Parsonage Ups & Downs

A trip to Wiltshire ostensively to visit Salisbury ( a fine atmospheric city particularly being so close to Stonehenge (great to drive past this stunning place again, sadly no time to visit) and having the very atmospheric Old Sarum hillfort Castle just a mile north of the City)for a Blackmore's Night concert at the City Hall. A great 2 hour 40 minute concert from the band, including Candice Night (Mrs Blackmore) on vocals were on fire and the ultimate star of the show, a certain Mr Ritchie Blackmore still has it as a guitarist, soloing all night with 2 particularly good long solo's one an acoustic one during "Fires at Midnight" and maybe even better another one during "Journeyman" and joy of joys (!!) performing a particularly long solo with his cream Fender Stratocaster guitar (seventh heaven for all present!) A trip to Parsonage Down where I parked on the west side of the A33, walking an extra half a mile literally taking my life in my hands traversing a particularly busy dual carriageway (I should have parked along the east bound section by the rough track just off the main road & just east down to the Yarnsley Castle; a grassed over raised hill fort) trversing 6 feet high nettles in the central reservation and getting my trousers caught and torn hopelessly trying to negotaied a 5 foot high barbed wire fencing round the fort- when if I had parked by the track missed intersecting the castle hill fort area all togetherin an embarrassing area just below the crotch) it took me almost an hour to find the right entrance to the Down & this was not the start I envisaged or wanted! The Down was reached by taking the fist of 3 paths leading off from the track wih a discretionary byway notice and a pictur of a tank. A sign just past a gate indicated I was finally in the right area. I had initially taken a wrong turn, the 2nd track where I had seen a fine Marbled White butterfly resting peacefully in the long grass until where further on a tractor was seen and what looked like a military land area, but as soon as I took my camera out of the bag and it flew strongly off and out of sight! An initial search for the sought after Burnt Tip or indeed any orchids failed to turn any up at all. Not what I was expecting, walking down the Down into a Dip and then half way up a raised incline area, I met some botanists who had seen 1 near the gate and a couple of Fragrant & Frog Orchids. By the side of a path later on I finally spotted my first Orchid, a rather diminutive Fragrant Orchid, just coming into flower. But even better as I started to retrace my steps, right in front of me incredibly was a Badger, in full daylight on the path ahead of me, at first it didn't seem to notice me, it appeared to be a juvenile being 3/4 the normal size of a Badger an its coat appeared to me more browny than the silvery- grey I was expecting, I had a glimpse of the spectacular black & white striped face as it snuffled about, it soon got wind of me (perhaps literally, maybe it was the deodorant!) and started to run down the track and down a big obvious hole. from the hole streching maybe 4 metres down towards the lower part of the incline was an obvious earthy track a well worn rout taken by this particular set of Badgers, lets hope this our safe from the impending cull. Back at the gate, I saw the Botanists again but particularly disappointing was the fact they cleared off just before I reached them so I couldn't ask them exactly where the elusive Orchid was. As a result I failed spectacularly in finding any Burnt tips, a big disappointment. A further Fragrant Orchid, again seen by the side of a path was scant compensation. Walking back along the track, I noticed (as I had on the journey down) up to 5 singing Corn Buntings, seen singing from bushes adjoing the track an 2 to 3 Yellowhammers also. I kept a look out for Bustards but didn't see any. My final wildlife sighting was a another fine Marbled White butterfly which flew up from thistles by the side of the road as I was nearing the layby where I had intially parked the car.

Dolphins in Cardigan Bay

I am just back from a trip to Wales (1st to 4th July inclusive), again primarily a family visit, I did manage to sneak it one or two wildlife sojourns. A trip to New Quay, 5 Red Kite were seen on the journey down and back, often just flying above off top height, was the highlight with a boat trip to see the Bottlenose Dolphins, just after we had embarked on the boat, 1 Bottlenose Dolphin was swimming just yards from the boat from within the harbour before we had even cast off! As we made our way past a sandy beach, a mother and a calf so 2, Bottlenose Dolphin had been seen in the mid distance an they were also seen just off from the beach. Heading past a seabird colony, various auks were seen on the sea and flying past, primarily chocolate brown and white plumaged Guillemots, c150 seen in all we also saw black and white plumaged Razorbills, 100 seen and 1 Puffin flying past with obvious multi- coloured wedge- shaped bill and more dumpy appearance noted. Going further out the sea became very choppy indeed and another Bottlenose Dolphin sighting riding the crest of a wave couldn't be fully appreciated as we were holding on for dear life! Heading back to the sanctity of just off the calmer shore waters, we headed south an just outside the harbour entrance, a Bottlenose Dolphin was around a boat. Back on dry land, from the harbour wall, I watched the Dolhin again. In Mum's garden every day I noted up to 2 Nuthatches coming to food. Walks down to the stream revealed Grey Wagtail, one singing from high up in a tree, 2 Mistle Thrush fly up from the road by the stream and a Buzzard fly up from the field half way down the hill walking down from Mum's house.

White Chlorantha Bee Orchids

Following a text from Jane F on Sunday 23 June, I looked at Corton New Sewage works during the late afternoon and counted up to 57 Bee Orchids in the usual area but initially I could not find the white ones. However, following a call to Jane F and excellent directions, I quickly found these initially elusive plants. I found both the White Chlorantha Bee Orchids just over the fence around half way back from the stile, as always absolutely stunning plants and they were well photographed by yours truly and I surely owe Jane & Paul a pint each! Pictures to follow soon. On Monday 24th June, a Buzzard whilst driving back home after work, flew east over the A12 by the farm just a mile south of the Hopton roundabout.

