Garden wildlife

On Saturday 20th July, a Gatekeeper on the flowering Hebe bush was the firs t of the year for the garden, a Large White and Peacock butterflies also put in an appearance as did a clear winged Hawker (could only rule out Brown) as it flew quickly past the patio, abdomen not seen.

Pacific Golden Plover in the last hour of light along Breydon South wall fields

On Thursday 18th July, having seen Peter A's tweet at 6.35pm, (another great find from the Breydon birder), of no sign of the PG Plover he had sensationally found early in the morning. I decided to fill up the rather depleted wildlife find. When I got back at 7.40pm, I received a message that the bird had been refined at 6.40pm typical! I leapt in the car and without scope and bins, the old Zeiss Dialyt's were dug out and I decided to just go with that as I knew it was a mile and a half walk down to the Pump house. Arriving at the Herbert Barnes car park, I fortuitously met Matthew D and we walked down together, first dave Holman and then Justin L passed us saying the bird was still there in the field, passing a resting Paul W, we met a group of birders including Andrew E, James W, Dick W and Ali R. The bird, a magnificent slightly moulting adult Pacific Golden Plover was in the field immediately south- east of the wind pump along the east side where the stubble cut met the reeds at the back, initially only its head and shoulders seen but as it continued to run and then stop around 2 metres at a time we saw this slightly smaller slim plover with striking white "S" running down the side of the breast thickest on the curve and a lovely golden/ grey spangly back. At times it was almost totally obscured at other times it was right out in the open and eventually headed for the far corner of the field. My extensive thanks to Andrew E for letting me see some prolonged views through his scope. A Grey Heron fished in the ditch just left of the bird.

ad summer plumaged Purple Sandpier at Ness Point

On Sunday 14th July, in the early evening, following a tweet that Andrew E had seen a sp Purple Sand. I parked up and no sooner had I walked out that I could hear the wonderful call of a Purple Sandpiper and saw this fine bird, an adult in full summer plumage perched on one of the defence rocks and it was looking around and preening then went to sleep.

Low Road, Hellesdon

On Saturday 11th July, at a family party, at the far end of the garden at Low road, by the river around 7 Banded demoiselles seen plus I heard Ring- necked Parakeets but not seen.

Marsh Sandpiper at Minsmere

On Wednesday 10th July, exciting news of a Marsh Sandpiper discovered at Minsmere that afternoon had me heading straight down to Minsmere via a snack stop where I briefly saw Josh C. Walking down to east hide the good news was it was still there. I saw John R and Rob W and Josh C again. John & I entered the hide and we were greeted with the news that the bird had flown and disappeared behind an island. Whilst waiting I saw 3 dusky Spotted Redshanks, 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Sandwich Tern and Little Gull seen flying around the south scrape. Then suddenly, it was spotted the fine Marsh Sandpiper, slightly bigger than a nearby Green Sandpiper, slender like a miniature Greenshank with needle thin straight bill black beady eye and grey upper parts and white underpart, a wonderfully elegant wader constantly walking around and feeding.

3rd Emperor missed!

At Lound, having tried Friday 5th July evening after work and again on Saturday 6th July, no sign of the Lesser Emperor from the boardwalk. Norfolk Hawker and 2 Emperor Dragonflies seen. Close Greylag Geese and Mute swans with 2 cygnets seen.

Fritlllary at last (in Suffolk!)

On Friday 5th August at the usual Purple Emperor site, sadly none seen. Save for a Purple Emperor pupae brought along. The main gain was seeing my very belated Suffolk first, a Silver- washed Fritillary flying along the bushes from the usual spot flying right. Taking the path down both left and right 2 single Silver- washed Fritillarys seen. Nice to see over 100 Spotted Orchids growing around the edge of the usual observation site, plus by a gorse bush, a Southern Hawker seen.

Kessingland Beach

On Thursday 4th August, at Kessingland beach, just after midday, sadly no sign of any rare Dragonflies, Vagrant Emperor seen earlier sadly departed. Some consolation came in the form of an eventually obliging immature male Black- tailed Skimmer which initially skittish enabled me to get some pics, looking like a well marked female. On closer examination of the photos the secondary genital proved it was a male as I initially thought.

