Lesser Butterfly Orchid in North Norfolk

After receiving some excellent directions from Murray S for an LBO, perhaps the only one flowering in East Anglia at present. I drove up to North Norfolk on the morning of Saturday 22nd June. The directions were excellent as I soon found the area, but not the plant. I retraced my steps and noticed I had walked straight past it. The exquisitely subtle beauty of the Lesser Butterfly Orchid was caged and the subtle beaty of this magnificent plant was admired. It was one lone individual but it was flowering beautifully and at its very best only the flowers at the very tip were yet to bloom and I spent the next hour photographing from every conceivable view and angle taking care not to stand on any Spotted Orchids, around 15 that were flowering nearby. I was later joined by Chris L and another local. Chris then showed me a plant which was formerly known as Pugsley's Marsh orchid, a variant I had always hoped to see, ID'd by its narrow leaved sepal. Chris then very kindly showed me another spot nearby where 2 further plants variants formerly known as Pugsley's Marsh Orchids were seen. Plus a very pale Pink Spotted orchid. I went to visit relative and returned to the second site, where amazingly a sky- blued abdomen male Keeled Skimmer was flying around, I saw him 3X but he was very elusive and I didn't see him land. Fortunately, I saw a female Keeled Skimmer in flight, she landed and going in very carefully she was very tolerant as I took pictures and left her still perched on a weed stem.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth first in the garden for 2019

Also on Friday 21st June at 7.23pm, I saw a fine Hummingbird Hawkmoth hovering around the Red valerian flowers in the back garden, initially seen from the kitchen window, I dashed out with the camera and took around 2 dozen pictures, this was the best, after 2 minutes it flew off.

Red- veined Darter again on Gunton Burial ground

On Friday 21st June, in the early evening I went back to the Gunton Burial ground and along the planted strip of Cornflowers, 1 fine male Red- veined Darter was again seen alighting on flowering cornflowers. he was initially quite wary but after a while he got used to me and I managed some shots. he would fly short distances and was sometime difficult to refind, but eventually was spotted again.

Red- veined Darters at Gunton burial ground

On Thursday 20th June, a tweet from James W to said Nick had found 2 Red- veined Darters at Gunton Woodland burial led me to ringing James W who was still there and agreed to kindly wait ten minutes so I could drive over. Ten minutes later, just on the east side of the burial field, James was crouching down by a lovely strip of Cornflowers and I saw my first Male Red- veined Darter of the year, perched on the top of a Cornflower, the sun came out and it whirred its wings and then flew a short distance to another Flower. James went further down the line and saw 1, whilst I saw a definite 2 Male Red- veined Darters almost together, so probably 3 Male Red- veined Darters in all. Nick B arrived with his scope and we had great views of 1 male in particular, usually perched on the far side of the Cornflower strip. It was really nice to see both Alan & Edwina B and we all managed get a few shots of this fine insect from the Mediterranean. We left it as it was clouding over but as I was walking back to the car, brilliant sunshine illuminated the field and I went back, the obliging male Red- veined Darter was still there and very carefully, without disturbing it, I took several pictures of it, sadly a sudden totally unexpected shower (it was really sunny and seemingly not a cloud in the sky) forced the fine Male Red- veined Darter to fly a little way north where it perched in a shrub, I left it there, as it may have been going to roost.

Garden & work bits and bobs

On Sunday 16 June, a Painted Lady butterfly was seen in the garden and on Wednesday 19th June, Jenny discovered incredibly a second Southern Marsh Orchid flower in one of flower tubs this time in the back garden. This is one of 3 now growing naturally in the garden, s On Monday 17th June a Painted Lady butterfly flew past the Library and south over the Hospital. On Thursday 20th June, a Moth (yer to be ID'd but I have a pic on my phone) was seen on the back window of the Library, I also saw another Painted Lady flying south.

