Butterflies

We were thrilled to have a Green-veined White in the garden yesterday. 

We also had a male Brimstone (which I failed to photograph), two Holly Blues (ditto) and this beautiful Peacock. I am continuing to record my sightings on the Butterfly Conservation 'Garden Butterfly Survey'. It will be interesting to see how my list develops. I will post a summary soon of my sightings so far. 

Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Knettishall Heath Reserve

Having left Thetford behind us (please see previous post), we headed for the wild expanse of Knettishall Heath, which is in the care of Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It is the Trust's largest reserve, and even on a dry Bank Holiday afternoon, we saw very few other people once we left the main car park. We decided to start out on the red rabbit trail...

We passed areas of deciduous trees...

... and areas where there were mainly conifers.

On a cloudy afternoon, a few patches of blue sky were particularly welcome.

There were corrugated iron sheets for reptiles. I wonder who was lurking under this one. Adders are occasionally seen, and there are Grass Snakes, Common Lizards and Slow Worms in the area. We shall have to return on a sunnier day...

This Breckland heath is an ancient landscape: the photos above and below show the bowl barrow tumulus at Hut Hill.

It was too cool for most insects, but there were occasional sheltered spots in dappled sunshine...

... and we noticed this Green-veined White butterfly in just such a spot.

When I was scanning the leaves for ladybirds through my zoom lens, I noticed the creature above (and below). I think it may well be a day-flying Fairy Moth (aka a Green Longhorn).

And yes...

... there was a single ladybird. I am not sure whether it is a Cream-spot or an Orange. The three spots on the wing shown on the right (straddling the top of the elytra) in the photo below could suggest the former, but I have a hunch there is more to it than that! I have yet to log the sighting on the UK Ladybird Survey via iRecord, so watch this space. The ladybird flew up in the air then came back and perched on the leaf.

There is plenty more for us to explore on Knettishall Heath on a future occasion, but by 4 o'clock we felt in need of a cup of tea so we drove to the garden centre at Bressingham. There was plenty of steam in the adjacent gardens.

Three Days in North Norfolk - 2

Bearded tit

I mentioned that I would add some more Cley photos in a second post, so here they are. We were thrilled to see Bearded tits in the deep reedbeds with the Sedge Warblers. We stood poised on the path, listening for the ping that often precedes their presence. These beautiful birds are extremely elusive!

But it was not just tits and warblers in among the reeds. It was lovely to see a few butterflies, including this Peacock in a sheltered spot below the raised path to Cley from Morston Quay. 

 

We were just about to enjoy our picnic lunch when I noticed what I took from a distance to be a female Orange Tip, but when I drew near I realised it was actually a Green-veined White, another seasonal first for me. We actually saw several flying about near a patch of dandelions. 

Unlike the Peacock butterfly, this black beetle was strolling along the top of the bank in the sunshine. 

David noticed a streak of red in the brambles at the edge of the raised path, and it turned out to be the chest of a Linnet. I think this is my best view to date of a Linnet's back. What lovely pied markings on the tail.

There are usually quite a few Avocets on the Cley reserve. I was so hoping to take a photo of one in flight, but this will have to wait for another occasion. I see it is the 70th birthday of RSPB Minsmere (down the coast, into Suffolk) this weekend and that there is a new Avocet mug to mark the occasion. 

These Bearded tit pictures below are definitely 'click-and-shoot' shots, but who could resist these magnificent little birds? And it seems to me that the 'beard' is definitely more of a moustache!

There were several ladybirds along the path to the sea at Cley. 

 I am puzzled by this one, though, as it looks very like an Eyed Ladybird, 

but I don't think the habitat is quite right 

as these insects are usually found on pine trees and other conifers. 

Another insect for the UK Ladybird Survey...

I love this landscape of mere, reedbed, sea and sky. Tides and migrant birds come and go, just like the light and the shadows. 

There was just time for a slice of malteaser cake on the terrace at NWT Cley before heading home to Suffolk.

Species list to follow, but do click on the yellow background and take a look at a wonderful post on North Norfolk from fellow blogger, Adam Tilt.