Creeping Ladies Tresses

On Wednesday 23rd July, I travelled up to a traditional site in North Norfolk for Creeping Ladies Tresses, as I arrived there were a lot of Sarters on the wings as I walked down, as I reached the spot I to paraphrases Howard Carter "initially couldn't see anything but as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, I could make out tiny white flowered Orchids". Many were in bud including around 7 plants, but 2 were fully out in flower and a further 6 just had the leaves starting. 15 in all.

2nd Small Tortoiseshell of the year

On Monday 21st July, at about 7pm, I saw my 2nd Small Tortoiseshell of the year feeding on Buddlea flowers in the back garden but at the very top it stayed for a few minutes before flying off, again eluding the camera

Back to the Broad- leaved Helleborines

After a rain soaked weekend, I went out locally and checked on the Broad- leaved Helleborines and was pleased to see more had been caged but there were still at least 10 however which were uncaged, I put more canes/ sticks around them and although most of the plants that were in flower, but only one showed fresh flowers. I found another plant that appeared to have been nibbled probably by Muntjac Deer (even though I had put sticks around it) and the flower head had separated and been sheared off so I left it so the seeds could disperse for future plants to hopefully germinate.

First 2025 Painted Lady and then back to the Santa Maria

On Saturday 19th July, mid morning after the rain had stopped the sun came out and I went pout into the back garden, a Painted Lady butterfly flewm up from the ground and flew west out of the garden, my belated first for 2025. On Sunday 20th July, at around 9.30am, I went back to Great Yarmouth to get more pictures of the Santa Maria, it was sunny at Lowestoft but typically clouded up by the time I reached the South Quay at Great Yarmouth, but the sun obligingly came out as I opened the door and was able to spend the next 20 minutes getting pictures before the sun once again disappeared into cloud. I have really enjoyed seeing the ship and hope we get more historic ships/ replicas to the harbours of Great yarmouth and Lowestoft in th near future.

Ruby Tiger on the front door

On Thursday 17th July, at around 10.50pm, a Ruby Tiger Moth was on the front door and I managed to get a few photos of it, sadly I think it fell victim to a Spider nearby when I checked on it later, part 2 of the brutalities of nature.

Broad- leaved Helleborines

On Wednesday 16th July, at a local site, I went to put sticks around Broad leaved helleborines with the help of Paul and Jane where we saw around 27, although Paul & Jane F are confident they saw 47 in total but sadly some plants have been nibbled by Muntjac Deer and some even strimmed. E£ven though I have asked those who manage the wood not to strim until late August.

Trip to the Santa Maria

On Sunday 13th July, Jenny & I drove to Yarmouth and parked by the South Quay next to the ship and had an exploration on board the Santa Maria, a replica of Christopher Columbus's ship that had him and his crew circumvent across the Atlantic and 'discover' America. Built in the late 1400's, this remarkable feat of the shipmaker's craft and the Spanish were the widely acknowledge masters of shipbuilding at that time. We had a fantastic time on board ship and I will probably visit again before the week is out. Unfortunately, it is leaving Great Yarmouth on Sunday the 20th, so time is limited, if you are able to go, then this is highly recommended, admission of £10 per prson is well worth it!

Green-flowered Helleborines

On Saturday 12th July, a trip into deepest Suffolk first stop was for the now flourishing colony of 7 Green- flowered helleborines, moving even deeper into Suffolk at a traditional site I saw 2 female Purple Emperors flying around the top of the trees. I saw Silver washed fritillaries, one tatty one down the far end and 3 flying around the main PE viewing area. I also saw Southern Hawker and a couple of Purple Hairstreaks, one flew around the top of trees another one was attacked in mid air by a wasp and we saw it fall down and we raced over to rescue the unfortunately butterfly with the wash clug onto it tenaciously, sadly the Hairstreak had already died from the wasp sting, nature is very brutal. Driving back, I saw a Silver- washed Fritillary flying across the road.

