Meloe Proscarabeus - Wallasea Island

Couldn't resist putting my first insect picture of the year up.
According to my field guide I shouldn't have seen this oil beetle until April.
This was all I saw for ages at Wallasea today until I was eventually rewarded with a ringtail Hen Harrier right round on the South Eastern tip of the island.
My luck continued with a nice view of 2 Little owls together on my way home.