Hooley still blasting in from the south west this morning, making a morning count somewhat challenging, but I betcha there was a Leach's lurking out in the bay somewhere...
Smallish gull roost by Crosby Marine Lake, which held nothing out of the ordinary, and still two young Great Crested Grebe on the water, a single Tuftie and four Scaup, which refused to be photographed properly, hardly surprising as they bounced around on the chop.
One small flock of Gringoes around the lake, a few Linnet, Mipits, Pied Wags and Skylarks, otherwise quiet.
Eugene and Dave found a feisty (if the word can be applied to such an insect) ladybird out on Rimrose Valley, which I'm hoping Mike Bird can id for us (assuming you're reading at this late hour Mike).
It was a whopper, and mighty active as I tried to snap it.
If it turns out to be a Harlequin Mike, I promise to whack it with a big stick.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John, gonna stick me neck on the line and go along with your suspicions of the bug being a Harlequin, ((Harmonia axyridis) also knowm as Multicoloured Asian Ladybird and the Halloween Ladybird, quite apt as Halloween was only a couple of days ago.
It is an extremely variable species but this one looks bang on to me, however I'm no expert, and like you will await Mr Bird's opinion.
Hi John, Answer to the Ladybird identification:
At first I thought it was an Eyed Ladybird (the version without the rings). But looking at pattern of the pronotun (bit behind the head), my money is on the Harlequin.
With over a hundred different colour patterns of this species it can be a bit of problem with identification.
Mike.
JD: Ta Mike...consider it whacked.
Brown legs are apparently an identification feature for Harlequin, obvious in the second shot.