Hedgehog, Pratincole & first Gatekeeper in the garden

On Thursday 10th July at 7pm in borad daylight, I saw a Hedgehog crossing the road near no 72 I dashed out of the car to indicate to the passing car that a hedgehog was crossing and the car avoided it. I dashed out with my camera but just missed it as it went into the hedgerow of a garden. Sadly it was found 2 days later squashed on the road. On Wednesday 9th July, a trip down to Aldeburgh Marshes, I had great difficulty finding the site trying first from the Brick Dock I'd walked a mile and I could see birders about 3 miles back, so I walked back and tried from Slaughden, I took the river path but again was very unsure where to go, I saw the flash but couldn't see the Pratincole, only when I saw another birder making his way down that I followed him, but I couldn't keep up with all the gear I was carrying in 30 degrees plus heat, fortunately I bumped into Lee W. and Eddie M. who told me exactly where to go, I soon joined the birders and saw the fine Collared Pratincole sitting on the far side bank side of the flash. It stretched its wings and I saw the chestnut underwing coverts and it also bobbed his head a number of times. On the 6th July Gatekeepers seen in the front and back garden but both or the same one were extremely elusive.

Early Migrant Hawker

On the 5th July an early Migrant Hawker was in the back garden and it was photographed too. Later on another Hummingbird Hawk Moth seen again on the garden Honeysuckle in the back garden at 3.48pm. Later on that evening it was again seen on our garden Honeysuckle at 9.58pm.

Another HHM and Little Owl megabuck

On Monday 4th July, in the evening a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was again flying around feeding on the Summer Flowering Jasmine briefly a7 7.23pm then 2 minutes later feeding on the purple flowering buddlea. The at 8.43pm unbelievably but true a Little Owl flew north east just over the back of the garden just under roof top height and seen really well. A massive garden megatick!

Finally an HHM

On Monday 30th June in the garden at 7.30pm, Misty our Cat was looking very intently at the summer flowering Jasmine now fully out in bloom with white flowers and I immediately spotted a fine Hummingbird Hawk Moth that hovered darted in and out of the flowers gentling probing the flower heads with its probiscus, within a minute like a willo o wisp it was gone having flown north-west down the passageway and out of sight. A belated first for 2025.

Should have stayed in the garden!

On Sunday 29th June, in the early evening, the sun came out and a pristine Red Admiral showed really well and posed beautifully for the camera near the wildlife pond and I was pleased with my shots of the Red Admiral. Large White and Small White seen too. Leon from next door came around with another of my Frogs in his bucket (he has already been around with 6 + 3 + 3), I thanked him and put the Frog near the wildlife pond, it hopped out onto the grass and it also posed nicely but briefly for a few pics! Very pleased to get these precious Frogs back, as they all originate from the Frogspawn Ricky bought over all those years ago and have great sentimental value for me. I also like a healthy Frog population in the garden as they keep down the Slugs and Snails and 2 are currently in the runner bean patch doing a sterling job. I also want to spread some of the Frog spawn (I hope to have next March) over to Rob H's garden, to spread the gene pool and have 2 healthy populations. At the same time in the Fish pond were 4 adult Frogs, as well asat least one in the wildlife pond. Meanwhile, the monster Southern Marsh Orchid , old faithful and 3/4 metre high (!) was in flower as were 2 other Southern Marshes in the back garden with 1 left to flower.

Dragon triple dip day

On Sunday 29th June, it was cloudy, parking up produced almost the best sighting of the day, a Spitfire that flew north and I made my way to Carlton Marshes where it was rather disappointing, Gavin D. had kindly opened the gates for the rare Dragonflies spotted along the Share Marsh trial. The weather didn't look too promising and a few Emperor Dragonflies, Black-tailed Skimmers , Four spotted Chasers and along the top pool I also noted a Norfolk Hawker (my first this year) and several female Common darters but no red-vein for me but no sign for me of any Vagrants, lesser Emperor or Red veins. 4 Little Egreyt seen in flight plus a Red Kite. I walked back and tried the original pool where a fine male Red- veined Darter hovered in mid air so close I could see the blue in the eye confirming that it was a Red- veined. No sign of Andrew's Keeled Skimmer (but not sure if I was in the right place?) along the coastal path at Kessingland either.

Minsmere trip

On Sunday 22nd June, I had a very enjoyable, but hot, trip to Minsmere. I immediately walked over to the Public Hide and saw Jon B, but immediately spotted on the southern most girder sat a 1/3 of the way back on the left side was the fine Roseate Tern, almost all black bill with red at the base and very white plumage, after only a couple of minutes it flew but it soon flew back and settled again back in the same place. Quite a few c40 Sandwich terns seen. A Red Kite flew in from the north and headed west towards the Island Mere area, I don't recall seeing a Red Kite at Minsmere before? A Spoonbill flew in from the south and settled somewhere on the west Scrape area. Also seen were around 60 Black- tailed Godwit at the back of the east scrape area, together with 9 Spotted Redshanks together and all asleep. Good to see John G too. As I was looking around between the East Scrape and Public hide just west of the sandy path, I saw a fantastic fairly pale Clouded Yellow buttefly fly south and then into the grass but I couldn't relocate it. I walked around in the increasing heat and saw 2 Small Copper butterflies and 1 Peacock butterfly caterpillar crawling vigorously amongst one of the northern most concrete tank traps. From the East Scrape hide, I saw an adult Kittiwake perched briefly on the bench. I headed to the woodland just before the path to West and South Scrape and saw a fantastic female Tawny Owl, perched right out in the open, I also see Barry B, Carl's brother really good to see him as the last time I saw him was at the Taiga Bean Goose at Hen Reedbeds during Covid!

Common Blue Damselfly in the garden

On Wednesday 18th June, a Common Blue Damselfly seen in the garden in the mid afternoon, directly after work 3pm, just beyond the conservatory it was quite shy and I only managed a few pics before it flew off.

Green Shield Bug

On Saturday 14th June, in the afternoon a Green Shield Bug seen on the Patio. Not seen for long as it scurried into nearby vegetation, but I obtained a few record shots.

Meadow Brown butterfly rescued from the utility room

On Friday 13th June, I rescued a Meadow Brown butterfly that was fluttering away in the Utility room and I managed to safely retrieve and released it outside where it flew strongly (and unharmed) north- west on its release. I was hoping it would settle in the garden for some pics. No pics as I was concerned about the safety of the butterfly.

Bee Orchids & Scorpion Fly

On Thursday 12th June, immediately after work I took pics of the Bee Orchids flowering at work. Then later in the evening, about 8pm, I saw a Scorpion Fly initially on my car roof that then flew onto next door's brick wall.

Lizard orchid

On Wednesday 11 June, a trip to deepest Suffolk revealed a giant Lizard Orchid at the side of a farmers field, my thanks to Jane & Paul F for the great directions. A real monster, it was wonderful and even smelled of a goat! A real privilege to see this wonderful Orchid, only my 3rd Suffolk one away from the traditional site.

Frog Orchids

On Tuesday 10 June, in the early evening straight after work, a trip to deepest Suffolk revealed up to 10 Frog Orchids.

Trip to Wales

A trip to Wales primarily to see family meant little birding time but I did see Red Kites along the M25, one or 2 at Reading and Newberry and some in Wales near Cross Hands on the journey over on Thursday 5th June. On Friday 6th June, I drove over to Dinas as I was driving through a narrow stretch of road with Oal woodland one side and a gully stream the other I did briefly hear the trill of a Wood Warbler, but there was no way of stopping safely sadly. AS I travelled down the road to Dinas, I could hear a Tree Pipit singing but alas again nowhere to stop and investigate. I parked at Dinas car park, which they have put gravel down which is a vast improvement for parking. Signs up at the beginning of the walk meant part of the woodland trail would be inaccessible as they were replacing part of the boardwalk. I walked down and immediately I heard the familiar 5 note call of a singing male Pied Flycatcher. Moving very slowly along the boardwalk it was singing at the top of a bush just by the boardwalk but then flew back a little. It then settled on the rope 'handrail' briefly before again flying back. I next spotted it on dead bush branches which became a regular perch. It was singing away and I moved carefully using foliage as cover and was able to get a number of pics from this location, including the bird singing. It would regularly fly back to the stream and even visit a very close nest box where it was joined by a female Pied Flycatcher too. Just back from them a fine male Redstart was seen too and joined by a female and they were regularly visiting a hole by the top of a dead tree stump and I managed pictures of these too. A Willow Warbler briefly alighted on the floor very close but I missed the picture as I was focusing it flew sadly.

