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 Elms 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.

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!

Hickling goodies

On Wednesday 17th June, I had to work until 4pm but it meant I could go straight to Hickling NWT afterwards. I parked up just after 5pm and walked straight down to Brendan's Marsh to the platform, as I walked down I saw at least 2 Little - ringed Plovers which flew around and settled. Meanwhile the platform was full (3 people on there including Dave H. and his wife and another chap were on there. Dave said the Caspian was there and I found a gap in the hedge and really enjoyed viewing the fantastic adult Caspian Tern with a very prominent red ornge the neat black crest cap finisghed as a neat triangle of black on the nape. It was stood in the pool with 2 BH Gull nearby which it dwarfed being 1.5X bigger. When a female Marsh Harrier flew over, the Caspian Tern flew up and around then settled down again, tucking its extensive orange-red bill into its back feathers. Later the Caspian opened its bill wide several times had a preen the stood in direct profile before going to sleep again. Meanwhile, on the near mud, I saw a fine 1st summer Little Gull. Suddenly the 'chew- it' call revealed a fine full summer plumage Spotted Redshank fly in, later 'chew-it' calls revealed a second as the 2 Spotted Redshanks both in full summer finery. As was a 'Tudor Gent', fine male Ruff at the back with a chestnut brown Ruff that could have graced Henry VIII's court. Also seen was a full summer plumaged Dunlin and around 5 Ringed Plovers. Around 5 Common Terns seen, 2 Great Egrets and 3 Little Egrets seen too. A family of around 15 Long- tailed Tits flew past the oak by the platform. Meanwhile on the walk back, at around 6.30pm, 2 Red Admirals flew up and settled on the path ahead. (LIBRARY PIC)

A 2 Shrike day

On Sunday 14th June, another late start (having booked a trip to London see the Ramesses exhibition- basically a range of Ancient Egyptian artefacts heard by the Ramesses II coffin) I started out at Westleton parking on the Minsmere approach road. A few people had gathered to view for the male RBS that had been ranging widely. Unfortunately it didn't show for some 45 minutes before I picked it out in the far north- east corner, perched on a tiny tree right at the back, reddish brown back, grey crown and black mask showing it was a fine male Red- backed Shrike with a pinkish flush to the chest to. It spent some time here but flew to the ground and then perched on another perch nearby. A male Stonechat and several Linnets seen too. Next stop was Dunwich Heath parking just outside the Heath I walked down the road and left and saw a group of people looking north, I scanned and spotted the fine female Red-backed Shrike with drabber grey crown barring on the chest and a browner back she hunted from a top of a tree and then moved to the next bush before flying back. Also seen was a male Stonechat and a young juvenile Stonechat too. Next stop was somewhere in the Blyth valley, where i saw a singing male Yellowhammer singing from a top of a bush, later a male Linnet was also perched here too. Walking around the field margins, I spotted the fine Lizard Orchid, maybe slightly past its best but still impressive.

Late start to a day around Westleton Heath & Minsmere

On Saturday 13th June, a late start meant I didn't reach Westleton Heath until 1.30pm, the news wasn't good as the RFF hadn't been seen for an hour but I met Paul & Jane F. who drove up to the parking area near the quarry. We then heard the Gull- billed Tern had been seen at Island Mere, so we drove to Minsmere and parked up only to hear the bird had flown off. We guessed it might fly over to the Scrape, so we walked to the West Scrape hide and I spotted a fine immature Spoonbill over the north side of the Scrape nearer the North Hide. Meanwhile on an island at the back of the West Scrape, 2 fine Little- ringed Plovers were running around. We then walked to South Hide, There were the usual assortment of Terns and I spotted the 1st year Little Gull to the right of the bund splashiong in the water. A kiitiwake flew onto the wooden step, as did a Common Tern later. By the bunds at the back, a Roseate Tern seen just to the left of a BH Gull and an immature bird. We then saw a strange looking Mediterranean Gull type with black hood but covering the same hooded area as a BH Gull, a blood red but thin bill (shape like a BH Gull bill) and black edgings in the primaries like a second year bird, probably a hybrid. Meanwhile at the back the Roseate Terns flew up, 2 birds and we followed one bird that flew over to our side and briefly settled on a small circular island with Common Terns, when it flew again another followed the Roseate Tern with a Sandeel in its mouth. The 3 adult Spoonbills flew over and south and settled on the southside of the south scrape. Later the trio of Spoonbills became a quartet when the juvenile Spoonbill joined them. One or two Black- tailed Godwits also seen and many Sandwich Terns c50 & c20 Kittiwakes at the back. Very satisfied, we left and I stopped off and saw 2 red and black Firebugs together, I went to retrieve my macro lens but they had gone when I went back. I then parked up by the area near the Westleton Heath quarry and news wasn't good here as a chap walking back said he had been there for 9o minutes not seeing the Falcon. I walked up and I saw a Falcon just east of the path in a Silver Birch, checking it with the Bins it looked very promising and using the cope confirmed it was the excellent 2nd calendar year female Red- footed Falcon. I quickly sent messages around all the Whats App groups. The female Red- foot sat here for around 20 minutes occasionally dropping to the ground before returning to the same tree before she flew away. I then went over to another area and saw a fine Little Owl in the 4th Oak tree, nearby a female Stonechat was also seen. I walked back and saw Tim O. where the bird had been seen over the road, we walked over and it was perched up on a distant Pine it flew a little closer where it was perched on a dead tree before it flew straight towards us and then left. I heard a Dartford Warbler and Wood Lark singing, whilst I walked back to the car I decided to call it a day but Tom O. and a newlyu arrived Phil D. walked back to the quarry and east.