A glorious day

The Safari and Frank were at the nature reserve before 05.00 and what a beautiful time it was. A thick summer mist was settled in the lowest dips and the sun was inching its way over the north eastern horizon.

For once the only sounds were from the birds and what a noise they were making..a cacophonous symphony of harmonious dischord. we sat for a while on our friend's memorial bench and drank in the serenity and atmosphere of our surroundings as the slowly rising sun burnt the mist from the water...what a way to start the day!

All too soon it was time to join CB and start the days proceedings, which included the first juvenile Sedge Warbler of the season and what a handsome little chap or chapess (s)he is.

Often overlooked as a  dull LBJ we find Dunnocks excuisitely marked.

And male Chaffinches, surprisingly the first one caught this season, aren't too shabby either!

He was a bit nowty but not quite as nowty as our next 'guest'.

We got to have a feel of those stiff tail feathers, when you hear presenters on the telly mention them you sort of realise what they mean but we were quite surprised by how stiff they really are! And those tree trunk gripping feet are just plain weird...claws are sharp too as CB's fingers will testify.

Fortunately we survived the encounter without injury, except to our ear drums.
In between net rounds we scanned around for what wildlife we could find. A Curlew flew high over northwards and a male Sparrowhawk appeared, chased this week by a Swallow rather than an Oystercatcher.
The small stuff kept us occupied. This Brown Lipped Banded Snail had climbed high up the cabin door to sleep the day out until we rudely awakened him.

Nearby was a long legged spider of unknown species

We had to leave at about 8 and got back to Base Camp shortly after and opened the moth trap. A bit disappointing again after the warm still night.
Three Heart & Darts and a Large Yellow Underwing were 'normal' fare but a Lychnis was new for Base  Camp.

It was a little more straw coloured than the camera has picked up - a right bonny little thing

A dark form of Dark Arches and  bright yellow Brimstone completed the big stuff. Micro's were more numerous than macro's with two Barred Fruit Tree Tortrixes  and a Eudonia mercurella being new for the year.

Overhead one or more Oystercatchers were heard but not seen.
We went to the beach with Frank affter a trip to the shops and found a couple of shells we don't see very often on our regular beach, Wentle Trap and (we think) Dog Whelk.
Not a lot in the garden in the afternoon but another Blue Tailed Damselfly was a welcome find.

Where to next? Avoiding the crowds tomorrow with a safari to places as yet unknown but certainly to the north.
In the meantime let us know who was up early in your outback.