Skull in the garden and Bee Orchids at the Paget

On Tuesday 3rd June, whilst digging the runner bean patch in the garden I discovered this skull, some 3.5cms long which I initially thought was a Greenfinch (a regular visitor to the garden) which turned out to be the skull of a House Sparrow (I have only seen 2 sightings of this species in this garden in 24 years!), my thanks to Daniel W and his girlfriend for the ID. Wednesday 4th June, there are now 14 flowers on the Bee Orchid plants at the James Paget Hospital, I have caged them all and watered them during this exceptionally dry spring. Here is the reward.

Garden Frog

On Sunday 1st June, in the afternoon, tt is encouraging to see Frogs around the garden including this one in the water fountain.

Now a pristine Hornet Moth

On Sunday 1st June, Rob H had found a fine female Hornet Moth on the same Poplar tree. I drove over with Jenny and saw James W. already there and we saw the single clear-winged female. I took a few pics and soon the wings were whirring and she flew up the tree.

Burnt Tips finally

I travelled over to the Chilterns recently to look for Burnt Tip Orchids, a species of Orchid I have not seen before having missed a single plant at in Wiltshire, 13 years ago. Whilst passing through Cambridgeshire villages, I saw a Corn Bunting perched on wires. After 2 and a half hours I thought, I had found the right spot and travelled down a private road and fortuitously bumped into a Field Club group who told me exactly where to find them over the hump of the distant high hill I could see. I drove back near a house where there was a parking spot for 2 cars, where I parked up and walked back down the road some 500 metres, then took a right turn taking a well worn path through a crop field. Then up some steps, bordering a beechwood and I walked left until the path opened out to hedgerow and field, I walked up to a sign saying Private road, so I turned right and up a hill bordering the reserve, I walked further up where I saw 2 young women sat near a turnstile, they kind stated I had to take the path left skirting the hill go over the hill and in the lee of the hill where the sheep were resting by the hedge was where the fenced off Orchids were. I walked up the steep slope and saw various coloured flags marking differing plants, I recognised the beginning of flowering Fragrant Orchids. Later on I came to the stone wall hedge where the ship were resting and directly to the left of that was a circular fenced off area with white stick marking the Burnt Orchid plants, around 40. seen in all. All were flowering and were quite tiny, whitish with the red burnt purple colouration at the top of their plant giving them their name. I managed to get a few shots. There was also a couple outisde the cage near a lower path, I also heard the jangling keys call of a Corn Bunting, but I couldn't see one, I also heard Yellowhammer and the call of a flying Lapwing but again not seen. I also found a further few Fragrant Orchids plus an unidentified Purple flower. As I walked back just before the entrance turnstyle on the left of the path a group of around 30 Spotted Orchids were seen. As I walked back I saw a decidous wood that looked perfect for helleborines I followed the fenced around for some 150 metres, I saw a wooden gate, climed over walked a further 30 metres and by the wood fence, I saw 5 White Helleborine plants, 4 flowering ones and 1 non- flowering one. Using the flash and darkening the exposure to -1 and 3/4 I managed a few pics. As I walked back to the path, I saw a Yellowhammer perched on wires singing away, too. As I drove back, I heard a further 3 Corn Buntings and saw 2 singletons on wires again along the Cambridgeshire roads.