Last week we went for a walk from Snape Warren through fields, woodland, boggy areas and out to a hide at Hazelwood Marshes overlooking the River Alde.
Another lovely sunny day and first up, a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly.
In some woodland a Treecreeper.
Near some water an Azure Damselfly.
A juvenile Long-tailed Tit
It was fairly quiet a the hide with the tide low and most things at great distance but this slightly closer Grey Plover caught my eye wandering around not sure what to do with a crab.
The quietness was made up for by meeting a friendly couple of fellow bird watchers and we spent time exchanging experiences.
Walking away from the hide with our new friends my wife heard a loud rustling in the undergrowth by the seawall path.
What emerged was this young Badger, it was about 2.00 in the afternoon. It was following a field line next to the path and kept appearing and disappearing as it made it's way through the bushes and long grass.
It kept us entertained for more than half an hour until it trotted off away from the footpath.
At one point it ducked through the field fence and we thought we would lose it but after a quick trot it came back through the fence and carried on foraging in the undergrowth, occasionally munching on things we never saw.
Quite often it would come out into the open towards us, it must have seen us as it was so close but it never seemed bothered. I was having to back away to get the whole body in the frame.
Heading back towards Snape and the car.
Large Red Damselfly.
Possible China Mark Moth
Possible Brown Silver-line Moth.
This is probably a Skylark but it was in an area known for Woodlarks and we had seen one hovering nearby.
Unfortunately the tail isn't showing in the first picture and it's being held at an unhelpful angle in the second
To finish, something I'm sure of, a singing Yellowhammer.
When we got home we Googled daytime Badger behaviour and it's not unusual for young Badgers, especially male, to explore their territory through the day during late April and June.. This Badger seemed perfectly heathy and happy, it's the first time any of us have seen a live daytime Badger.
Best wishes,
Trevor
Wow!
Another fabulous set of photos Trevor. Though I've not seen daytime badgers, I am aware, like daytime foxes, they can be active.
Post Edit: I'm the missing respondent, so I can happily claim taking this to its second page.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler