AGP at Cley

Also on Sunday 18th June, I joined John H at hemsby at 1.15pm and John drove up to Cley Beach car park and we walked along the sandy pebbles to the North hide area an open hide where we looked over the North marsh. The fine summer plumaged American Golden Plover was seen close in but was obscured by long grass just before it.

Turtle Doves in deepest Suffolk

On Sunday 18th June, I had arranged via Barry W. to visit a farm and go in a specially constructed hide to hopefully view and photograph Turtle Doves and other farmland birds. I met Barry W. at the prearranged spot at the very early start of 5.15pm and he indicated to drive up and turn left and park. He had some seed and put it out in 3 areas in front of the hide. Barry wasn't joining me as he had some ringing to do but I was able to use the porto loo and went into the hide. basically a small shed converted to a bird hide with netting over and Barry pointed the camera to the relevant the light was awful area. The sky was very overcast and the light was awful with rain showers but after about 20 minutes the birds arrived Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves and 2 Turtle Doves. Later a pair of Yellowhammers also arrived plus the odd Carrion Crow. Even a family of Moorhens with an adult and 2 youngsters. By around 9.30am, the first shafts of sunlight broke through and the Turtle Doves were back, 2 then 3 birds, 1 male was courting the female puffing himself up and chasing the female. Suddenly, they flew off as Swallows started alarm calling overhead,

RFF at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe

On Saturday 18th June, a text from Alison revealed they had a Red- foot on their marsh, so at around 5.20pm I left and the sat nav got me to the Lane but I initially couldn't find the farm, fortunately Paul & Jane F drew up and said follow them, a sign on the left which I had missed simply spelt "RFF" and we parked by the farm and then walked down to the gate down again and then left and followed the marsh around a fenced area with plenty of Southern Marsh Orchids and over to the gate where Alison was standing and the fine 1st summer male Red- footed Falcon was on the telegraph wires very closely before it flew over to the wood and then perched in a tree. It then flew around again and caught a Norfolk Hawker eating the head and thorx with the wings being jettisoned and followed by the abdomen being dropped. It repeated these actions many time, having devoured at least 10 Norfolk hawkers, it then perched further away to the left before flying further right beforte once again perched fairly close on the wires. Later on a Red Kite flew past too.

Carlton Marshes go around

On Wednesday 14th June afternoonn/ early evening, I visited Carlton Marshes and was disappointed a chap had blocked the temporary car park and he refused to budge rather than confront him as I could have done I parked the far end but had to immediately divert around as the Mute Swan family wiuth 6 cygnets were on the Spratts Water path. I tried to get past giving them a wide berth but the male lunged at me and I made a hasty retreat! Others had successfully bypassed them but not me! By the dyke area, yet again no sign of the Fen Raft Spiders, I have tried seeing them but haven't seen them for 5 long years! 5 young Swallows were perched in low hanging branches and the adults were coming in to feed them. I managed to sneak up on one (just with my 180mm macro lens and take a few pics without disturbing them.

A trip to Broadland Norfolk

On Tuesday 13th June, after work I drove to Broadland Norfolk in the hope of finding fen Orchids at a traditional site. I walked over to the usual spot and instead of taking the area juLesser Stag Beetle st left of the path, I took the area just right and found 1 fine Fen orchid then I spotted 3 in a line together and around 11 Fen Orchids in total. The ground wasn't too wet either so easier to take pics. Back at the car park, I spotted a fine Lesser Stag Beetle by the car which I moved to a safer are and took a few pics too.

A trip to coastal Suffolk

On Monday 12th June, on a trip to coastal Suffolk, my first port of call to view a bee Orchid colony was abandoned because parking was difficult instead I visited another coastal site just north of there. On the way I photographed a showy Common Blue butterfly, nice to see around 85 Bee Orchids and 7 newly emerged Pyramidal Orchids plys a further 11 Bee Orchids growing within a metre of the fence.

A trip to Broadland

Later on, on Sunday 11th June, a trip to Broadland Norfolk, as I parked up a wonderful Swallowtail flew over a dyke fall of vibrant Water Soldiers. As I walked onto the marsh, 2 Brimstone butterflies seen flying up and down they never settled though. I saw a Hairy Hawker that flew up and down and settled on some vegetation and posed by the side of the path nicely for the camera. The weather was overcast and incredibly felt a little chilly incredible because elsewhere in Norfolk & Suffolk it was 28/ 29 degrees celsius!