A trip to deepest Suffolk

On Sunday 11th June, a visit into deepest suffolk, in a wonderful area for Turtle Doves, as I parked up I could here them immediately purring away and walking along the eastern edge of the site, 1 fine Turtle Dove perched in a tree and walking to the north of the site another Turtle Dove seen perched on overhead wires. As I walked over to the west of the site, a Turtle Dove perched bya telegraph pole too. Some teenagers walking down the road sadly disturbed it. There were several 5 Yellowhammers seen, the first seen in a nearby bush a male and a female with food in her bill, I left her to it. As I parked up, then one singing from the top of a tree along the west of the site. Finally one showed well in a bush in the middle of the site. I also saw a fine Spotted flycatcher on the western perimeter of the site and many gone Green- winged orchids c100 seen too. A trip to the Frog orchid site revealed a singing Yellowhammer which flew to a tree and in the usual spot, a well down trodden path led to an obvious Frog Orchid, eventuallly I found 5 more just to the left of that plant, so 6 Frog orchids seen in total.

Carlton then Eyed hawk Moths

On Saturday 10th June, a look at Carlton Marshes revealed A Grass Snake by the Spider Bridge, no sign of any Spiders. Plus a hairy hawker seen flying up and down the dyke. A text from Rob Holmes that he had some mating hawk Moths and I popped over to his address nearby and there were 2 mating Eyed Hawk Moths perched on the stem of an Alium. It was a warm day so the offer of a drink from Rob was very welcome, a great photo session in very convivial surroundings! A further visit later, again no spiders revaled an immature Mistle Thrush fly over by Spratt's Water.

Spotted Orchids

On friday 9th June, a look at the local Orchid Meadow revealed a few Spotted Orchids flowering.

Spotted Sandpiper at Corton below radar Lodge and Library Bee Orchids

On Monday 5th June, just after finishing dinner I had a call from Nick B saying he had just found a very special bird in a very awkward and almost inaccessible location. I rang back and incredibly he had found a summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper complete with spots! But it was very flighty and directly below Radar Lodge which had been fenced off because of the dangerous old sea wall and the crumbling cliffs! He advised parking near Beach road, walking down the road and then heading south for around 1000 metres, I did just that and promptly slipped over on a very green encrusted part of the path, no damage done but gingerly I got up (remember I had had a bad fall coming out oif the ditch where the Fly Orchids had been in deepest Suffolk. IA fence was barring access and carried on half way up the cliff, I grimly hung on to the fencing, handily for me there was a gap where I could put my big lenns and camera bag plus the scope and tripod, and feeling rather like a low budget Spiderman I clung on for dear life and just managed to get up halfthe cliff and over the otherside. At which point Nick arrived and took my scope tripod and camera bag, as I then had to balance on a wrecked part of the seawall walk along like a trapese walker and jump 4 feet onto another rock, this was certainly not for the faint hearted. I just about managed it and joined Nick, Andrew and Rob Wil who was just ahead of me. The Spotted sandpiper was feeding by the base of the cliff, the light was poor and the sea was rapidly coming in so we had 30 minutes max to see it. It then appeared from beyond a lump and showed reasonably well on and off for the next 30 minutes, very white below wiuth spots which were densest on the breast. A very striking bird! TBCand carried on there look along the North Beach revealed 2 summer plumaged Sanderling, saw Andrew E too. Tuesday 6th June, by carefully caging the Bee Orchids, I have saved them from certainly being squashed by a large crane than was just millimetres from them aover the past few weeks and working with our great estates team to make sure they are preserved and indeed celebrated. We had 2 last year, this year we have 4 and the original plant has now produced its first flower. I am offering all Hospital staff Bee Orchid safaris (very popular last year) and have already shown 5 people today!

Large Red Damselfly & Owlet

On Sunday 4 June, I noticed a fine male Large Red Damselfly was perched on the open conservatory door. The first one I have seen in the garden for several years. I went to retrieve the camera but no batteries in it meant I had to put one in when I returned the damselfly had gone. James W tweeted out about an Owlet, I drove to a local wood and taking the western track, I eventually spotted the fine Tawny Owlet perched high up in the canopy of a tree.

Lowestoft Shrike

On Saturday 3rd June, I went down in the morning to photograph the Kittiwakes. Rob Wil found a Red- backed Shrike, driving down to the Links's Road car park, I joined a few Poeple Chris D, James B and we soon saw the fine male Red- backed Shrike perched briefly in bracken and then it flew back and perched in a bare tree where it hunted for insects. Moving up to North Parade the light was much better with the sun behind us.

Man Orchids in the heart of Norfolk & Rockland Black Tern

On Wednesday 31st May, I drove to the heart of Norfolk. Parking up crossing a busy road, I walked across under a low hanging branch with black and yellow tape then turning right. Walking up and on the right were 3 superb Man orchids, the one further back were slightly past their best but the closest one to the path was prsitine especially at the top of the plant. It was overcast on Wednesday but I went back on Friday 2nd June and the lovely evening sunlight showed them off to their best. I then travelling back called in at Rockland Broad, travelling past the village and south then took the car park on the left and walked past the pub and down the footpath to Rockland Broad where I walked for just over half a mile hearing several Willow Warblers calling and past the hide, looking out over the Broad, plenty of Swifts over the Broad and over to the right the super Black tern would be seen in its dipping Marsh tern like flight often wheeling round then diving down to the water's edge and the flying right and out of sight again. A Cuckoo calling flew right past me.