Sheringham area - orchids and bugs. 20 July 2013

A weekend of walking in the Sheringham area with a night at the North Norfolk Railway beer festival thrown in!
We were mainly intent on getting some walking miles under our belts but here are a selection of photos taken on our wanderings. The first Essex Skipper of the year and a big emergence of Gatekeepers plus 3 more bumblebee species photographed - Common Carder Bee, Red-tailed and White-tailed Bumblebees. Beeston Common also had an impressive display of Marsh Fragrant Orchids, Marsh Helleborine, Common Spotted Orchids and Heath Spotted Orchid. The only bird of note was an adult summer Mediterranean Gull west along West Runton Beach.

 Essex Skipper 

 

Gatekeeper

Ringlet

Common Carder Bee

Red-tailed Bumblebee

White-tailed Bumblebee

Marsh Helleborine

Marsh Fragrant Orchid

  

 

Weekend bits and bobs, 13-14 July 2013

With the baking hot temperatures on Saturday Belinda and I headed for the coast - Snape and Aldeburgh to be precise. An 8-mile walk taking in Snape, Iken Cliff and Tunstall Forest wasn't perhaps what the doctor ordered to cool off but it was a lovely walk and livened up with a few butterflies. The best of which was undoubtedly a lovely White Admiral in Tunstall Forest. Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Large Skipper and Small Skipper were also seen.

Back in Pulham we have proof of Spotted Flycatcher breeding with 2 adults feeding at least 2 newly fledged young right outside the lounge window! I've started to look at bumblebees over the last few days and have managed to see Early Bumblebee, Garden Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee, Tree Bumblebee, Honey Bee and Common Carder Bee so far. Worryingly, with several hoverfly species mimicing bumblebees I may have to invest in some more identification literature!

Garden Bumblebee

Small Skipper

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher (young)

Early Bumblebee

Tree Bumblebee