Hudsonian Godwit at Cattawade Creek, Suffolk

On Tuesday 15th July, I took a day's leave and together with John H. drove down to Cattawade and after an uneventful journey we turned off the roundabout and parked at Cattawade Picnic site car park which surprisingly only had around 5 cars parked up. We disembarked and with our gear walked towards the bridges, we couldn't see any birders initially so we carried on walking and 2 birders were walking towards us from the bridge and they said there was a group along the marsh behind us but they were shielded by a line of bushes. We turned around and took a path down to the edge of the marsh/ river wall, nice to see Will B. and then from the gate scoped the only wader along the right hand edge of the channel it was fine adult Hudsonian Godwit complete with grey head, striking white supercilia long slightly upturned bull and brick reddish -brown belly,. It was walking feeding along the edge of a channel, a BH Gull swam up to it and it walked even further back before flying over to a muddy area showing its excellent black underwing coverts. It later return to the channel before flying over to more distant pools where it contined to feed before it flew back to the channel which was rapidly filling up with water and we last saw it walk behind a muddy banl. apologies for the awful Hudwit pic (best I could get taken at distance and against the light).

White- letter Hairstreaks at Gunton Cliff

On the weekend of 27 June I located the area for the White- letter hairstreaks along Gunton Cliff roughly opposite where Briar Cliff used to be, I located Elms but the weather was against me, cloudy and windy. On 28th June, I tried again it was sunnier and looking at the Elms just north of the clear fell The 3rd one at the back I saw a small buttefly fly up and settle it was a fine White- letter hairstreak. A trip to Ness Point revealed a singing male Black redstart(heard only), an immature Black Redstart and an alrm calling adult female Black Redstart, I departed immediately to allow them some peace. Back at Gunton Cliff, I saw Paul & Jane and later robert Wil and we saw up 6 fine White- letter Hairstreaks often flying up from the Elms high in the sky and where they descended they appeared to disappear into thin air but we did locate indivdula perched on leaves at the edge of the tree canopy on several occasions.

Again no WLHs or BRs

On Sunday 28th June, I went to look for the Cliff WLH's but again no sign, it clouded over just as I arrived which certianly didn't help, I saw an immature Great- spotted Woodpecker and a Painted Lady fly past. At a coastal location again no sign of any BRs.

NO WLHs or BRs

A late afternoon trip to the coast on Saturday 27th June was very disappointing with no White Letter Hairstreaks along the Cliff (which would be a new location for me if I could find them), although it didn't help I could find any Ash trees either (so not entirely sure where they are) it suddenly clouded over as I arrived which didn't help either and no Black Reds at their usual haunt where I haven't seen them (although I did hear a male singing but not today) for over a year. I am really struggling to photograph any wildlife at the moment. Jenny did find a dead Elephant Hawk Moth in the garden

Spitfire in Sparrow's Nest

On Saturday 27th June, after Rob H. tweeted about a 'Spitfire 'landing' in Sparrow's Nest, must have been fitted with extra VTOL (verticle take off and landing technology!!! more likely craned into place with the wings folded up). I hot footed to there and had a very enjoyable hour taking pics of the Mark 805 'Peter John' plane, personalised to me as they are my forenames! My first digital pictures of a Spitfire on the ground, well pleased! A Purple Hairstreak was seen flying low to the ground as I walkded back to the car parked opposite the NetPosts.

NO RVDs

On Friday 26th June, afetr a long hard and very hot week, I was keen to photograph the RVDs at Kensington gardens, I got there just after 6pm, it was still very sunny and piping hot but disappointingly no sign of the RVDs, an adult Moorhen with 2 young were nice as was a Painted Lady by a flower bed but neither species were that photogenic, the PL flew off even before I got my camrea onto it (with an 180mm Macro lens so I was nowhere near it!

First Light Festival wildlife

On Saturday 20th June, Jenny & I went to to the First Light festival at Lowestoft, 2 Painted Ladies seen along the seafront and at the model boat pond in Kensington gardens, a female Emperor Dragonfly flew by and 2 separate Red- veined Darters (my first for this year, of the latter) flew by, all in a clockwise direction!