NOTES FROM NORFOLK

 I spent a few days in Norfolk with my sister during half term, visiting a number of well known bird and butterfly sites With the hottest day of our holiday predicted on Tuesday, we headed straight for Strumpshaw Fen hoping to see some of the recently emerged Swallowtail butterflies. I've only managed to glimpse this species from a distance before, so was hopeful to see something slightly closer. In fact, in the end we didn't  need to go further than the visitor centre where a single swallowtail was nectaring on the flowers nearby. I was pleased to be able to photograph one at last, and pleased we didn't have to walk the length of  the reserve to find one, particularly as my sister was using crutches to support a recently broken ankle!

In the afternoon we visited Ranworth Broad where we had distant views of ospreys,  which were nesting on the opposite side of the broad, then after returning to our accommodation for something to eat, we went out again at dusk to Kelling Heath where a conveniently situated car park allows visitors to  hear and see nightjars. I had no idea what the 'churring' sounded like, but a couple of locals who were familiar with the site,  pointed it out as soon as they could hear it. Initially the sound was distant but eventually moved closer and finally we were able to peer round into a clearing in an area of heathland just off the car park and saw three nightjars, albeit briefly,  black shapes flying around in front of us. A lifer for me and worth waiting for. 

Next morning I looked out of one of the upstairs window on to an area of rough ground in front of our cottage and was  thrilled to see a barn owl hunting, the first I'd seen this year. After quickly dressing, I was soon out  of the door and standing at the edge of the field. The owl was still there and as I had my camera pointed towards it, the owl began to head in my direction, finally diving down into the long grass about ten metres ahead of me. After a few minutes, it reappeared with a mouse in its claws and flew off into the direction of some trees. It didn't return so I made a point of looking out a dusk but without success. The following morning,  it was  back in the same area, though sadly didn't  come close enough for photos again. 

 

Next day we took a wildlife trip from Martham Broad; our guide was knowledgeable and interesting, and he pointed out the numerous species of  bird we could see from the boat, which included marsh harriers, hobby, great crested grebe, cuckoo, cranes, as well as more common species. A couple of grey  herons gave really close views perched on top of markers. 

marsh harrier

grey heron

We spent our third day exploring Titchwell Marsh, where I was hoping in particular to see bearded tits in the reeds and sanderlings on the beach. We didn't see any bearded tits  from the usual section of the path but from the hide we eventually saw some juveniles which appeared at the front of the reeds, but no handsome male this time!  I left my sister to enjoy her lunch on one of the benches overlooking the freshmarsh, where a family of redshanks was feeding whilst I made my way down to the dunes which led on the beach.  The tide was far out, but I  walked out towards a rocky area where a large group of small birds had just flown in. They turned out to be the sanderlings I was hoping for and I watched them all busily poking about amongst the seaweed for what ever treats they might find, noting the wide variation in their plumage.  Amongst them  was an oyster catcher and a couple of turnstones which was nice to see. 

I noticed several painted lady butterflies fly past me on the beach, and found two of three nectaring on thistles back on the reserve. It seems this is the beginning of a large influx!

painted lady butterflies

BUTTERFLIES ON THE DOWNS

Yesterday I took a trip down through Wiltshire just over the border into Hampshire to visit a butterfly site at Fontmell and Melbury Downs. On the way I stopped off at another popular site called Martin Downs, south of Salisbury, an open area of chalk downland, heath and woodland. I parked in the Sillens Lane carpark located three quarters of a mile along a rather pot-holed narrow road as I'd heard that sometimes turtle doves can be seen or heard here. With many tracks to choose from, I decided on a straight track alongside many bushes and trees, and a grass verge. Sadly no turtle doves, but even at eight o'clock, butterflies were already on the wing in the warm temperatures. I spent the best part of two hours there, including talking to another butterfly enthusiast who informed me he'd seen all the UK butterflies each year for about 12 years!  That would necessitate travelling the length and breadth of the country annually.  I think I'll be content with trying to see all 60 species at least once in  my life time! However, he did give me some useful information about  a couple of sites where I could find some of my five  'missing species'. albeit in Scotland and the Lkae District, many miles from home! Butterflies I saw at Martin Downs were common blue, small blue, small copper, speckled wood, orange tip, brimstone, small heath, dingy skipper and green hairstreak. 

