The previous day, worthy of mention was a singing Black Redstart in central Norwich off Guildhall Hill when Belinda and I went for lunch in 'The Library'
Amazing variety of paler Green-winged Orchids in Suffolk, 20 May 2018
A visit to my favourite local site for Green-winged Orchids before they start to go over. This meadow in Suffolk has by far the greatest variety of colour forms of the species that I've seen, varying from pure white 'alba' right through to the darkest purple specimens. Here are a selection starting with a stunning 'alba'.
The previous day, worthy of mention was a singing Black Redstart in central Norwich off Guildhall Hill when Belinda and I went for lunch in 'The Library'
The previous day, worthy of mention was a singing Black Redstart in central Norwich off Guildhall Hill when Belinda and I went for lunch in 'The Library'
A long weekend in Dorset, heavily featuring orchids! 11-13 May 2018
To say it was just a trip to Dorset would be wrong because we did take a detour to a site in Oxfordshire on the way and also ventured into Somerset and even Devon briefly!
We managed to find a good deal in Beaminster on Airbnb in the week and plans were hatched.
Out stop on the way was at the lovely Hartslock reserve near Goring-on-Thames. My target here were the numerous spectacular Lady x Monkey Orchid hybrids and they didn't disappoint with their flamboyance! Just 1 Lady Orchid and 2 Monkey Orchids (the latter just emerging) were nearby. Waking the hillside I also found a small group of Pasqueflowers, loads of Chalk Milkwort plus a single White Helleborine still to flower. Red Kites soared overhead and both Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper were also nice additions. We walked back along the Thames to the car in good spirits.
We continued our rather torturous onward journey getting stuck in traffic on the A303 near Stonehenge. This wasn't as bad as it sounds though because a delightful male Montagu's Harrier flew over while we sat stationary! A Yellow Wagtail did similarly a little further on.
My main target for the day was at a roadside spot in West Dorset (which shall remain secret). After much fuss, lots of looking, walking backwards and forwards and phore calls to the ever-helpful Sean Cole I eventually located the 2 Woodcock x Fly Orchid hybrids I was after! And boy there were beauties. I quickly took my shots and re-joined an rather pissed-off Belinda. This was quickly forgotten with tea and cake in Beauminster before checking into our accommodation.
Saturday dawned cloudy but dry. A drive to the north section of the Blackdown Hills near Wellington followed by a nice walk on Blackdown Common revealked Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, loads of Lesser Redpolls and Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers but sadly the weather just wasn't good enough fr my hoped-for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Green-veined White and Dingy Skipper did brave the weather though!
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful as far as nature was concerned. A walk from Charmouth to Lyme Regis (with fossils a plenty en-route) and dinner in West Bay.
Sunday was a much sunnier day and we decided to head for the Purbeck coast 'on our way home'. Parking in Worth Matravers we walked the coat eastwards to the famous Dancing Ledge. Here I quickly found quite a few Early Spider Orchids even though c75% had gone over. There were also some superbly rare Early Gentians and birdwise we were treated to mega close views of a pair of Peregrines as we ate our lunch on the cliffs beside some nice patches of Wild Cabbage. 2-3 Ravens were also about plus Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Shags. A mega Clouded Yellow flew quickly past going west but didn't stop. 3 Walls Browns were also new for the year.
Yearlist = 204
We managed to find a good deal in Beaminster on Airbnb in the week and plans were hatched.
Out stop on the way was at the lovely Hartslock reserve near Goring-on-Thames. My target here were the numerous spectacular Lady x Monkey Orchid hybrids and they didn't disappoint with their flamboyance! Just 1 Lady Orchid and 2 Monkey Orchids (the latter just emerging) were nearby. Waking the hillside I also found a small group of Pasqueflowers, loads of Chalk Milkwort plus a single White Helleborine still to flower. Red Kites soared overhead and both Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper were also nice additions. We walked back along the Thames to the car in good spirits.
Monkey Orchid
Dingy Skipper
Green Hairstreak
Monkey x Lady Orchid hybrids
Monkey Orchid
Lady Orchid
Pasqueflower
Chalk Milkwort
We continued our rather torturous onward journey getting stuck in traffic on the A303 near Stonehenge. This wasn't as bad as it sounds though because a delightful male Montagu's Harrier flew over while we sat stationary! A Yellow Wagtail did similarly a little further on.
My main target for the day was at a roadside spot in West Dorset (which shall remain secret). After much fuss, lots of looking, walking backwards and forwards and phore calls to the ever-helpful Sean Cole I eventually located the 2 Woodcock x Fly Orchid hybrids I was after! And boy there were beauties. I quickly took my shots and re-joined an rather pissed-off Belinda. This was quickly forgotten with tea and cake in Beauminster before checking into our accommodation.
