Easter Weekend

 Saturday April 16

Bank Holiday weekends are when we usually prefer to stay at home, eschewing the crowds.  As we are going away on Thursday, and the rest of this week is full of 'appointments', we decided to brave the roads. It wasn't until the Fakenham roundabout that we encountered the first heavy traffic, until then, it was much lighter than usual.

Negative for the Ring Ouzel we saw at Bodham on Friday afternoon, after a Cromer xray visit for Pam  We'd have liked better views. We showed the bird's distant location to Janice, Steve and friend, drove up the road to turn round, before settling in a layby. No sooner had I got the scope set up than a passing vehicle hooted loudly at the others, scattering the Ouzel, Yellow Wagtails and Skylarks into the distance. They did not return. I understand Janice's decision to make a gesture at the departing vehicle. 

We braved the Holme  road for the first time this year - and maybe last year too. The first section past the houses is appalling, the reserve's gritted track much better. The best thing here was two reeling Sedge Warblers, announcing their territory. Pam saw a hirundine, but not well enough for a positive identity.

Three Konic ponies grazed behind their electric fence.

New for us were a small herd of English White heifers, looking roundly in calf, their black noses and ears diagnostic.

Pam spotted some fungus sprouting out of the top of some old straw bales used to block field entries. It looks past it. We are yet to identify it.

 

This Wood Pigeon will not be sitting comfortably if this is how he lines the meagre nest platform.

 

In the warm sunshine, to-day was remarkable for both the number and variety of butterflies that we saw. Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell. Green-veined White, Peacock and Holly Blue in good numbers everywhere.

Moths have not been remarkable of late, a small trickle of new for the year species continue to arrive. Here are a few of them.

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Lunar Marbled Brown

Oak Nycteoline

Muslin

Probably the best has been a micro which Pam took in for Richard and the group to identify. It's not in the Sterling and Parsons book, but is in the newest Manley photo guide. New for Richard, always a pleasure to add to his list. And ours.

Eriocrania unimaculella