Sunday June 19 - the first waders return

 A cool largely cloudy morning with a light northerly greeted us as we tried to find something decent at Morton Bagot.

As far as birds go, all the action was confined to the flash field. The recent dry spell (yesterday's deluge apart) has resulted in an extensive area of mud on the nearest flash. As usual the encroaching vegetation restricted visibility, but five Green Sandpipers suddenly appeared. A classic early departing autumn wader, and a good number for mid June.

Three of the Green Sandpipers

Also present were a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, six Lapwings, and two Black-headed Gulls.

Although it was cool there were sufficient insects to keep us happy. A handful of Marbled Whites were the first of the season, Painted Lady was also my first, and a Comma was only my second. There were also double figures of Ringlets.

Marbled White

Painted Lady

Comma

Dragonflies were affected by the cool weather, and we only saw damselflies. However, we did winkle out a few moths. Dave flushed what was probably my first Snout for the site, while I located a few micros including an Agapeta hamana, although I have seen these here before.

Snout

Agapeta hamana

Inevitably we ended up photographing some mystery insects/arachnids, and despite their apparent distinctiveness I was eventually only able to get a rough identification.

Sawfly - Rhogogaster viridis or chlorosoma

Cucumber Orb Spider Araniella cucurbitana or opisthographa

We don't often get the opportunity to record small mammals, and they generally have to be dead. Such was the fate of a Common Shrew we found lying on the access road.

Common Shrew - deceased

So you could argue it was a pretty quiet visit, but there's usually interesting stuff to see.