Woodcock x Fly Orchid hybrids
Saturday dawned cloudy but dry. A drive to the north section of the Blackdown Hills near Wellington followed by a nice walk on Blackdown Common revealked Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, loads of Lesser Redpolls and Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers but sadly the weather just wasn't good enough fr my hoped-for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Green-veined White and Dingy Skipper did brave the weather though!
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful as far as nature was concerned. A walk from Charmouth to Lyme Regis (with fossils a plenty en-route) and dinner in West Bay.
Sunday was a much sunnier day and we decided to head for the Purbeck coast 'on our way home'. Parking in Worth Matravers we walked the coat eastwards to the famous Dancing Ledge. Here I quickly found quite a few Early Spider Orchids even though c75% had gone over. There were also some superbly rare Early Gentians and birdwise we were treated to mega close views of a pair of Peregrines as we ate our lunch on the cliffs beside some nice patches of Wild Cabbage. 2-3 Ravens were also about plus Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Shags. A mega Clouded Yellow flew quickly past going west but didn't stop. 3 Walls Browns were also new for the year.
Yearlist = 204
Early Spider Orchids
Dancing Ledge
Early Gentian
Mellis Common, 10 May 2018
After grocery shopping in Diss this morning I popped down the road to Mellis Common. This proved to be a new Green-winged Orchid site for me with the first ones seen before I'd even got out of the car! I went on to count 99 spikes including these 2 gorgeous pale specimens.
The real orchid fun starts tomorrow as Belinda and I head down to Dorset/Somerset via Oxfordshire for a long weekend...
The real orchid fun starts tomorrow as Belinda and I head down to Dorset/Somerset via Oxfordshire for a long weekend...
Outney Common/Earsham walk, 7 May 2018
Despite the Bank Holiday Monday temperatures that reached 26c Belinda and I did a favourite walk of ours from Earsham around the loop of the Waveney above Outney Common and back via Earsham GPs.
The only real birds of note were a very vocal Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Swifts over Bungay town centre and 3 Common Terns on Earsham GPs. So, instead I concentrated on other things. Large Red Damselflies were my first odonata of the year and a Common Blue butterfly likewise. Plants were plentiful so I took some photos to id at leisure when I got home. I have managed to nail Star of Bethlehem, Springbeauty, Common Vetch, Common Water Crowfoot, Round-leaved Cranesbill, Alexanders and Green Alkanet as my botanical education continues! We also had close views of Slow Worm up along the escarpment as it disappeared into the leaf litter
Later that evening while BBQing at home we had an unexpected but very welcome visitor to the patio - a Yellow-necked Field Mouse.
On Tuesday a Hobby flew east over Pulham St Mary and the mixed-singing Willow Warbler was still present
The only real birds of note were a very vocal Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Swifts over Bungay town centre and 3 Common Terns on Earsham GPs. So, instead I concentrated on other things. Large Red Damselflies were my first odonata of the year and a Common Blue butterfly likewise. Plants were plentiful so I took some photos to id at leisure when I got home. I have managed to nail Star of Bethlehem, Springbeauty, Common Vetch, Common Water Crowfoot, Round-leaved Cranesbill, Alexanders and Green Alkanet as my botanical education continues! We also had close views of Slow Worm up along the escarpment as it disappeared into the leaf litter
Later that evening while BBQing at home we had an unexpected but very welcome visitor to the patio - a Yellow-necked Field Mouse.
On Tuesday a Hobby flew east over Pulham St Mary and the mixed-singing Willow Warbler was still present
Yellow-necked Field Mouse
Star of Bethlehem
Springbeauty
Round-leaved Cranesbill
Common Water Crowfoot
Common Vetch
Green Alkanet
Purple Heron and other stuff, 6 May 2018
After a morning at Beccles Antique Street Market with Belinda I had the offer of a late afternoon/evening venture up to Cley with Jus. It would have been rude to say no!
On the way out of Norwich we called in to Mousehold for the Wood Warbler found earlier in the day near the Gurney Road carpark. I didn't prove to be a quick stop because the bird was a pain in the arse! Singing about once every 20 minutes and then for about 2 seconds each time not allowing for location. Eventually we saw it in flight as it became mobile but left soon after as we didn't want to delay any longer.
Before setting ourselves up on Cley West Bank we popped into Morston Quay carpark to check the toilets (don't ask!) for moths. And lo-and-behold our target species Northern Drab was found by me on the ceiling of the gents!
