Willow Emerald at Upton Fen and much more besides!

Willow Emeralds are pretty easy to find in the Yare Valley these days, but I'd never seen one at Upton Fen (Bure Valley) until today! I came across a copulating pair right at the end of a five mile circuit of this splendid reserve, having already encountered multiples of Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

All the expected species of Dragonfly were present in numbers: Migrant, Brown and Southern Hawkers, as well as Common and Ruddy Darter. Still no sign of any Common Hawkers: if anyone comes across one of these elusive odonatids in Norfolk, I'd love to hear about it - I've been trying to photograph one for six years now!

Other interest came in the form of a decent patch of the beautiful white-flowered Grass of Parnassus, several Chinese Water Deer and a hunting Hobby.