agromyzid fly Chromatomyia ramosa (mine in Teasel leaf), Welney WWT, 14th Jaunary 2019

Ground Bug Scolopostethus affinis, Welney WWT, 14th January 2019

Weevil Apion frumentarium, Welney, 14th January 2019

Rove Beetle Stenus guttula, Welney WWT, 14th January 201

Three beasties from under Hunstanton cliffs

The ground bug Taphropeltus contractus, Hunstanton Cliffs, 31st December 2018

Rosy Woodlouse Androniscus dentiger, Hunstanton Cliffs, 31st December 2018

Dung Beetle Aphodius sphacalatus, Hunstanton Cliffs, 31st December 2018

A sawfly found earlier this year

Pachyprotasis rapae, female, Holmhurst Track, 24th June 2018

A festive gall

The pink-purple gall in the form of a swollen, rolled-up leaf of Red Valerian - to be seen all around Hunstanton

The nymph of the gall-causer, the Psylloid bug Trioxa centranthi

Birds in the Harbour

Black-tailed Godwit, Thornham Harbour, 13th December 2018

Twite, Thornham Harbour, 13th December 2018

Curlew, Thornham Harbour, 13th December 2018