Fangtastic

(CLICK ON A PIC AND IT WILL GO BIG)

I looked out the window and saw sun.  So I donned on a t shirt and a flimsy gillet (just in case it was a bit cold) and headed over to Ham Wall.  On the way I noted a very cheap Citreon C2 (opposite Sense hair salon if you are interested).  Only £995, bargain if you ask me.  Its probably been ranted to oblivion at that price, but  I digress.

I met Andrew at VP2.  He was chilling and just enjoying the surroundings. On the way in he saw a Woodpecker and Swifts aplenty.  He was quite excited that he may have photographed a Lesser woodpecker (he really wants to see one), sadly after some discussion it was clear that it was the bigger version. .

Woodpecker

Swift

We went on to VP1 where Mike was watching a Whitethroat.  I managed a half decent pic before it flitted off into the undergrowth.

Whitethroat singing his heart out

Mike then talked about a pair of Spotted Redshank at VP2, which we had missed.  I quickly formulated a plan.  We could let Mike go down there, find them and then we could look as well (its called lazy birding).  As I hurried Mike along we ditched the bikes and strolled about a bit at Waltons.

Pochard, Tufties and a GWE Egret were in attendance along with a murderous Coot who killed one of it young. Nice.

Motherly love...

After leaving the murder scene we peddled back to VP2 where Mike let us see the Redshanks, very nice.  On the way I got a picture of what I think is a Hobby


  

 Best picture ever

We headed through Shapwick.  A chap was photographing something in the verge, probably a butterfly or something...

Not to be out done, we stopped at a little patch where there are regularly reptiles out basking.  Sure enough we were rewarded with plenty of Slow Worms and even a dinky Grass snake.

Slow Worms

We decided to head back to the spot where the bloke was photographing  after Steve Balcombe told us of snake activity.  We took a look about, after a few minutes I spotted a scaly body.  She was a big one, well over a foot long.  Sadly she wouldn't come out of the hedge.  But luckily Andrew had his macro.

Nice work!

 Fangtastic! A head shot.

Eventually she slid away, leaving us to consider our next move.  A quick trip to Westhay.  We stopped on the way and met these two fellows...  I think we owe an apology regarding facial hair.

Then, on to Westhay.  Where there was bugger all really.  Save for some rustling reeds and the odd Cetti's and a few Buzzards.

Wish it was a Kite

 

The sun was getting a little lower in the sky, we had grand plans of going to Catcott but in the end we sat down at The Railway instead.  No Guinea-fowl, but plenty of reptile photos.  A pretty fangtastic day all in all.