Red- veined Darters again at Gunton Woodland Burial

On Wednesday 3rd July, I went back to the cornflower strip along the Gunton woodland Burial, a male Red-veined Darter was seen very briefly, plus another brief encounter with a male Emperor Dragonfly, whilst the female Red- veined Darter showed well mainly on the south edge of the Cornflower patch.

Dinas comes up trumps again

A trip over to RSPB Dinas on the Monday 1st July and their were newly installed signs for Owen's cave, a kind of Welsh Robin Hood, nice to celebrate a historical figure but very sad when the RSPB put on their signage "RSPB Dinas home to Owen's Cave" instead of home to Pied Flys, Redstarts and Wood Warblers in the Spring & Dippers, Peregrines, Red Kites all year around??? Anyway walking along the boardwalk, I was surprised to hear a little sub-song of Wood Warbler and sure enough right in front of me was a Wood Warbler showing reasonably well. Perched mid way up on some branches, it then flew up and spent a lot of time in the canopy. Walking further along by the wood, A Spotted Flycatcher was seen perched on a fence and then an immature bird was heard nearby but not seen. Further along by the edge a cracking male Pied Flycatcher was seen by branches low down near the main trunk. Further along a fine male Redtart seen perched on a fence. Walking back and then looking along the main river, 2 Raven flew by on a distant hill top, by the woods, I could heard the trilling song of another fine Wood Warbler, although it wasn't seen. meantime a Dipper flew onto a rock and then flew and settled under a tree.

No boat to Skomer

On Sunday 30th June, I got up early and despite getting there for 8am, the car park was already almost full and joined a long queue, the first time I ever I literally missed the boat to Skomer, very, very disappointing. I did however get a boat trip around the island. Wonderful to see the first Gannets, the the auks, a razorbill, then 2 Guillemots then quite literally hundreds of Puffins in rafts on the water and literally dotted all around the greener grassy areas of the island, wonderful to see again (although it would have been better if I could seen them on land at Skomer). Calling Chough revealed 1 Chough flying over the cliff, several Fulmars seen on cliffs and at the end around 3 seen on the sea that flew by too. A walk around Marloes deer park revealed a family of 3 Stonechat, male female and youngster. A presumed Dark Green Fritillary butterfly was flying around but never settled, a female Common Blue seen plus an Emperor Dragonfly that flew down a path and briefly settled but didn't pose at all for the camera. Finally 5 Linnets were seen on gorse near the path on the walk back. As we disembarked up the steps a pair of Rock Pipits were very active along the cliff, the rocks and regularly perching on the hand rails and I managed to get some nice consolation shots of them at least.

Cymisfael stream birding, Llanddarog wildlife watching

On Friday 28th June, as I arrived at Mum's a Raven flew over calling. A look in the early evening at Cymisfael stream revealed both banded and Beautiful demoiselles plus a couple of Ringlets and Meadow Browns. On my next visit saturday morning, the Dipper was seen near Pennybanc bridge. 3rd visit no sign of the Dipper this time, but Grey wagtail seen fling over the bridge plus 2 Red Kites perched in a tree. 2 Buzzards also seen. 4th visit, again the Dipper was seen briefly by Pennybanc bridge, 2 Buzzards seen including 1 flying down the road by the streak, also a Nuthatch seen. Over the course of the days I was there House Sparrows sen, House Martins nesting on the new bungalow built next door and on the last day, a closish Buzzard seen on a telegraph pole, and 2 Mistle Thrushes in the field beyond, plus an immature House Sparrow perched on the gate post.

Tongue Orchids in Essex

On Friday 28th June, driving to X in Essex, after receiving excellent directions from Chris L and Jane F. I found the road turned right into it and parked up near the dumped farm machinery and went through the gate into a big meadow divided by a hedge half way back on meeting that I walked 20 yards north and by a flattened area I followed a small path for 10 yards before coming to the area barely 2 metres square where I counted at least 17 excellent Tongue Orchids or Serapias. Some had gone over but there a few lips in good flower which were well worthy of some pics. I had to use flash as it was cloudy.