Garden Finds

Moth Quiz 28
A cigar smoker could end up with this.
Smoky Wainscot 

Moth Quiz 29
When you have the moody blues, knights look like this.

Saturday, June 27

Apart from day to day maintenance and moth-ing, we haven't done much in the last few days.

The podiatrist sorted my feet out (ouch), a Four-spotted Chaser appeared in the sun lounge and Pam brought in an insect she'd found on the inside of the kitchen window. I'm calling her my Grey Retriever from now on.

It was a very active, Great Pied Hoverfly. 

 

I've been trying my best to identify some of the increasingly numerous micro-moths we are trapping. I'm still only trying the ones which look as though I can do so. Under half a centimeter in length and a uniform grey or brown are no-goers.

Catoptria pinella Pearl Grass-veneer

Pyralis farinalis. Meal Moth

Carpatolechia proximella Black-speckled Groundling

We are still eating - the last of - our new potatoes, strawberries, and sweet peas are a daily treat. I love the latter's scent in the house. I'm not fond of many perfumes, that of sweet peas, some roses, and honeysuckle are a favourite.

Rai has been setting a squirrel trap in our garden, trapping a surprising beastie this morning. A large male hedgehog. He'd eaten all the peanuts and left a thank you deposit of appreciation. Unharmed, he trotted off through the hog friendly fence into John's garden.

Waking at dawn to find a Muntjac eating flowers in the centre bed, we had to cover the sweetcorn again. The dyke must be overgrown enough to allow it to cross, we do try to keep it wild but deer are not welcome.

The heatwave appears to have broken which is a relief. Other parts of the country have had storms, they've missed us. Not enough rain for the garden's needs but better than nothing. Increasingly windy to-day which also dessicates. I hope to do some birding on Monday.

Dunwich and Odonata

Moth Quiz 27
Embarrassed, when opening the Manorhouse door to a nudist.
Rosy Footman 

Moth Quiz 28
A cigar smoker could end up with this.

Wednesday, June 24

Learning from a fortnight ago's aborted visit, I'd booked a car parking space for Dunwich cliffs via the National Trust Website. We arrived just before 10 and had to wait until almost ten minutes past before someone came to remove the plastic man guarding the entrance. Third car in the queue, after answering a number of questions e.g have you been before and have you got a dog, we had a choice of parking space in the disabled section, overlooking Minsmere RSPB reserve. In solitary state - until the next booking slot at 10.30-11 - we set up our chairs, and I focused my scope on the reserve. I couldn't put my sun umbrella up as the wind was too strong, I had to anchor my Tilley hat under my chin. I hate wearing a hat, it takes me back to my schooldays of regulation navy hat, with elastic under the chin, which had a peak in the top from being slammed onto a peg in the cloakroom. By the sixth form, uniform headwear had become a beret, which fitted better in the pocket when cycling - until a teacher was spotted, or the long school drive was reached.

Wearing a sunhat is better than being sunburnt.

We sat for an hour and a half, seeing five Spoonbills, squabbling Avocets, Common and Sandwich Terns, and a squadron of Oystercatchers making their noisy way out to sea. The whole time, groups of buzz-chat Sand Martins swooped above us, below, and along the cliffs. Delightful. Reed Bunting, Dunnock and a Blackcap sang, little else visible in the mirage inducing haze.

After this length of time, many more people, cars, and dogs had arrived. We left. It had become a little chilly in the strong wind anyway, despite the heat of the sun.

The exit track leads through prime Dartford Warbler territory, a roadside perched adult flew across our bows.

Our main aim today was to attempt the challenge of photographing Dragonflies and Damselflies on the Minsmere river.  The Eastbridge narrow road passes over the small river via a flat bridge. The single track here makes room for a pavement either side, which means that I can sit on a chair when I get tired of standing. 

It's a very small lowland river, with plenty of vegetation for the Odonata to lay their eggs and to rest.

Pam's photo

The variety of insects is small but we enjoyed the challenge of capturing the, often frustrating, zigzagging, hovering, darting, flight of the:Norfolk Hawker (in Suffolk). Only successful if one landed in a viewable area.

The above is Pam's photo, I managed a less than good one of a female ovipositing.