Swallowtail Safari at Strumpshaw Fen

On Saturday 15th June, Swallowtails butterflies were out in force yesterday with an incredible 14 Swallowtail butterflies seen in all- best ever visit for numbers and showiness of 4 of their number (2 at the nettle path before the Cottage, 2 showing well and well appreciated by a small crowd on Sweet Williams at the (Mrs George’s Cottage), 10 by the Fen walk with 2 showing superbly on thistle) also 2 Brimstone- 1 by hedge by the car park, 6 Common Lizard- 2 by the Boardwalk and 4 on a log by the side of the path, 20 Painted Lady (10 alone on Sweet Williams by the Cottage) , 2 Scarce Chaser (Dragonfly) males- 1 hidden in vegetation & Norfolk Hawker (Dragonfly, green eyes brown abdomen) flew by briefly also a Male (at Reception Marsh) and female Marsh harrier (along the Fen walk) plus 2 adult Mute Swans and 2 cygnets the female came out on the path for a preen and hissing at passers by defending her 2 remaining cygnets, around 10 Southern Marsh orchids seen and 1 hybrid Spotted X Southern Marsh (darker pink flowers and Spotted Leaves- pure Southern Marsh Orchids have pure green not Spotted leaves) - all at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. Driving someway, we eventually stopped at this location, my usual spot to check Turtle Doves..... we heard a purring Turtle Dove and saw it purring from a distant bare tree it flew and showed the distinctive white along the side of its tail, another Turtle Dove bird seen briefly in flight, too. Going up the entrance to a setaside field, 1 then 2 Speckled Wood butterflies seen both swirling up in flight. Turtle Doves are declining dramatically due to the lack of seed rich fields, set aside land funded by the government is essential to ensure food for this quintessential British bird which is commemorated in popular culture in Christmas carls such as “Seven days of Christmas” the birds are summer migrants and winter in Africa.

Flowering currant bush wildlife

On Friday 14th June, it was 3 (or even 4) cheers for our Flowering Currant bush. A Painted Lady was the latest butterfly on this bush 5.30pm today at Parkhill, Lowestoft, had 2 Red Admirals on there this early am & a Diamond-back Moth on same bush last night!

White Chlorantha Bee Orchids & Pyramidals

On Tuesday 13th June, a trip in to deepest Suffolk revealed 3 excellent Chlorantha Bee Orchids (behind the southern fence line) and 7 Pyramidals (1 just behind another fence 2 posts before the sign, the rest around the area grass just south and west of the road including 2 fine individuals flowering in close proximity of each other), also I saw around 24 Bee Orchids.

Frog Orchids in the rain

On Monday 12th June, I took Josh C. to see the Frog Orchids in deepest Suffolk. The weather had been appalling with constant rain showers (although much needed for the garden) but asa we drew up the rain had stopped and as we walked to the meadow, although the sky was heavily overcast it ws dry and we managed to find 5 lovely Frog Orchids as well. there were also a Bee Ochid and 3 well over Early Purple Orchids too. Nice to hear a Yellowhammer singing too.

Woodchat Shrike at Kessingland

On Sunday 9th June, hearing Josh had found a Woodchat Shrike I parked just before heathlands in the lay-by and walked down to around 500 yards south of there along the beach, where I encountered a small crowd of birders watching the fine female Woodchat Shrike, in bushes along the embankment.

Lesser Grey Shrike at Horsey

On Saturday 8th June, I drove over to Horsey, no room to park on the bend, so I parked in the wood and walked across down the Nelson Head track almost to the back (around 200 yards before the beach). We looked across and the excellent Lesser Grey Shrike was perched in the mid distance bushes. It eventually flew a little closer. A really stunning bird, with peach coloured breast grey, black and white plumage.

Six dips over three days

On Wednesday 6th June, Josh had found a Marsh Warbler singing on my stomping ground at Fisher Row but I couldn't hear or see it. On Thursday 7th June again after work, he found another this time just past the railway line (in a similar spot to where I found one several years ago) again no sign, it was lovely sunny golden orbed light of an evening, but very nice to see Alison & Chris and catch up and also have a good yarn with Dick F too. Dick kindly showed me where up to 5 female Scarce Chasers were resting on bracken but too far out of reach to photo, but that was not the case for 2 magnificent Norfolk hawkers resting on the same bracken stem right beside the path that posed beautifully until a thundering crescendo of runners feet and 15 runners pounding by just feet away caused one to fly off. Andrew E arrived and instantly found a few more and 2 Scarce Chasers and a Hairy Hawker in tree top foliage. After Andrew E had left I had a very obliging female Scarce Chaser right beside the path just before the bowl. Overall probably 11 (all female) Scarce Chasers and 5 Norfolk Hawkers and 1 Scarce Chaser seen, good compensation for missing the Marsh Warbler. No such luck on Friday 7th June, when amazingly Josh had found a singing Greenish after looking for Richard's earlier Wood Warbler. It was in the north- east corner of the site but there was no sight or sound but good to see Steve P and Andrew E again. I thought there might be young Owls around as I heard a few alrm calls but couldn't find any, Tim B had better success and saw at least 2 Owlets later that evening, so it was a quadruple dip then.

