Chris Lansdell's Birding & Nature Diary

Down at the Fen, 13 June 2021

A hot Sunday morning amble around my usual local fen.

I was hoping to find the rare shrub Petty Whin and there also seems to have been an illegal release of Marsh Fritillaries at the site. In the end I saw neither! Nevertheless the Early Marsh Orchids ssp ochroleuca the site is famous for were in fine fettle and I counted an amazing 42 plants, by far my biggest count to date. The usual mixture of 'dact' orchids and hybrids were nearby plus Marsh Lousewort and also a good find of Heath Milkwort. In the drier areas I found plenty of Heath Bedstraw and Heath Speedwell and another new one for me Purple Iris. Odonata included 2 Broad-bodied Chasers amongst loads of Four-spotted Chasers but butterflies were disappointing with just Small Heath, Common Blue and Small Copper seen until I got back to the meadow near the lane and a Painted Lady posed nicely. A Cuckoo was calling constantly but refused to show. Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Yellowhammer were a bit more obliging.

Yellowhammer

Painted Lady

Early Marsh Orchid ssp ochroleuca

Purple Iris

Heath Bedstraw

Heath Milkwort

Heath Speedwell

Wheatfen, 12 June 2021

Wheatfen is one of those old fashioned little reserves and all the better for it. I'd never been before so with the lure of some nice insects we decided to pay the place a visit on Saturday.

On the way I was keen to catch up with a rare plant I'd never seen before - White Ramping Fumitory. I'd kindy been given some directions by Andy Musgrove but as it transpired these were a bit 'out'. I extended my search further along the lane in Kirby Bedon and hey presto, found them right where we'd parked!

White Ramping Fumitory

On to Wheatfen and completely unbeknown to us they had an open weekend. Luckily we hit the timing right between 2 guided walks so there wasn't many people about. And the bonus was lovely tea and cakes for sale which were very welcome after a hot walk around the reserve! On that walk I found numerous Norfolk Hawkers and Scarce Chasers, 2 Hairy Dragonflies, Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spotted Chasers, Variable Damselflies, Azure Damselflies, Blue-tailed Damselflies and Large Red Damselflies. Start of the show however was a showy Swallowtail nectaring on a bunch of Sweet Williams that had been placed for them by reserve staff. Birds included Cetti's Warblers, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Cuckoo. Plants around the reserve were also interesting with Southern Marsh Orchid and hybrid Southern Marsh x Common Spotted, Blue Water Speedwell and Celery-leaved Buttercup but the best finds were Small Balsam and Yellow Pimpernel not far out of the carpark.

Swallowtail

Scarce Chasers

Norfolk Hawker

Variable Damselfly

Large Red Damselflies

Small Balsam

Yellow Pimpernel

South Suffolk Botany, 8 June 2021

One of the things I really enjoy about botany is the out of the way 'secret' places it gets you to. Balmy summer evenings in such places at this time of year are a joy and Tuesday night was exceptional. Stuart Read had very kindly offered to meet at one such site at Thorington Street near Stoke-by-Nayland as he'd found some of the rare Small-flowered Buttercup there a few days previously.

We spent a good hour in one small area which held an outstanding array of scarce plants. as well as the main attraction there were 4 species of scarce clovers - Suffocated Clover, Birds'-foot Clover, Clustered Clover and Knotted Clover. 3 of these were new to me! Into the bargain there was also a good patch of the beautiful Grass Vetchling and Hoary Cinquefoil plus Hairy Tare, Smooth Tare, Slender Trefoil, some curious white-flowered Common Vetch, Lesser Stitchwort, Field Madder, Scarlet Pimpernel and a large area covered in Lesser Calamint which will sadly not be in flower for some time yet. Turtle Dove and Cuckoo were the icing on the cake.

Bidding farewell to Stuart I made for home - via the Ipswich Lizard Orchid which is up but still in bud at the moment. I had tried on my drive down earlier but had incorrect directions. That error did at least allow me to find Jerusalem Sage and Musk Stork's-bill whilst searching.

Small-flowered Buttercup

Bird's-foot Clover

Clustered Clover

Suffocated Clover

Knotted Clover

Grass Vetchling

Field Madder

Hoary Cinquefoil

Lesser Stitchwort

Jerusalem Sage

Musk Stork's-bill

Lizard Orchid

Weekend Wildflowers and bits, 5 & 6 June 2021

After our travels it was back to local walking this weekend.

Friday was out because I had my 2nd covid jab but Saturday saw us do a long walk in the Thorpeness/Sizewell area. Probably too long as my jab had left me feeling rather washed out! Best of my sightings on the walk were Painted Lady and Brown Argus and loads of Kittiwakes around the platforms off Sizewell. Goatsbeard, Pink Sorrel, loads of Fiddleneck and Star of Bethlehem were the highlights of the inland portion of the walk. Along the coastal stretch English Stonewort, Sea Pea, Sea Kale, Red Valerian, Japanese Rose and Sea Spurge made the beach very colourful. Near Thorpeness a patch of Mediterranean Spurge was a strange find.

Fast forward to Sunday when I didn't do much except pop in to Winks Meadow after dropping Belinda off at Weybread. I found 8 Frog Orchids up plus the remnants of the Green-winged Orchids, Quaking Grass, Crested Dog's Tail, Yellow Rattle and Fairy Flax. Both Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat were singing.