Creeping Ladies Tresses

On Wednesday 23rd July, I travelled up to a traditional site in North Norfolk for Creeping Ladies Tresses, as I arrived there were a lot of Sarters on the wings as I walked down, as I reached the spot I to paraphrases Howard Carter "initially couldn't see anything but as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, I could make out tiny white flowered Orchids". Many were in bud including around 7 plants, but 2 were fully out in flower and a further 6 just had the leaves starting. 15 in all.

2nd Small Tortoiseshell of the year

On Monday 21st July, at about 7pm, I saw my 2nd Small Tortoiseshell of the year feeding on Buddlea flowers in the back garden but at the very top it stayed for a few minutes before flying off, again eluding the camera

Back to the Broad- leaved Helleborines

After a rain soaked weekend, I went out locally and checked on the Broad- leaved Helleborines and was pleased to see more had been caged but there were still at least 10 however which were uncaged, I put more canes/ sticks around them and although most of the plants that were in flower, but only one showed fresh flowers. I found another plant that appeared to have been nibbled probably by Muntjac Deer (even though I had put sticks around it) and the flower head had separated and been sheared off so I left it so the seeds could disperse for future plants to hopefully germinate.

First 2025 Painted Lady and then back to the Santa Maria

On Saturday 19th July, mid morning after the rain had stopped the sun came out and I went pout into the back garden, a Painted Lady butterfly flewm up from the ground and flew west out of the garden, my belated first for 2025. On Sunday 20th July, at around 9.30am, I went back to Great Yarmouth to get more pictures of the Santa Maria, it was sunny at Lowestoft but typically clouded up by the time I reached the South Quay at Great Yarmouth, but the sun obligingly came out as I opened the door and was able to spend the next 20 minutes getting pictures before the sun once again disappeared into cloud. I have really enjoyed seeing the ship and hope we get more historic ships/ replicas to the harbours of Great yarmouth and Lowestoft in th near future.

Ruby Tiger on the front door

On Thursday 17th July, at around 10.50pm, a Ruby Tiger Moth was on the front door and I managed to get a few photos of it, sadly I think it fell victim to a Spider nearby when I checked on it later, part 2 of the brutalities of nature.

Broad- leaved Helleborines

On Wednesday 16th July, at a local site, I went to put sticks around Broad leaved helleborines with the help of Paul and Jane where we saw around 27, although Paul & Jane F are confident they saw 47 in total but sadly some plants have been nibbled by Muntjac Deer and some even strimmed. E£ven though I have asked those who manage the wood not to strim until late August.

Trip to the Santa Maria

On Sunday 13th July, Jenny & I drove to Yarmouth and parked by the South Quay next to the ship and had an exploration on board the Santa Maria, a replica of Christopher Columbus's ship that had him and his crew circumvent across the Atlantic and 'discover' America. Built in the late 1400's, this remarkable feat of the shipmaker's craft and the Spanish were the widely acknowledge masters of shipbuilding at that time. We had a fantastic time on board ship and I will probably visit again before the week is out. Unfortunately, it is leaving Great Yarmouth on Sunday the 20th, so time is limited, if you are able to go, then this is highly recommended, admission of £10 per prson is well worth it!

Green-flowered Helleborines

On Saturday 12th July, a trip into deepest Suffolk first stop was for the now flourishing colony of 7 Green- flowered helleborines, moving even deeper into Suffolk at a traditional site I saw 2 female Purple Emperors flying around the top of the trees. I saw Silver washed fritillaries, one tatty one down the far end and 3 flying around the main PE viewing area. I also saw Southern Hawker and a couple of Purple Hairstreaks, one flew around the top of trees another one was attacked in mid air by a wasp and we saw it fall down and we raced over to rescue the unfortunately butterfly with the wash clug onto it tenaciously, sadly the Hairstreak had already died from the wasp sting, nature is very brutal. Driving back, I saw a Silver- washed Fritillary flying across the road.

Hedgehog, Pratincole & first Gatekeeper in the garden

On Thursday 10th July at 7pm in borad daylight, I saw a Hedgehog crossing the road near no 72 I dashed out of the car to indicate to the passing car that a hedgehog was crossing and the car avoided it. I dashed out with my camera but just missed it as it went into the hedgerow of a garden. Sadly it was found 2 days later squashed on the road. On Wednesday 9th July, a trip down to Aldeburgh Marshes, I had great difficulty finding the site trying first from the Brick Dock I'd walked a mile and I could see birders about 3 miles back, so I walked back and tried from Slaughden, I took the river path but again was very unsure where to go, I saw the flash but couldn't see the Pratincole, only when I saw another birder making his way down that I followed him, but I couldn't keep up with all the gear I was carrying in 30 degrees plus heat, fortunately I bumped into Lee W. and Eddie M. who told me exactly where to go, I soon joined the birders and saw the fine Collared Pratincole sitting on the far side bank side of the flash. It stretched its wings and I saw the chestnut underwing coverts and it also bobbed his head a number of times. On the 6th July Gatekeepers seen in the front and back garden but both or the same one were extremely elusive.

Early Migrant Hawker

On the 5th July an early Migrant Hawker was in the back garden and it was photographed too. Later on another Hummingbird Hawk Moth seen again on the garden Honeysuckle in the back garden at 3.48pm. Later on that evening it was again seen on our garden Honeysuckle at 9.58pm.

Another HHM and Little Owl megabuck

On Monday 4th July, in the evening a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was again flying around feeding on the Summer Flowering Jasmine briefly a7 7.23pm then 2 minutes later feeding on the purple flowering buddlea. The at 8.43pm unbelievably but true a Little Owl flew north east just over the back of the garden just under roof top height and seen really well. A massive garden megatick!