Norfolk part seven

 We have just been reconnected to the internet after nearly a week of not having a connection so I am posting the last of the Blogs from our holiday in Norfolk. As we enjoyed our day at Strumpshaw Fen we went back on our last day to see what else we could find. I must thank the two gentlemen who pointed us in the right direction to see the Fen Raft Spider, which is a first for me. I really enjoyed our holiday however I was a bit disappointed with the lack of insects we found. I don’t know why but I was expecting to find insects in Norfolk that we don’t get in the North East having said that I would definitely go back.

My first Fen Raft Spider.

I was lucky to see not one but two.

A distant Bearded Tit.

Brimstone Butterfly.

This little fly landed on the butterflies antenna

And stayed there for a while.

A second Brimstone was nearby.

A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was feeding on a Buddleia.

Ruddy Darter.

Common Darter.

Scarce Chaser.

The only half decent shot I managed of a Brown Hawker.

If I’m correct and this is a Small Red-eyed Damselfly it’s a first for me.

Azure Damselfly.

Common Blue Damselfly.

Damselfly.

I think this is Volucella inanis a Wasp Mimic Hoverfly.

Harlequin Ladybird.

A second Harlequin.

Ant?

Great White Egret.

Moorhen with a Dragonfly.

Sedge Warbler in amongst the reeds.

Back at the cottage this Holly Blue Butterfly was on the ivy.

This Marsh Harrier flew over the cottage while I was taking pictures of the Holly Blue.

A Purple Bearded Day

I drove down to Leighton Moss last Friday for the Bearded Tits (Reedlings). About a dozen were darting in and out of the reeds dropping on to the grit trays. After taking loads of photos of these cracking little birds, I went in search of the Purple Heron. No luck at the first attempt but after a bite of bait I went straight to the Grisedale Hide where, someone told me, it had been seen the day before. I had been in the hide for about an hour again with no luck but just before I was about to leave someone shouted Bittern flying in from the left. We got our cameras onto it and fired off a few shots. One of the women in the hide was running about screaming excitedly “my first Bittern my first Bittern”. Someone else asked did we have the I.D right because it did not look like a Bittern but a Purple Heron. Imagine the screams from the woman when after checking a bird book it was indeed a Purple Heron. It landed in the reeds and I did not see it again because I had to leave for home however, it was still a cracking day out.

Not the best shot of a Purple Heron you will see but it is the only decent shot I got and it is a lifer to boot.

Male Bearded Tit

Female Bearded Tit

One of three Marsh Harriers I saw. Always distant but always nice to see