Dunwich and Minsmere

Friday July 10

Up early to deal with the overnight moth trap before leaving for Suffolk - our first visit this year. An occasion in itself, we tried to visit the area monthly in the past. 

What a lovely morning to be walking on Dunwich Heath. Sunny and warm but not hot - yet - with a pleasant breeze. It was 300 metres before we heard our first Dartford Warbler. We then saw one on the path in front of a couple of birders, who were gazing into a tree. That's birding! The birders turned out to be a very talkative UK Australian from Tasmania, on a visit with his wife.

After he'd moved on, we saw regular glimpses of juvenile Dartfords flying into isolated trees (that's not right) and adults rising vertically into the air, singing,  before plummeting back into the heather. I tried some photography from a distance, as I'd carried my 300 lens, with very limited success. Pretty poor in fact. My first pics of this warbler though........
Frazzled female Dartford Warbler

On to Minsmere, where we parked roadside in order to walk through the rhododendron tunnel to Island Mere. A few past their best orchids in the verge, Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing from the woods. 

Plenty of room in Island Mere Hide despite the photographers occupying one end. That is, standing with their long lenses on tripods, obscuring five seats. We sat in the centre and were soon rewarded by a Bittern fly-past. We were looking into the sun and my camera was set on aperture priority = fuzzy dark outlines.

During the hour and a quarter we sat there, gazing at Cormorants, Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans, two Bitterns made occasional flights along and across the water, once coming closer to the hide.

One distant Hobby far to the right, a family of six Marsh Harriers and three fishing Common Terns, completed the list. Very pleasant but the constant buffeting of a strong wind straight into the hide sent us out to get warm again. More like hot out of the breeze.
Blue Damselflies zipped around.... I took this photo at home - on Pam's hand.

 

Leaning on the rail edging the entry ramp, this year's Moorhen chick fed far below.

Here's an aerial view......

There was also a sign marking the site of this year's Springwatch joke - we were bored from the start - Spineless Si the Stickleback, had been filmed. Every programme ad nauseum. We saw some blue-eyed Sticklebacks in the very shallow brackish water below and I took some pics.

Head first in his nest

 Pleased to get back to the car, we drove to the Centre and I decided not to walk any more. I had intended photographing Dragonflies on the pond. Not to-day thanks.

Home in time to enjoy the before and after tea overs in the first Ashes Test Match. Aus were out quickly this morning for 308 and we whacked over 400 by close of play. I love seeing us play with this freedom. There was even a 20/20 switch hit 4. We need to get them out to-morrow as rain is forecast for Sunday.

Tempered Joy

Saturday July 4

Written on the 7th....

It is not unusual to find 'new' moths in the trap at virtually every opening. Saturday morning, after a muggy night with overcast, the trap was heaving - literally. Every time I carefully lifted the cardboard covering the opening, moths escaped. Very frustrating. 

About half way through, one of the egg boxes had a very pale moth with dark streaks. I thought it might be a Leopard Moth but it wasn't.  As the moths were still very lively, Pam and I took a couple of photos before the beast departed - in a hurry. Couldn't re locate it either.

Later on, whilst identifying my photographs, I couldn't find anything on the Norfolk website nor the books which matched exactly.

I posted a photograph on the Norfolk Moths Facebook page and waited. Chris Knott and Jim Hypperson both thought that it was a Speckled Footman, a Red Data Book species and an immigrant - A 1st FOR NORFOLK. Waw. Novice moth-ers trapping in their back garden! Almost unfair.

I am still not happy about not being able to share such a good moth with our moth-ing friends.

Birding at last

Friday July 3

Up before 5.30 and driving away at 6.00 a.m. on a glorious summer morning. The oppressive humidity and heat of the previous three days have gone - temporarily  from forecasts. We haven't had a full day's birding since early June and have really missed it.