Common Blue Damselflies. This photo was accidental - I found it in one I'd taken of a Common Red!

and Large Red Damselflies, getting on with their short lives.

As previously, Banded Demoiselles were by far the most numerous.

Pam also saw and photographed,  a Broad-bodied Chaser female.

Home to a superheated house and the moth trap opening. Both traps had been in the shade and comparative coolness of the utility room, coolblocks on the lids, under a towel. It seems to work well. 

Unusually, no new moths yesterday but we had a beautiful Swallowtail moth this morning.

We'd planned a long-awaited visit to Lakenheath Fen to-morrow, until the podiatrist changed our appointment from next week to to-morrow afternoon. Maybe it's just as well as its due to be even hotter. Lakenheath can be extremely hot without our coastal breeze. I'm not looking forward to the visit as I have two infected toenails, the result of my previous visit to a new podiatrist. Very painful.

Mishmash

Moth Quiz 26

Walking bare-legged, especially at night, through this could lead to an A and E visit.
Dark Swordgrass 

Moth Quiz 27

 Embarrassed, when opening the Manorhouse door to a nudist.

Saturday, June 20 

As Pam was collecting the moth traps this morning, she noticed an unknown Micro on the sheet behind the Robinson MV trap.. An unmistakeable Sclerecona acutellus, pictured in Manley, but only written about in Sterling and Parsons.

Norfolk status
Suspected rare immigrant and adventive species originating from reeds imported from central Europe.

First UK record in Hampshire 1988, with a number of records subsequently taken in the UK, many of which have been in close proximity to newly-thatched cottages.

First Norfolk record in July 2012, trapped in a garden at Walcott (M. A'Court, 04/07/12)

Norfolk Moths website 

A newly converted barn, 200 metres away has just been thatched. A second for Norfolk, which is pleasing.

As we are still, largely, isolating, we have only informed those on our local WhatsApp group, leaving the moth in a cold bag in the front porch. Not everyone is interested in micro-moths.

Whilst at Cley Centre car park earlier in the week, we noticed this magnificent example of Sea Kale in full bloom.

 

 The new pond pump and hose have been delivered. That should get rid of the green slime the sunlight has helped produce on the pond surface. It will be good to see the waterfall in the rockery and the spouting frog at the edge of the pond, working again. Adrian will see to that next week.

The old pump has been left at the side and, during a brief visit from a dragonfly on Thursday, it perched on the top. We were sorting moths at the time so I took a quick photo from the sun lounge when I couldn't even see where it was. Wrong glasses. When I sorted the photos, I found this.

I am not good enough to identify the species from this angle. I will message a friend and hope he can help.

 

It's Tuesday

Moth Quiz 25

Mam’s candlesticks should look like this

Burnished Brass

Moth Quiz 26

Walking bare-legged, especially at night, through this could lead to an A and E visit.

Tuesday, June 16

Dunwich Cliffs car park was fully booked for to-day, we drove west.

As we stopped roadside, Selbrigg Lake was wreathed in gently swirling mist. Out of the mist came the Mute Swan family, the pen leading the way, graceful and caring, the Cob nearby, wings slightly raised, demonstrating his protective vigilance. Seven Cygnets followed in a single line flotilla, the morning sun shining through their downy feathers. 

Many Dragonflies were already skimming the back of the lake, too distant to identify in the short time we were there. Too many cars about.

The next stop is a favourite. Sitting beside a mill race pond, surrounded by trees, birds singing and Grey Wagtails collecting food riverside is very soul-satisfying.

Sculthorpe Mill Inn is still closed and has sprouted notices stating – very politely – that the public who barbecue and picnic are not welcome. It's private land. A big mess was left after the Bank Holiday. Some people.

From the bridge, Pam spotted a Brown Trout in the clear water. I eventually found it, it was very still and the camouflage is tremendous. Spot the fish.

I didn’t know whether the Wensum had Trout but the manager appeared so Pam asked him. He’s always very affable. He knows we’re harmless! Yes, was the answer but not as many here these days as many dog walkers allow their dogs to splash about in the water.

Poppies are adding to the attractiveness of the countryside at the moment. This view is on Abbey Farm land, distantly viewed from the back lane. Difficult to do justice to its beauty.

