Mick Underwood RIP

I was very, very sad to hear the news that Mick Underwood, famously the drummer with Gillan (the Band) has recently died at the age of 78. Mick Underwood was in a range of bands and in the late 1960's, including the Outlaws where he his tenure included rubbing shoulders with a very young Ritchie Blackmore. It was Mick who very generously recommended Ian Gillan when he was in Episode Six, Gillan was their singer to Ritchie and Gillan (together with fellow Episode Six-er Roger Glover) who joined Deep Purple to form the mighty world beating mark 2 version of the band. The band that wrote such Purple classics as Smoke on the Water, Speed King, Black Night, Highway Star, Lazy, Space Trucking, Woman from Tokyo etc. I was fortunate enough to meet Mick Underwood, who was very gracious and very humble, at a pub at Ipswich and delighted to get his signature then, we met just a few hours before the Gillan band's Magic tour concert at then then Ipswich Gaumont. Mick formed an awesome rhythm section with John McCoy, the bass player, in the Gillan Band and I was fortunate enough to see him 3X in the Gillan Band once at Great Yarmouth Regal Theatre (Double Trouble Tour), once at Ipswich Gaumont (Magic Tour) and also at the Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington (also Magic Tour). He was an incredible drummer and perhaps my 3rd favourite drummer after Ian Paice and the late Cozy Powell. That Ipswich concert lives long in the memory especially Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil and other Ipswich Town greats from the famous Bobby Robson Ipswich FC Team joined the band for the encore. I am now going to look for that Mick Underwood signature now, hope I can find it, rest in peace Mick.

Wildlife at the Paget

On Monday 29th July, at lunchtime at James Paget Hospital, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly flew into the Library and flew up to one of the low ceiling lights. I had bought a butterfly net for such an eventuality and I quickly netted and released it unharmed outside for it to fly away strongly. The first and only one I have seen this year. Early afternoon in the Burrage Centre garden a Brown Hawker (first site record for me) flew past and south and 2 Common Blues seen on the grass too plus 2 Gatekeepers and a Large White.

Violet Helleborines in very deepest Suffolk

On Sunday 28th July, a a traditional site in very deepest Suffolk, I met Paul & Jane F at 10am to walk through the wood to the spot where the Helleborines were. It was only my second time at this site. The last time Ricky was still with us and he had given me excellent directions and I had found around 30 odd plants. This time they were incredibly difficult to find and Jane found 2 plants, Violet Helleborines, with one in flower and 1 in bud. Typically they were in a dark part of the wood. Both plants were on the edge of a small bramble and were lit at times by the rays of the sun. Especial thanks to Paul & Jane F for finding the plants and meeting me at this site. I was glad to get a few pictures but had to darken the exposure -3 and a third to show the voilet in the white lip of the flower. Butterflies seen 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, a Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown and 2 Large White.

Redshank over & return to the Broad- leaves

On Wednesday 24th July at 11.30pm, as I was checking what is left of the Runner Bean plants and picking off the Snails after yet more rain, I heard the unmistakable call of a single Redshank flying due south over the garden it called 3X. On Friday 26th July, I returned to the Broad- leaved Helleborines delighted to find more plants totalling 14 all along the path. I saw Jeremy G and walking back, 2 girls were looking at something in the gutter, it turned out to be a tiny froglet, so I caught and released it by the pond on the nearby patch. An intersting micro moth was seen on the car too. Would love to know what it is? POSTSCRIPT: Many thanks to Robert J. who kindly pointed out this was a Twenty-Plume Moth

Breydon Water 'canteen' of Spoonbills & Broad leaved Helleborines

On Saturday 20th July, I went to Breydon Water and from the hide I countered 23 Spoonbills on the lumps plus 2 Great- white Egrets on the estuary, but there was no sign of the Ibis. Memorably called a Cantten of "Spoonbills by Rob H.! I ventured out in the early evening to count the local Broad leaved Helleborines but I could only 6 plants, well down on last year's tally and disappointing, but all were tall, lush and vibrant plants, with 5 within cages either side of the path and 1 growing just outside a cage. It is vital this precious plants are protecetd from being nibbled/ eatenby Muntjac Deer which are prevalent and I will speak again with the owner to try and increase management so we can provide better conditions for this species to thrive and increase in. numbers. I have already cut back bramble bushes in the area.

Green flowered Helleborine in deepest Suffolk

On 18th July I went into deepest Suffolk and at the usual spot, saw the fine Green- flowered Helleborine growing from an upturned tree stump, as usual conditions were very challenging for photography, but I usued the limited firm footing to getb the only available spots for photography. Nearby a walk through a wood, revealed sadly a Wood Pigeon on the ground that looked if it had been attacked by a Sparrowhawk as it had a chunk taken out at the side of its breast but it was too active to be caught and taken to the vets. Nearby I failed to see any Broad- leaved Helleborines.

Creeping Ladies Tresses

On Wednesday 17th July after work, I left at 2pm and drove up to North Norfolk and I walked up to the spot for the Creeping Ladies Tresses which was roped off along the right side of the path. Over shadowed by Pine trees, I counted a tally of 36 Creeping Ladies Tresses plants. Tiny little white orchids, similar to Autumn Ladies Tresses and I trod carefully as I looked around and focused on a few plants. These were a new Orchid species for me and they were quite wonderful! As I walked to the beach, I was delighted to see a few c8 Little Terns and the odd 3 Common Tern. Turning my attention to the Dunes, I eventually found 54 Marsh Helleborines, there was a green/ brown 'beetle' near the top of 1 Marsh Helleborine, that I identified as at home a Cockchafer, c aeruginosa. As I walked back, initally through the Pines, I saw a medium sized glossy white egg shell, about 4- 5cm long, I wonder which species, Wood Pigeon perhaps? Checking back home that seems to be a correct ID for the eggshell. Also, a nice pink flower was seen by the side of the track. Not sure what that was (a pic is included below). POSTSCRIPT Thanks to Jane F Id'd as a Broad- leaved everlasting Pea.

Godetia Farewell to Spring

A really nice pink flower bloomed by the front door in the garden. Many thanks to Jane F who identified it as Godetia Farewell to Spring. UPDATE by the 25th July it now it has 2 flowers!

Red- footed Falcon at Carlton Marshes again

On 10 July initially no sign of the Red- footed Falcon was finally located west of Share Marsh track on a distant bare bush at 7.38pm, it flew left a little way and perched on another bush before it eventally returned to its original bush again at 7.45pm. A Muntjac Deer seen walking down the path in front of me near the Look Out hide.

Red Kite over Normanston Park

On 7 July, now recovered from a mild dose of Civid, a Red Kite, as I was being given a lift to Lowestoft Railway station, was seen going west over peto way near Normanston Park at 10.40am

Struck down with Covid!

I finally caught Covid, albeit a mild dose.