Hobby flying over Parkhill

On Saturday 22nd June, a Hobby flew over the road at Parkhill as we travelled down the road, it flashed by flying south.

Roller at Holt Country Park

On Friday 14th June travelling home after work just after 5pm after my last day of work, working for Norfolk Libraries, I spied a Hobby fly over the road by the farm just after the Hopton roundabout it flew west over the A12. On Monday 17th I parked at the car parking area on the east side of the road. I initially met Kevin B & his wife as they were crossing the road. Initially, the news was not good from Kevin as the sought after Roller had last been seen in the clearing at 6.10pm. Having met Peter C (former) work colleague and friend & Diane, viewing the clearing nothing could be seen and the Roller appeared long gone. Peter said he was going to check the area bordering Holt County Park and he promised to ring me if he heard any news. After a while a chap came over saying he thought he had seen it and we initially walked west towards the far end of the clearing. Then I suddenly saw people running in the opposite direction. Obviously the Roller had been sighted but it was in exactly the opposite direction in which I was going! Quickly changing direction, I started to half run (difficult with a 7 kilo weight on my back- my camera and 500mm lens) but I gradually managed to catch several people up, bumping into Paul & Jane F just driving back into the east car park and we continued to walk down a slope throgh a small copse of tree and up a gently ascending slope (the phone was now ringing, the ever dependable Peter C with news about the Roller) and I eventually reached the crowd and eventually spied the excellent Roller perched on a branch on a tree extending right of the trunk, around half way up. Peter C & Diane were watching the bird and I was joined by Rene B & Paul & Jane F. An absolutely stunning bird with cobalt blue plumage brown and black back, it was a real stunner. We watched for some 30 minutes before after an explosion of colour it flew right and then behind a tree and out of sight. meanwhile first one then another,2 Wood Larks seen singing their lovely "lululula" call.

Orchid Heaven

On Sunday 16th June, I made my way down to The Woods as Dick had tweeted that he'd found 2 plants in one section of that wood. Having first contacted Paul & Jane I was delighted to meet them there at 10.30am and even more delighted when Jane had found them. The 2 Greater Butterfly Orchids really were stunning plants with gorgeous white flowers having been protected by couple of branches laid around them to stop deer grazing on their precious sepals and leaves. On the other side Ricky found another small Greater Butterfly Orchid. Taking the path down, in an Oak by the side of the path at the bottom of the scae, a moss filled nest revealed a lovely female Spotted Flycatcher sitting on the nest, just her head could be seen poking over the top of the nest, lets hope this pair of Flycatchers are not disturbed successful in raising their young.

Trimley Pacific Swift

Returning from the supermarket and hearing breaking news of a Pacific Swift down at Trimley, the same old questions surfaced. When confronted with twitching one in the past would it stay? (Cley, 1993, missed that one by 40 minutes, after dilly dallying around!), was it really one (aberrant Swift, initially identified as a Pacific- Walberswick 2012) and could I get a lift with someone/ or give someone a lift?? These were quickly resolved when James B travelled over and I drove down to Trimley St. Mary the road leading down to the reserve was choc-a- bloc with cars and absolutely no spaces. Fortunately at the full- up car park at the end, some birders were walking back and they said I could take their space, so parking well off the road on a slope we finally got going. I walked past the avenue of trees where many years ago, 1992, I had seen my first White- throated Sparrow. A very long 3 mile walk which took around 40 minutes & after 20 minutes we forked right and half an hour later we had reached the path to the river and walking along here we joined the thronged crowd on the bank over looking a marshy lagoon. They included Rob Wil & Win, Andrew E, Paul & Jane F and a later arriving Rob Hol & Paul W) At the back were some Shelducks and Dick W (with Maurice B behind him) directed me to look here and after what seemed an age I finally connected with my first British Pacific Swift, an incredible bird looking browner than the darker Common Swifts it was with, c60 & with a very clear white rump, more elongated wings, and more attenuated end/ ie. tail, it scythed the air and often flew low and then high. When it was against the trees we often lost it for a few moments before it was picked up again. For most of the time the tail was closed but at times showed it was deeply forked tail and the underparts were clearly paler sandy scalloped appearance. It flew low over the the lagoon, obviously feeding on insects and over the heads of the Shelducks on the water, a House Martin was also seen here too. it then flew past the marshes to the right and then turned around flew up past the trees and higher up into clear sky before turning around and back over the Shelducks again. It kept repeating this circuit and occasionally even varying it by sometimes it would fly towards us, flying low over the lagoon and showing really well especially when viewed in the 'scope! No pics I'm afraid, as i didn't fancy dragging the camera and lens over 6 miles of walking! We also received the shocking news that Police were issuing parking tickets to all the cars parked in Cordly road, & my car was parked here!! Walking back, we encountered an anxious late arriving John H and a few minutes later we received a bit of a soaking! Lee E was directing operations in the car park. I was relieved when we got back to the car, that I hadn't received a parking ticket, although I had parked very sensibly well off the road & not blocking any drives or the road itself. In the garden in the evening, a Goldfinch for the second evening running singing from our TV aerial. In the fish pond 3 Frogs seen with one showing exceptionally well.