At Abbey Farm, after consulting the tide timetable, finding that high tide was threeish this morning, I put Holme into the SatNav and we drove a very pleasant new route through rolling countryside and Fring and Ringstead. Fring looked very well to do. Lovely houses, a roadside stream, rose hedges and well-kept land.

Even the first section of the road out to the Holme reserves is still closed. I reckon that's the house owners taking advantage of the reserve closures. I can't say that I blame them, however frustrating it is.

By now, the sun had disappeared behind thick haar, or sea fret. Visibility had deteriorated immensely. Brancaster Staithe was starting to show the rapidly encroaching afternoon tide current. The boats were wreathed in mist, billowing across the water's surface. Now you see them, now you don't. 

A lone Spoonbill preened on a mud island before flying to join a Little Egret on the marsh. Two Turnstones and one Oystercatcher were the only other birds present. Why do I always dis-count the gulls?

As we drove into Burnham Ovary Staithe, a few families were readying themselves for some aquatic fun. A wet-suited woman was energetically pumping up an inflatable kayak, another mother and daughter had a two-seater kayak and three males of varying ages had paddleboards. We stayed to watch the fun. 

Amidst all this activity, I'd noticed a young woman on the other side of the water, making her way across the mud and suaeda towards where we were parked, which is a known crossing place. At low tide that is. Not now. She was wearing a long skirt too and I surmised that she was in for a swim. Reaching the water's edge, she pulled on a pair of shorts and bagged her skirt. Flipflops in hand, she gingerly traversed the muddy bank before entering the water.

 She was soon up to the top of her thighs, having barely left the bank. 

Sound the trumpets.

Here comes the bouncy castle kayak.

Admirably, she managed to sit across the bows without capsizing the kayak and its paddler. Well done, both the passenger and the paddler. 

She reached shore safely, donned her flipflops and walked away.

During all of this, the paddleboarders were generally milling about, not looking at all expert. A few attempts to stand up soon resulted in the taking up of a kneeling position, an older man even said that he kept using his paddle the wrong way round. All very entertaining, especially as it all ended well.

Stopping to view a Great White Egret closer to the road than usual, although still very distant, we drove home. A supermarket delivery was due at 4.30.
Nearing home, the sign to Witton had a brown lump on the top. A Little Owl. We turned the car around as soon as we could, and as expected, found that it had flown. What a picture that would have made.

Beautifully sunny at home, the delivery van driver said that it was pouring down in Norwich. One day's weather in Norfolk.

Wasp Beetle?

Moth Quiz 24
Three Freckles
Treble Brown-spot 

Moth Quiz 25
Mam's Welsh candlesticks should look like this 

Monday, June 16 

Ever observant Pam brought in a - previously unknown to us - insect. It looked like a wingless wasp.16mm in length, rather small.

It was a Wasp Beetle. A very attractive looking insect.

The wasp beetle is a small, narrow-bodied longhorn beetle. The larvae live in warm, dry, dead wood, such as fence posts and dead branches, and particularly favour willow and birch. The adults can be found feeding on flowers along woodland rides and hedgerows during the summer. The wasp beetle lives up to its name by mimicking the common wasp in both colouration and in its behaviour, moving in a jerky fashion similar to a wasp's flight. This mimicry keeps it safe from predators, even though it is actually harmless

The Wildlife Trusts

Pam found another one to-day, on top of some partially decayed tomato plant leaves.

Warm afternoon sunshine and a light breeze seemed like suitable conditions for trying another clearwing pheromone lure in the garden. Currant Clearwing was to-day's choice. An hour later, Pam had the unenviable task of potting the male attracted by a false female aroma. Small and very active, this one perched on her hand for a short while.

We first saw this species at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB, thanks to David N, but it's new for the garden. I love the Clearwing family.

A late afternoon, six weekly, visit to Cromer Eye Clinic was short again after the mandatory temperature taking, hands sanitising - twice - mask-wearing excursion. No injection needed again, that's twice running. I don't think it's coincidental that this happens after a change of medication. Edoxoban instead of Warfarin, which does not need the routine visits and testing at the surgery. A relief in the present climate.One less risk.

59 moths of 49 species were in the traps on Sunday morning. Not a remarkable number but the proportion of species was. Many of them are as colourful and attractive as butterflies.

Green Silver-lines

Small Angle-shades

Miller