This lovely beetle was foraging across Sweeny Viewpoint this afternoon. I looked it up in Brooks, an excellent and all round (thoroughly recommended) guide to the insects of the U.K. and came to the conclusion it was a Black Clock Beetle. I always check with Beetles UK Fb page (or any other Natural History Fb pages) as there are some very knowledgeable people out there) before sticking my neck out on a official RSPB blog.

The upshot was, I was  wrong, but at least singing from the same page, literally. It was a Copper Greenclock, Poecilus cupreus.

This is a particular variant with red legs, enjoy.

The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.