Sunshine at last

 After being laid low for a few days with a virus it was good to get out for some walks. One of the first creatures I saw at Felmersham Gravel Pits were eyecatching in flight - glimpses of a vivid red. There were a good number perched like this one- I believe it to be the 6 spot burnet moth-a day flyer with club antennae - so why isnt it called a butterfly?

 It was a great day for dragonflies- coulds of azure and common blue damsels, many blue-tailed damsels- often in tandem or in the wheel and my first emerald damsels for this year. They are such pretty creatures. But it was also a day for true dragons and I saw my first sightings this year of the southern-hawker - this one kindly perching and the brown hawker. The brown hawker can look dull but when it flies and catches the sun it is such a deep golden brown as to take the breath away. It was also great to see my first common darter this year- a female ovipositing into the ponds.

 The sunshine brought out the butterflies and it was lovely to see this one on Flitton Moor. There were good numbers of meadow browns, skippers and large whites as well.

And the moth trap came out last night now the rain has cleared and I was rewarded with a good number of moths- two very attractive ones- this large  emerald and also a bright yellow brimstone. What a difference to the sunshine makes............

Wonderful wildlife in Norfolk

 Just back from a glorious week away in one of my favourite palces- Norfolk - love it for the sea and the countryside and also the wonderful access to a wide range of wildlife. Mum and I had a very relaxed week which is what our break was about but it turned out to be surprisingly good for seeing creatures. Mum has a growing love for the damselfly and they seem to love her too. This common blue damsel landed on her hand and she was also visited by others on her blouse. It is thrilling to be so close to these dazzling creatures.

 The verges were alive with colourful wildflowers- dazzling red poppies, many different umbellifers, campions, silverweeds, oxeye daisy, purple loosestrife, meadowsweet, brambles and dog roses to name a few. In the wooded shade we saw a number of wild orchids - I am not sure about the name of this one but it was beautiful to look at.

The presence of so many flowers was not only lovely to the eye but had attracted a good number of bees of all kinds plus hoverflies and more butterflies than I have seen this year at home.

And there were two special treats this week- the first being several days when we saw the Swallowtail butterfly - Papilio machaon britannicus. Norfolk is the only place these can now be seen -they declined greatly last century due to drainage of the fens and marshes but more careful management has led to remaining populations at least holding their own. They are powerful flyers and it was especially stunning to see the spectacular male and female courtship display over one of the broads. A walk at Hickling was also fruitful and we saw 17 in a couple of hours. The other really special thing- at last I have seen the green eyed Norfolk Hawker - 2 good sightings made my week- no photos as they are busy now flying over the dykes - a large brown hawker- one at Horsey Mere and one at Hickling. And this was not even a wildlife trip!