Long Time No Action

Saturday July 30

Well, no Blog action.  We've been very busy moth-ing. As well as the regular twice weekly sessions, we have attended several extra sessions. At Holme and Strumpshaw (second time for both) arranged by David N and, at Middle Harling, Catfield Fen and Cley arranged by the Butterfly Conservation Norfolk group. All very successful, apart from Middle Harling, where only one trap out of six had actually worked after heavy overnight stormy rain.

Strumpshaw was notable for the heat (!!),  a rare micro and two new moths brought in by John G - Festoon - and a Golden Plusia  brought in by James Lowen.

James also especially lured and brought in for us a Yellow-legged Clearwing to last Monday's Yarmouth Bird Club meeting where he gave a very professional presentation promoting his latest book. The photo I took is quite embarrassingly bad, even for a record shot. The point and shoot camera I carry in my handbag, poor indoor light, an active little beast and a dirty pot. And the photographer........

At least, the yellow legs are visible.

Moths at home have increased in both species and number, still well down on previous years.  A few of the more attractive ones.

Marsh Carpet, very rare, brought to Greg's by David N.

Kent Black Arches - twitched at Steve's in Cantley. Caught our own very tatty one the same night.

Peach Blossom

Ruby Tiger

The 5-6 mm Micro Argyresthia Brockeelia

Rhyaconia Pinicolana - 6-11 mm

We made it to Titchwell yesterday (Friday the 29th) at long last. Not until mid-day as we had the moth trap to see to first. It was also a record slow journey in a quarter of a mile queue behind an enormous harvester. We turned off with relief only to find the harvester in front of us. Fortunately, it took a right turn soon afterwards.

Titchwell freshmarsh was heaving with birds, most of then waders, the most we've seen for a long time. Water levels looked good too. We ended up in Island hide as all the benches were occupied by families - school holidays. Handsome Black-tailed Godwits were in the majority - after more Avocets than I can remember seeing in one place. Good breeding season? I expect that the dastardly and unsightly fenced off enclosure will be given credit for that. Maybe with reason? A small flock of Knot amongst the Godwit, Dunlin, most with vestiges of breeding black belly, two adult Curlew Sandpipers moulting into winter plumage, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Teal. Shelduck, Lapwing, Redshank, a small flock of Ruff and 7 Spoonbills.  There were 15 of the latter reported later, we only saw 7, the others must have been behind the island.

The pathside vegetation was devoid of insect life apart from 1 small Blue Damselfly, a Gatekeeper and a Meadow Brown. Not even any Bloody-nose Beetles trundling along the path.

After a chat with a very sad and upset Sue B in the car park (wish I'd won that huge Euromillions pay out) I photographed a baby Robin near our car. Pam is convinced it was unwell......

I hope to do some butterfly searching this weekend, so few about. Several in our garden to-day gives hope, mostly Large White and 1 Red Admiral. The garden is full of flowers planted to attract insects, the Buddleias look great as does the Nicotiana and Borage. Where are the butterflies to enjoy them ? Will they recover and if so, in what numbers?

Last Weekend, First in July

Sunday July 3

Nowhere near our best first of the month day, early July is in the doldrums, to-day was no exception. The birds are not singing much, Spring migration is over and Autumn migration is yet to begin, waders will soon start appearing. Add dismal weather........all day. Still enjoyable, despite Pam not feeling too good.

We struggled to see 60 species with no real highlights. It stopped raining for Snettisham, where we spent time trying to photograph the bees on the colourful bank at the end of the first pit on the reserve. Despite the wind waving the plants about, I took a few, less than wonderful, shots with my bridge camera set on C2 for close-ups.

A better photo of the Viper's Bugloss than of the bee

Acres of mud again at low tide, a few Avocets the closest birds.

There was also a flock of 30+ Black-tailed Godwits, all in breeding plumage, always good to see. Non-breeders returning or Summer stayers ?
A bedraggled Oystercatcher sat tight, keeping a wary eye on our passing car.

