Swallowtails, Savi's and some surprises in a country churchyard!

Linda and I helped out at one of the regular 'bioblitzes' at Hemblington Church this morning: on the way we detoured briefly to Strumpshaw where we bumped into Lee Evans and, shortly after he moved on, a distant Swallowtail. A brief spell in Fen Hide was rewarded by a short spell of reeling from the Savi's Warbler and some croaking in front of the hide by a Snipe.

The bird count at the church totalled eighteen species, including Whitethroat and Chiffchaff for the first time. Among the insects were two pleasant surprises: a Hairy Dragonfly and a Norfolk Hawker.

After lunch, Linda and I returned to Strumpshaw, where this time we were rewarded by really good views of an immaculate Swallowtail in the small meadow just before Dr George's cottage, as well as a recently-emerged Scarce Chaser and lots of Variable Damselflies.