We had a great morning. Sculthorpe Mill looked deserted, of both people and birds, until we crossed the race in front of the inn, walking around the corner to view the lane, hedgerow and fields. A Blackcap sang, that was all. For the first time, I climbed the grassy bank at the back of the house to view the gardens. Below me was the mill race flanked by a wall, over the top I had a good view of the beautiful, well kept and treed, garden complete with tables and benches. Seeing a movement in a near tree, two Spotted Flycatchers appeared, obviously feeding young somewhere. Pam had joined me, saying, look at the wall. A pair of Grey Wagtails with full beaks were waiting for us to depart before going to the nest, which must have been in the mill race tunnel.

Another tree was now swaying under the very active family of Long-tailed Tits speeding through the canopy. Lovely.

I couldn't resist trying to photograph the Goldfinches feeding on thistles at the edge of the car park.

We left the birds in peace and drove to Valley Farm Lane. Red-legged Partridge and Tree Sparrows quickly added we drove to the end to turn round. The car following us was our gamekeeper friend who had been up since 5 irrigating potato fields. He'd squared us up with Linda who had been a bit snooty last month . 'Those two little old ladies have been coming up here for years' he said !! Apparently the road is private after the last cottage. He asked after King Harrys, asking if they bred late. I thought he'd said Harriers as did Pam. We must have looked bemused as he said that that was what he called Goldfinches. New one on me.

Later than usual, a sunlit Abbey farm was meant to be a quickie. Scanning the high grass meadow, the small brown lump at the foot of the telegraph pole was a Little Owl. Attention distracted by a raptor, we watched a Red Kite land in a tree the other side of the pond. The Owl had disappeared.

Sidling out from our bench seat, a Sparrowhawk flew across the near water.

Flitcham Village has a roadside plant selling home. The man was putting them out for the day as we passed. One tall blue flowered plant caught my eye. Pam parked, walked back and returned some time later with the Tradescantia I'd spotted - and a few other plants. £2 each and perfect.

Snettisham still had lots of water at 9ish, high tide was 7.58 but it was a very high one. The pit verges through the chalets looked lovely, summer maritime plants at their best. The reserve looked colourful too. A froth of Cow Parsley on one bank,  much more variety on the east facing side.

An Oystercatcher left her  nest containing three eggs as we drove up. So near the drive, stupid bird. We quickly photographed the eggs from the car window and drove on.

Scoping the far pit, I saw, a sandbank of Avocets, another of Cormorants and hundreds of Black-headed Gulls.A nearby group of Black-tailed Godwits, a few Knot and a couple of Redshank added more variety. Oh... and dozens of Oystercatchers.
A group of four Oystercatchers were performing some sort of synchronised hoedown on the beach, video would have done it justice.

 

Very little water by now, we both spent a little time photographing the Hoary Mullein, maritime Thistle, sedum sp and Yellow Horned Poppies flanking the wash. Beautiful. 

Yellow Horned Poppies and Sedum

Hoary Mullein

Some lovely vari-coloured Convolvulus added to the scene. Very few insects here, rather more on the bank at the top of the entrance path. Pam parked and walked off, I sat in the car watching the shore. Not all young birds are attractive and fluffy... where do young Black-headed Gulls fit in ? Not bad really, except when they are pictured against a dead Seal carcass. My choice.

Pam was quite a while, she'd been photographing Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort. I contented myself with a Bee on Briar flowers when I got out to open the gate. 

I was checking to see how the crop for my Autumn gate-opening treats was coming along really.

The whole of Hunstanton Cliffs seafront was lined with cars. We found a single space to tick off Fulmar and. eat the meal of Bacon Bap bought in Tesco, before driving to Holme. Marsh Harrier and Whitethroat were our last new birds for the day.

Driving back, we were able to stop to photograph the Orchids in the inland meadows. I believe that most of them are Southern Marsh Orchids. Haven't fully studied them yet. Pam has one with spotted leaves but this variety can have that variant too.

A brief stop at Wiveton Farms so that Pam could get a better pic of the Currant Clearwing, returning with a Ronaldo's icecream each, before our last stop at Cley Beach.

We had made all our usual stops, added nothing, not even Terns at Cley. Loved our day though. I know I always write that, 'cos it's true, to-day was especially so. The weather, flowers, insects and scenery at its best.