Cley beckoned and we spent the rest of the evening by the bench on West Bank. Luckily we got some lovely views of the adult Purple Heron within about a minute so the pressure was off. It only went on to show once more but we were entertained by Barn Owl, 3 Little Egrets, c12 Knot, Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler a fly-over Yellow Wagtail and a dodgy Cape Shelduck with 3 Shelduck near North Hide as we had a catch up with Dave Holman and James McCallum. Right at the death 2 Spoonbills also flew east onto the reserve over the car on Beach Road.
The Purple Heron turned out to be bird no.200 of the year which was rather fitting
Yearlist = 201
On the way out of Norwich we called in to Mousehold for the Wood Warbler found earlier in the day near the Gurney Road carpark. I didn't prove to be a quick stop because the bird was a pain in the arse! Singing about once every 20 minutes and then for about 2 seconds each time not allowing for location. Eventually we saw it in flight as it became mobile but left soon after as we didn't want to delay any longer.
Before setting ourselves up on Cley West Bank we popped into Morston Quay carpark to check the toilets (don't ask!) for moths. And lo-and-behold our target species Northern Drab was found by me on the ceiling of the gents!
Cley beckoned and we spent the rest of the evening by the bench on West Bank. Luckily we got some lovely views of the adult Purple Heron within about a minute so the pressure was off. It only went on to show once more but we were entertained by Barn Owl, 3 Little Egrets, c12 Knot, Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler a fly-over Yellow Wagtail and a dodgy Cape Shelduck with 3 Shelduck near North Hide as we had a catch up with Dave Holman and James McCallum. Right at the death 2 Spoonbills also flew east onto the reserve over the car on Beach Road.
The Purple Heron turned out to be bird no.200 of the year which was rather fitting
Yearlist = 201
Purple Heron
Northern Drab
The gentle purring of Turtle Dove, 5 May 2018
I took myself off to New Buckenham Common yesterday morning in search of Green-winged Orchids. I'd not seen them at this site for years so it was mainly for a change of scenery. Luckily I found plenty although there are loads more still to come. Interestingly this population contains very little variation in colouration with just the odd slightly paler plant.
What I'd not bargained for however were 2 Turtle Doves singing and displaying and giving some lovely views. Every year these beauties grace our commons is a bonus these days. Also around the common were Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting plus Red Deer, several Orange Tips, Peacocks and Green-veined Whites.
Later in the afternoon Belinda and I headed east to the coast for a very pleasant sunny walk around North Warren. Here I was delighted to add Cuckoo, Hobby and Nightingale to my yearlist plus a booming Bittern, singing Cetti's Warbler and Woodlark, Stock Doves and Mistle Thrush.
Yearlist = 198
What I'd not bargained for however were 2 Turtle Doves singing and displaying and giving some lovely views. Every year these beauties grace our commons is a bonus these days. Also around the common were Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting plus Red Deer, several Orange Tips, Peacocks and Green-veined Whites.
Later in the afternoon Belinda and I headed east to the coast for a very pleasant sunny walk around North Warren. Here I was delighted to add Cuckoo, Hobby and Nightingale to my yearlist plus a booming Bittern, singing Cetti's Warbler and Woodlark, Stock Doves and Mistle Thrush.
Yearlist = 198
Green-winged Orchids
A mixed-singing Phyllosc, Pulham St Mary, 3 May 2018
I'm working in Pulham St Mary at the moment and yesterday I heard what I took to be a Willow Warbler singing from an area of trees between the Maltings and the Sewage Works. It sang frequently but always seemed to be 'accompanied' by a Chiffhaff singing too. On closer inspection during my lunch break I was able to confirm the songs were coming from the same bird!
I returned later in the evening to find it again very quickly and get some poor shots of it as it was very mobile and flighty, never coming very close.
The song began as Willow Warbler (about 75% of the total song length) and finished with a 'chiff-chaff'. Very occassionally it would start with a chiff-chaff. The bird appears to be a Willow Warbler, albeit a rather dull one and into the bargain it is rung!
A Garden Warbler there was a welcome yeartick although I managed to miss a reported Turtle Dove in Semere Lane which Glen told me about.
Yearlist = 193
I returned later in the evening to find it again very quickly and get some poor shots of it as it was very mobile and flighty, never coming very close.
The song began as Willow Warbler (about 75% of the total song length) and finished with a 'chiff-chaff'. Very occassionally it would start with a chiff-chaff. The bird appears to be a Willow Warbler, albeit a rather dull one and into the bargain it is rung!
A Garden Warbler there was a welcome yeartick although I managed to miss a reported Turtle Dove in Semere Lane which Glen told me about.
Yearlist = 193
'Mixed-singing' Willow Warbler
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