We took the motorhome to the Suffolk coast for a couple of nights last week. One night at Slaughden near Aldeburgh and the other at Westleton just inland of Minsmere. Despite it not being specifically wildlife orientated I managed some very pleasing finds.
Along the seawall just behind the beach at Slaughden I found what is a rare thing for me these days - a new wildflower tick. It was in the form of some Pale Toadflax in full flower and looking rather lovely. Dittander was also everywhere on the grazing marsh. Examination of flowering Hogweed revealed a large fly that turned out to be Saltmarsh Horsefly with Adonis Ladybird, Pied Hoverfly and Orange-legged Darwin Wasp also found. A quick net-sweep on the grazing marsh revealed Wasp Spider and Four Spot Orbweaver.
The following day was a warm and lazy one with several forays onto Westleton Common to look for anything interesting. Those interesting things included many Graylings, Four-banded Flower Bees, Kite-tailed Robberfly, Pied Hoverfly, Forget-me-not Shieldbug, Heather Neb, Long-legged Tabby and Migrant Hawker. Moth Mullien near the carpark was only my 2nd ever. Best of all however was a large fly that got trapped on the inside of the motorhome windscreen that after much reading up has been confirmed as Levels Yellow-horned Horsefly, Hybomitra ciureai a nationally rare insect that inhabits coastal marshes but wanders inland a few miles sometimes. Presumably this one came from the Minsmere area.
The following morning a walk at Dunwich Greyfriars where I made yet another great insect find near the priory - the rare Briony Mining Bee - unsurprisingly on White Briony. Into the bargain a Honey Buzzard glided low over the priory and a 1st year Mediterranean Gull flew south along the beach.
No comments:
Post a Comment