 

I was hoping to visit Titchwell to see the summer plumaged Great Knot . Pam was feeling pretty rough by then, so we went home. No wonder, she had developed Shingles by Wednesday, saw a pharmacist on Thursday - who diagnosed the suspected insect bites around her waist - and the doctor on Friday, after meeting PW for coffee at Cley. By Saturday the blisters looked like this, stretching from navel to spine on her left, making wearing waist bands very painful. 
By Saturday July 9 the vesicles looked like this. Hence to-day's flowing caftan !!
Stop reading now if of a squeamish disposition.

side view

 

close-up of a patch

back view

Mothing Rules

June 29/30

Wednesday the 29th was one of the group's 'extra' days, organised By David N. Unlike us - and distressing for me - we were a little late getting there. A tractor and trailer, followed by a fuel stop, the main causes. Barry and Ian, Scilly friends of Steve's, followed us through the gate where they'd been waiting, unaware that they could have opened it themselves ! They've been at all our sessions this week, staying at Wiveton. Barry actually shared the lft with us on the boat coming back from North Uist this year, Pam tells me......I'm hopeless, I just don't see people.
Sophie was there this time and led the opening of all three traps - chaotically. She had her back to us, writing the names down, muttering the names and passing the egg boxes in both directions. In addition, Steve and Andy were potting all the Micros so no-one saw them. A very strong, gusting wind did not help. The only new moth, in a poor overnight catch owing to the cold and wind, was a Fern. David was a happy man, it was new for him too. Very flighty, I only managed one poor photo of it on Mick's arm.

Barry and Ian are both avid photographers, Canon EOS with 100 mm macro lenses, ring flash and extenders. They posed the Pine Hawk-moth on the trunk of a pine.

A fairly quick drink for us at the cafe - we were meeting the Bridges and Neil Lawton at the White Horse in Brancaster to discuss next February's Thailand trip. Neil had brought his boat over from Scolt Head where he spends the summer working for Natural England. He seems to be very personable, knowledgeable and straight, I look forward to birding with him.
On the way home, in the rain, we diverted to Holt Country Park, where, we had been told by JB, we could find roosting Brown Long-eared bats. We found two little hunchy bodies which I attempted to photograph. The views were better after I'd edited the pics !

 

Thursday

Our usual weekly meeting at Cley turned out to be an open to the public one, much to everyone's surprise. About fifteen 'others' had turned up to witness the opening of a low catch. Poor overnight conditions again, Cley is usually good at this time of year, with several specialities in the reedbed trap.  The highlight of the morning was a Hornet Moth, a Clearwing species, brought in by David N who had pheromone lured it, near Holt, on his way this morning. What a stunning moth, one I'd long wanted to see. I managed a few adequate photos of it in the pot. 

One of the visitors was especially pushy with his small camera,  he actually moved the pot with the lens and hogged the space, until Anne D intervened.
David later posted some lovely photographs on Facebook. He'd taken the Hornet back to its habitat and was able to photograph it when released. 

Not the Right Weather

Saturday June 25

The day started with our best overnight moth catch of the year. 83 macros of 35 species - and many - as yet unidentified - Micros. 

For me, the best was this breathtaking Gold Spot in pristine condition, photographs don't do it justice.

Amongst the others were:

Pale Prominent 

Privet Hawk-moth

Small Blood-vein

Silver Y - another pristine example amd a migrant too.

The hot sunshine encouraged us to visit Hickling NWT reserve - the dark clouds appeared as we drove !

This reserve seems to have a rota of officious volunteer helpers. Our permits were closely scrutinised, then questioned as there was only one (they  were back to back in the case), npot having a year date, just April - our fault? I don't think so. I was not happy when I departed - most ungracious reception and typical of this reserve. A young warden stood beside her, gave us permission to drive to Whiteslea Lodge and tried to gently point her in the polite direction. She needed a bulldozer. 

The rain started, not heavy but persistent, with large drops. We sat in the car listening to Garden Warbler, Blackcap and  Willow Warbler, seeing the most Swallows of the year skimming the car park and reeds. 

The drops lessened and we walked directly to the aptly named Bittern Hide, Pam swishing her butterfly net in the verge-side vegetation. Only catching flies and one Damselfly. The Bittern boomed as we approached the hide and did so several times during the hour we spent in the hide. We did have a flight view after half an hour. Sharp-eyed Pam spotted these caterpillars on the way in. Peacock Butterflies in waiting I believe.

We saw at least six different Marsh Harriers, none close enough to photograph,  a female Black-tailed Skimmer, a Blue-tailed Damselfly and two pairs of Bearded Reedlings. Enough to keep us going but very slow under a black sky.

On the return journey, Pam saw this hairy beast, a Garden Tiger caterpillar, very shy, it kept curling up and dropping to the bottom of the vegetation. 

 

Yes !! Wales beat Northern Ireland and are through to the last eight of the European Championships.Not a good football match, too cagy but, a win.

