The Lyons Share

I always feel slightly dirty after a twitch and I feel doubly so today after twitching two birds, both of which were new to me. It is quite fitting that the photos should be equally dreadful and soiled. Oli and I went to Kent, first stop the White-rumped Sandpiper at Oare Marshes which was pretty easy and as we left the bird was still present. I saw a Bearded Tit there too. We zoomed off to Grove Ferry where the Wilson's Phalarope had not been seen for over an hour but after an hour of standing around ,it appeared for about 15 minutes. It was very active and was showing its unusual feeding movements which was pretty cool. It quickly buggered off out of view and that was that. See if you can spot it in this awful photograph. I can't remember the last time I had two lifers in the same day in the UK, must be seven years ago or more.

Finally, yesterday's mystery beetle larvae has been solved by Mark Telfer. The larvae is Drilus flavescens (a Na snail killer). I have seen the males earlier this year and they are quite small, the wingless females are much bigger though and I am sure this must have been a female due to how big it was.