Gotcha!

I went back to Black Hole Marsh this morning for another attempt at spotting the elusive Wood Sandpiper, I managed to creep up on it on one of the new reedbed scrapes on Stafford Marsh, I had to keep my distance though.  I was just wondering where would be a good vantage point for a better view when Ian M arrived at Stafford Marsh from the Colyford Common direction, and guess what? Anyway here's the proof.

 STOP!! Rest of post not for those of a sensitive disposition.

I've had to spend the rest of the day at home, after finding that one of my guinea pigs had developed a bit of a nasty eye problem. After and emergency appointment at the vets I've had to administer eye drops once an hour. It's ulcerative keratitis probably caused by a sharp piece of hay damaging the cornea. The vet assures me it's not as bad as it looks, and it looks very bad indeed!! You can have a look if you want.. I'm sure you don't..

Amazingly she doesn't seem the least bit worried by it.

 So I didn't feel too guilty photographing her. 

A Patch Tick.....Or is it?

The first patch tick for a long time for me today, when Ian M spotted a female Red-crested Pochard  flying up the river, it landed out of view but was refound later at Coronation Corner by Steve, this being where I  eventually caught up with it.

Can I tick it though?  Probably not....

Nobody's seen its legs yet!!

I had spent most of the morning getting drenched in the rain at Black Hole Marsh hoping to see the Wood Sandpiper that Steve had found there first thing. I eventually managed to see it in flight a couple of times, it was extremely flighty for a Woodsand, they're usually so 'bombproof'. Plenty of other nice waders on BHM to look at though. I also spent a couple of hours down there last night and took a few photos.

The 'very popular' new bank along the edge of Back Hole Marsh.

 All for the greater good though, I'm sure :-)

Ringed Plovers 

Dunlin

A new plant for me at Coyford Common was this Orange Balsam.

And a couple of moths, the moth trap's only been in action once in the last week and there was only one new moth, this awe inspiring...

Lime Speck Pug.

I thought this next moth was new because I'd temporarily forgotten the one caught last year which was faded, battered and a bit dead, as can be seen here.

How a Pebble Hooktip should look

They Do Exist!

I was beginning to think that the female Four-spotted Footman was in fact just a mythical creature. We've caught plenty of males, lots in fact, but not a single female, well not until Friday night when we caught two of them. Then last night we caught another, so they're like buses, only smaller!