Smooth Newt and Frog duo in Garden pond

On Monday 3rd June, at 5.20pm I was delighted to see a breeding male Smooth Newt basking belly up in the pond by a leaf, sporting a fine yellowy-orange spotted belly and about 3 inches long, I had a quick look bu t then dashed for the camera but alas it had gone so wasn't able to get pic, sadly. Nice to see 2 medium size Frogs in the pond, too. One posed very nicely for the camera in excellent light for a change.

Cuckoo in Broadland

Finally, after 5 visits and almost 9 hours (8 hours and 45 minutes) I was finally able to get pictures of the regularly returning Cuckoo to a caterpillar laden bush at a secret Broadland location. I had been hampered by people regularly walking by on a public footpath, they were perfectly entitled to do so and my stake out was further back on the river bank path with reeds and vegetation helping shield me. My tactics were to wait for the bird to fly in from 100 yards away, from a vantage point, to ensure no disturbance of the bird on my part then crawl into position, this worked admirably. Initially the bird perched on top of the bush but very sadly it was totally obscured, I couldn't move... s I might disturb it had I done so and I was only able to get a few pics of the bird (albiet usually obscured) as it fed mainly at the back of the bush and I can carefully crawl into position but regular walkers passing by on a footpath running right past the bush, forced the bird deeper into the bush. It even stayed after 2 walkers and a small dog went by, I viewed the bird on and off for 30 minutes, until sadly further walkers with 2 labradors probably flushed the bird, but I didn't see it fly out. A Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were also also seen in the bushes and an Avocet flying over. I will try again for some more pictures but big thanks to both the Smiths: Murray and Steve for tipping me off about this and their encouragement to keep trying despite my initial lack of luck and pics!!

Consolation Iberian Chiff- Chaff at Minsmere

With the goodies at Minsmere potentially on offer (with Cretzschmar's (first for mainland UK) , Broad- billed Iberian and the 2 Savi's potentially the best in terms of rare birds) I raced back from Buckingham, picked up my scope from home and arrived with the news at 9am that both the Cretzschmar's Bunting seen yesterday hadn't been sen and the Broad- billed Sandpiper had flown off. A double- dip then and not surprising as I now miss more at Minsmere than anywhere else now (it used to be Bretdon but I now tend to see everything at Breydon I go for now). Walking around, there were 15 Sand Martin seen briefly from the fence and on the beach, walking along to Dunwich pool, a Glow Worm larvae was seen on the steps and I could hear the Iberian Chiff- Chaff but it soon fell silent as I arrived. After 20 minutes finally it called again and I was able to get glimpses of the bird and then some good views on 3 occasions when it was seen totally unobscured amongst the Silver birches. It was the fine Iberian Chiff- Chaff. A fine consolation and only my third ever. There was also a ringed ordinary Chiff- Chaff singing in the same copse so ID had to be done with great care except when the bird was singing. The Iberian typically pale, more lemony looking. By the pond, first Smooth Newt seen in the water then on the surface, a chap asked what was this Stick Insect creature, it was of course, a Water Stick Insect! 2 newly emerged Four-spotted Chasers seen and one Four- spotted Chaser at rest by the car park pool too. It was getting hot at Minsmere and over run with people so I left.

Buckenham again

On Saturday 1st June, very early morning as I drove down to Buckingham, a Hare was seen in the road, it later went into the corner of a field. very early morning trip to Buckenham, the Cuckoo came over to the bushes perching in both either side of me calling away merrily but he flew over the bushes and away, so again no luck. Consolation came of another Hare also running down the road just past the big barn at Buckingham but it settled down a track going south and I was able to sneak up and get a few pics with the 100-400mm lens with very satisfactory results.