Mothing at Strumpshaw

Wednesday June 22

David N has taken over the task of organising Moth group field trips this year. We missed the first outing to Strumpshaw RSPB as we were in Scotland. To-day's started late for us as I had a dental appointment in Stalham at 9.00, we missed the first half an hour. Anything 'good' would have been kept for us, a possible Gold Swift was the only candidate - and it wasn't one.

The Strumpshaw warden is a moth trapper, Ben ?, this session was especially for us, there are other organised sessions which have an entry fee. He put a collection box out to-day.

It was a good catch but with nothing untoward for us. 

Later the plan was to try and lure some Red-tipped Clearwings, day flying moths,  using pheromones, which David had ready. Pam and I hadn't quite reached the area of bramble on the left after the trail to Fen Hide, too busy looking at insects, when David called to say he'd found one. No pheromones needed. Lovely little things and a scarcity. These photos were taken with my Canon bridge camera.

The return journey was even slower as we kept finding things. Bees, Beetles, Spiders, a Common Lizard

a Large Skipper

and a small mouse which Pam managed to photograph, I didn't.

A strange call from above, alerted Pam, Andy and I  to a displaying Marsh Harrier. It sounded like a Lapwing chick. He circled, dipped and mini dived for ages, uttering this wimpy cry all the while. We met Ben in the car park who then told us that the bird had been displaying, to no avail, for the last five weeks. Either a young bird or one who'd arrived late at the reserve. One female had taken an interest but he'd chased it off. Idiot.

Andy D departed, we ate lunch whilst watching a Norfolk Chaser dragonfly patrolling the overflow car park. Lucky we did. Andy screeched back in - a Micro moth he and Steve had long wanted to see had been netted by Steve and brought back to the Centre.

It was a little beauty. A strathmopoda pedella whch we all photographed in the pot. 

What a lovely day and a very successful one too. We have another session booked for the end of July. Holme next Wednesday.
There were still a few past their best Bee Orchid spikes in the Centre area, no sun for the Swallowtails we were hoping for.

 

Mothing at Holme

Wednesday June 8

Last Wednesday's cancelled meet due to bad weather, re-arranged for to-day at Holme NOA. Sophie wasn't there, Steve was warden for the day. Inland was warm and sunshine, the coast under a thick layer of haar. JG had to borrow an extra layer from M. 

Two traps to be opened , a Robinson and one permanent home-made one near the obs which I christened a Heath Robinson. 

A very enjoyable morning, eight regulars with the addition of DH and partner - invited by JG. - and some very nice moths.

Our first Cinnabar of the year.

Two Small Elephant Hawk-moths - we don't get these at home.

 The following were all new for us.

Sand Dart

Grass Rivulet -John G's photo

Small Waved Umber

It escaped the eggbox before anyone could see it. It was seen flying pretty high onto a trunk and Pam found it, using her binoculars. This photo is greatly cropped from a bridge camera zoomed lens.

 Sharp-angled Peacock

 Yellow Belle - this a beautiful day flyer found in the grass at the Obs by DN. It flew into a tree, I held a branch back so everyone could photograph it. When it was my turn, I had my camera poised when 'helpful' and very contrite MH moved another branch and it flew away. Pam has a photo which I will post later.

Several new micros too, I should be getting a list from Andrew. 

After refreshments, we met the P's in the car park who, like us were off to find the Man Orchid clump in the dunes to the west of the NNT Centre.

Two Orchids in partial bloom, photography not helped by the rusty metal frame protecting the clump. This is the better of the two spikes. 

More Fog

Saturday June 4

It's getting ridiculous. Moth-ing leaves us with long weekends only to do a day's birding. This week, we had to be in for the stonemason on Monday and out to lunch with A on Friday. Next week has four days moth-ing already booked. We'll probably do some birding after moths at Holme on Weds and after moth at Foxley Woods on Saturday. Not sure about Moth Night at Natural Surroundings on the Sunday yet. It is enjoyable if time consuming.

Saturday was forecast to be dry and sunny. The fog waited until mid afternoon when the sun broke through for us. That, plus the lowest of low tides at Snettisham, finishing at 4.30 after a 10 a.m start (moths) did not make for a big June list.
I love Brown Hares, we saw many to-day, all too far away to photograph. I couldn't resist this well hidden chap.

 

The highlights were two Grey Wagtails very actively food collecting at Sculthorpe Mill. The eggs must have hatched.

The first Yellow Horned Poppies at Snettisham

An orchid we haven't yet identified at Holme and 

A Red Kite in the Gun Hill area was a through the car sunroof sighting.

Our first Green Woodpecker sighting of the year was of a youngster on the lawn across the road. We have heard them in the area and often have young on our lawn, not this year yet