Titterstone Clee - Scarce Blue tailed Damsel

Scarce blue-tailed Damselfy had been recorded here a few years ago and I was determined to check out the wet flushes at peak flight time, even though there had been no official reports since 2006?

There were plenty of other ‘Blues’ during a couple of hours spent searching, including Common, Azure and Blue-tailed Damselfy.

Common Blue Damselflies seen here in the 'wheel' position.....











I took one burst of an unusual female type before it disappeared and it wasn't until I was sorting through the images that I realised just what I'd got! YES - a female Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly!!






I'd vowed to get at least one new species on my list for this year - given that the time has passed for the other likely candidates, this will do nicely :-) :-) :-)

Norfolk Day 5 - Titchwell, Bittern consolation

A Caspian Tern would have been nice, really nice but I was not quick enough off the mark when the Thornham bird of the previous evening turned up at Titchwell. I missed it by 15 mins and didn’t fancy a chase along the coast

There was a chance it would return anyway so I spent the day, waiting and hoping! There’s always birds at Titchwell and a check of the hides added Spotted Redshank, Little Gull for the year. The beach produced nothing of note and the only Tern sporting a yellow bill was a Little one!

An engaging Reed Bunting singing on the walk back






I then settled down (for most of the day) by the first pool from the sea wall where the Caspian tern had been seen earlier. Bearded Tit were pinging around the reed beds but never close enough and a female Red-crested Pochard on the water took me to 200 for the year. I kept myself occupied by trying to photograph Swifts (never really managed any keepers of note)








I did however have two moments of opportunity (roughly 90 mins apart) when one of the local Bitterns flew across the reed beds - crossing the sea wall!

Take one was a little to the side and I picked the bird up quite late....








Take two was the ‘moment’. I picked the Bittern up early, flying straight towards me!






It didn’t veer from a course which would take it directly overhead.....










And it certainly did!!








WOW, views of Bittern don’t come much better than that!

Compensation it certainly was and despite checking out the Thornham roost late evening, it was clear that the Caspian Tern had ‘done one’

Norfolk day 4 - Horsey Red-footed Falcon

A brilliant start to the day with a lifer Marsh Warbler at an undisclosed site. Quite showy and seen in full song (an amazing repertoire too)!

With rain forecast, I opted to dash over to the Horsey Red-footed Falcon. The Ledbury immature female was fresh in my memory, a male would be great to add and this was another youngster! I managed to get parked on the track by the Nelson’s Head and walked the km or so to the area the RFF was favouring – the fields adjacent to the sea wall (and occasionally the fence posts!!)

It was showing on arrival but about 60m distant, Annoyingly, it had apparently been right in front of the group of birders at the scene!

I had no other plans so opted to stick this one out and after a short session hunting it settled down on a post - quite distant sadly but at least a record shot was forthcoming!






Eventually, he flew...








landing a little closer....








I sensed my opportunity had come (just as the light had gone!)






The Falcon landed on the footpath post line within 40m or so! If you notice the shadowy shapes, one is a photographer, the other is a dog walker and not surprisingly - DOG - yes, walking purposefully towards the bird.....






I moved a little closer, I guessed there would be 20 secs or so before the dog flushed the Falcon!










Not far out, after 22 secs the bird was duly flushed and I was too close for the take off. Never mind, despite the light, it was an amazing close encounter!

The rest of the afternoon was a sorry (oops I mean soggy) affair. The heavens opened to make sure the weather forecast was proved correct. I retreated to the car for an hour or and spent some time deleting images from the past couple of days, then nearly dropping off....

I ventured back out and I guess it must have been nearly four hours later (plus many gloomy record shots) the Falcon ventured out from the tree it was sheltering in, landing on a post less than 20m away.....






Anyone got a hair (feather) dryer?








This shot really captures the moment! Wet and soggy bird - windswept conditions - talons hanging on for grim death!






As the rain returned, the chance of any better light seemed remote, so (for the third time that day) I retraced my tracks up the Nelson Head track, another 'job done'....

Norfolk day 3 - Swallows and Cetti's

Today was a transition back to birding and as I walked down to the River Ant to be greeted by the departure of a male Marsh Harrier! No Swallowtail surprise for me today but at least I managed to find another resting male Norfolk Hawker!






Is it any wonder those green eyes stand out in flight!






A few other blue Damselflies including this Variable Damselfly






Other butterfly species included large Skipper and Ringlet.....








At least a couple of Cetti’s Warblers were calling nearby and one particular bird was occasionally showing well whilst feeding, close to the path.....








Before setting off for the North Norfolk area, I checked out the same garden as yesterday where I was in for a Swallowtail feast! I don't want to overdo them so here's the best two images and another perfect specimen!









With rain starting to fall, I headed off for West Runton and in between showers checked out the clifftop and field edges but no sign of the previous day’s Bluethroat or Roller. After checking into my B&B, I drove to Morston in the aftermath of a torrential downpour






The walk out at Morston nearly resulted in wet feet!

Plenty of Common, Arctic plus a few Little Terns to end the day with another squall approaching!







A final tranquil scene.....






I'm overdue a visit to Horsey right now!

Norfolk day 2 - Swallowtails

Whilst I’ve seen Swallowtails in the past at Strumpshaw fen, binocular views were the norm. My mission here was to get closer and hopefully get some quality images, preferably on wild flowers. In fact, I wasn’t heading up to the North until I had completed said mission!

I was lucky in that my hosts Cecilia and Mervyn Coller are born and bred local residents and recalled how many many years gone by, they used to rescue the Swallowtail caterpillars (when reed beds were burnt as part of the management) raising them to adulthood in tanks before release. This spectacular and charismatic insect (if there is a finer one in the UK – let me know!) relies on traditional reed bed management which in turn, supports the ONLY larval food plant (Milk Parsley). A delicate balancing act of conservation as is the case with many our most threatened species!

The river Ant near to Ludham was our first destination and whilst many readers of this blog will know that I usually build up to a climax, the high point of the day happened first!

I spotted a single Swallowtail flying over the riverbank vegetation before homing in on a patch of Marsh Thistle. Would it stay and feed? It did!!






I moved a little closer and got a few keeper shots. This is not an easy butterfly to photograph as it seems to constantly hover whilst feeding on nectar, moving swiftly from flower to flower.










My favourite?






Or this one? – the ultimate shot as it ever so briefly spread it’s wings....






Job done and the day had only just begun! (I have to say that this moment was never to be bettered)

To complete the Swallowtail story, an unexpected surprise came as we checked out the edges of a patch of recently cut reedbed. There was a thriving colony of Milk Parsley, still immature but clearly showing signs of damage by caterpillar?

A few first stage caterpillars were seen as we took care not to disturb them or the vegetation. They resemble bird droppings for fairly obvious reasons, the plentiful population of Reed Buntings are one of their biggest predators!








Just two second stage caterpillars were seen, this amazing butterfly surely deserves such a matching larva beauty! They will eventually develop a more green colouration.









There was nettle patch absolutlely plastered with Peacock caterpillars - noting the spiny armoury is it any wonder they survive so well!






I sensed the rest of the day would be an anticlimax and a couple of hours spent at Howe Hill showed just how lucky I had been earlier as views reverted to those of the ‘binocular’ type!

Hoping to get something else from the day, I spent an hour in the garden of a very friendly couple overlooking the River Ant reed beds – every plant planted with nature in mind!

An immediate success, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on Red Vaterian....






There were two more Swallowtails here too – both were sadly wing damaged (they wont appear here!) putting the fantastic first specimen into true perspective!

Tomorrow would see another go for Insects and then it's back to the birds!