Thanks to B and S J

Thursday July 2

Phew. A very hot moth-ing session at Cley NWT Centre. All of us trying to huddle in the small amount of shade provided by the wall of the main building.Upper 20s C again but, with much more cloud.

Long-time friend Betty told me about a day flying moth session she and Steve had had at a local fruit farm. Clearwings are a family of moths I've long wished to see. Steve later showed us photos on his camera, warning that they were only hoverfly size and it had to be sunny.

After a cuppa, off we went, parking at the cafe before walking to the currant bush area. Not yet ripe, the currants were swathed in green netting.

Walking slowly along the row, Pam out-stripping me by yards as I kept seeing small flying things. Ladybirds, shield bugs, hoverflies and, on several occasions, possible Clearwings which kept darting past me and not landing.

Seeing me use my camera, Pam re-joined me - lucky chance - when I saw something very small land and said 'What's that'? Our first Currant Clearwing Moth. Scarce nationally. It wasn't still for long, I only managed two photographs before it was off again. 

Three yellow stripes on the abdomen means that this is a female, the male has four.

Too hot to linger, that was it for the day. We'll try again.

Returned Favour

Wednesday July 1

In many ways, a walk too far - but worth it. 

Having spent Monday in Norwich, Tuesday cooking and to-day up at 7 to complete the cooking for our coffee morning here, B texting to say that to-night was Broom Rape night was daunting. Add the high temperatures and humidity = shattered me with aching knees and back. Pam had been unwell since Monday, we missed Tuesday's moth-ing session, much better to-day but still not up to her eating best !

It was still 24C at 6.30, when we met at the rendezvous point. Only six of us, as the plants are on private land. Uphill, across a rough grass slope and steeply uphill to a patch of gorse and bramble. We had been warned that the scarce Greater Broomrape plants were eaten by deer, many of them damaged. We managed to find a good selection at several growth stages.

Emerging

In flower

Finished

On a Whim

Saturday June 27

On Thursday, I received a mail from Carl stating that there were 2 places available on the 'Supper and Nightjars'  trip. We normally go to Dersingham Bog for Nightjars, combining it with a two night stay in the Hunstanton area and a trip to Welney. We no longer go to Kelling Heath, too many people and restricted viewing. We haven't done either this year, so I signed up.

After a pleasant meal at Falcon Cottage, meeting Ian, the only other participant, Carl drove us to Holt Country Park. We arrived at the viewing point just before 9 p.m., when it was still good daylight. What a surprise to hear a churring Nightjar immeciately on arrival. Despite careful searching in the nearby trees, there was no bird to be seen. The suspicion that an intrusive Wood Pigeon had driven the bird away was confirmed by further 'song' further away. 

We stood for an hour looking over a valley and clearing, hearing at least three Nightjars. I saw one fly through in the dark, two were seen in silhouette above the trees. Better views were had of 4-5 Woodcock flying overhead, two together against a pink, cream, and fading blue sky was the highlight. I've never seen two birds flying together before. Carl managed some photographs, I didn't even carry my camera - and didn't regret it either.

Ambling back in the dark, we heard two Tawny Owls, one responding very well to Carl's excellent mimicry. A most enjoyable and productive evening. 

An Orchid Twitch - Hush Hush

Sunday June 21

We're having a hectic week.

Armed with three photographs of the area plus Emailed directions, generously provided by friend D, we set off into the unknown. The instructions were spot-on, we were soon parked in a lay-by and climbing through a rough scrubby area into one of clearings and scattered trees. All lovely to look at, even if humid again.

Meeting another very pleasant man made the hunt even easier, as he'd just left the site and volunteered to show us there.

Waw, a Lizard Orchid, just the one - and the only one in Norfolk. It had been seen last year but it didn't flower. This year it has. The spike is about two feet tall, we seem to have caught it at its best.

It's being kept very quiet as the landowner is rumoured to be selling the land for development. If word got out to him, there is a danger  that the plant might be destroyed in order to ensure that planning permission is obtained. All hearsay and rumour.