My second stop was at Fontmell and Melbury Downs where my aim was to locate a couple of  'firsts for the year', namely Adonis blue and Glanville Fritillary. The latter species was once only found in the Isle of Wight but has been now 'introduced' into one or two areas in the south of England where it appears to be thriving.  I soon spotted my two target butterflies, on a sunny bank part way down a fairly steep track leading from the car park down to the valley below. With the day becoming increasingly warm, they were hard to photograph as they tended to settle with wings closed or amongst vegetation where it was cooler. On previous visits I've seen Marsh Fritillaries here, but there were none today although there were good numbers of brimstone and also small and common blues. 

My final visit was  on my journey home, when I stopped off at Boscombe Down West, a straight 1km section of a disused railway which runs alongside some ministry of defence land and is bordered by chalk embankments. Today it was hard to spot many butterflies but I did find a green hairstreak and one Adonis blue and one common  blue which often seemed to be interacting with each other. 

                                                                  Adonis blue

common  blue

Glanville fritillary

green hairstreak

SMALL BLUES AND DUKES AT CROG HILL

 It was so nice to be able to get out on a butterfly hunt today after some dull and windy weather. I decided to stay fairly local as I've a few trips further afield planned over the next few days. Crog Hill, just outside Lambourn is a well known spot for small blue butterflies so I  headed over there and parked in the usual place just off the road, where a bridleway starts. Along this bridleway it is  easy to spot these tiny butterflies, not so much blue but almost grey/black. I spotted one virtually as soon as I got out of the car and saw several more as I walked along the rutted track until I got to a grassy spot on the left hand side. Here  I found most of the small blues, together with at least four duke of burgundy butterflies, another speciality here,  which were much easier to see and photograph than at Rodborough Common at the end of April.  Other butterflies seen along the track  were common blue (3), Brimstone (2), small heath (1) peacock (1) and a further two dukes. 

A BUNDLE OF CUTENESS AT SLIMBRIDGE

Today's visit wasn't to see any new species for the year, (although I did add swift)  but to see the new life emerging at Slimbridge as resident waterbirds show off their broods. Goslings of all sizes were all around the reserve, plus cygnets and  ducklings and young coots and moorhens.  An extra bonus was a couple of bittern flights though both times it caught me by surprise and flew away from me so I was unable to record on my camera. A few of the cutest  are below. 

 

PEWSEY DOWNS BUTTERFLIES

 I had slight misgivings as to whether to venture over to Pewsey Downs NR this morning. Although sunny at first, temperatures weren't particularly high, and although predicted to rise later this afternoon, cloud was expected. 

However, with a few days of overcast or damp weather forecast over the next few days, I felt it was worth a try; one enthusiast had noted good numbers of butterflies at this site a few days ago and I was keen to tick off Marsh Fritillary. 

I arrived quite early for butterflies, at 9.45.am, the morning cloud was only just clearing and it was  still rather cool but, reaching a sheltered area to the east of the hill,  I did spot a common blue and dingy skipper almost straight away. The common blue vanished out of sight and I never saw it again though! As the morning progressed it became slightly warmer and sunnier for a while before clouding over again.  Nearly all the butterflies I saw were in this sheltered spot,  though in small numbers,  but included green hairstreak, grizzled and dingy skippers, small heath, wall, small copper, and marsh fritillaries.  

grizzled skipper

marsh fritillary

small coppers

dingy skipper

green hairstreak

small copper

wall

TRIP TO FOD

Today's trip didn't deliver the redstarts and spotted flycatchers I'd hoped for but  instead I was treated to some good views of a  pied flycatcher singing and exploring a nest box. I'd been down to the Lower Hide and spent some there, but  saw none of target birds, surprisingly , as I have often be quite successful there. I heard a redstart briefly but was able to  locate it, though some other observers did spot it from outside the hide apparently. The pied flycatcher was a short way along the woodland trail, singing in the trees close to the nest box.  

 At Cannop Stone works a pair of grey wagtails were busy collecting food for their young, evidently in a nest within a small stone building by the weir.