Reading a recent post on another blog about the artwork and revolutionary conservation ideals of Breydon Water naturalist Arthur Patterson reminded me that - many years ago - I came across a greetings card drawn and signed by him in 1914. It took a while to find it, but having done so I may well frame it.
Our collection of carnivorous plants is definitely benefiting from the sunny weather and large numbers of aphids in the garden. Mostly Pitcher Plants, we also have Venus Fly Traps, Butterworts and several species of Sundew: almost all of these are - or have been - flowering: most strange flowers they are too!
This well-marked Osprey flew over my garden in Blofield Heath at 1.45 heading west. It seemed quite small for an Osprey (compared to the Lesser Black-back) but the wing shape was right. (I briefly hoped that it might have been one of the small European eagle species...)
Having just had a belated chat with the lovely Jules on Suffolk Sound, here's a reminder of what you can see for the remainder of the month.
It never truly gets dark in the UK in June: the solstice on the 20th leads to the longest day of the year. (Incidentally: contrary to what I've heard on TV, the radio and in classrooms, the seasons are produced by the tilt of the Earth's axis - in Summer, the north pole is tilted towards the Sun, in the Winter, it's tipped away) Despite this, several planets are still visible:
Jupiter will rise before the Sun at around 03.30 in the constellation of Taurus
Mars rises a little earlier at around 02.30. On June 3rd the thin crescent Moon will be close by, while towards the end of the month Mars will be visible in the west just after sunset close to the bright blue-white star Regulus.
Saturn is visible for longer, rising at 01.00, with the last quarter Moon coming close on the 27th & 28th
The winter constellations have disappeared until the Autumn, being replaced by the familiar constellations of Cygnus (the 'Northern Cross') Lyra and Aquila, whose brightest stars Deneb, Vega and Altair make up the famous Summer Triangle.
An amazing and beautiful spectacle that may occur in June is a display of Noctilucent Clouds. An hour or so after sunset the northern sky can be covered by a tracery of electric blue threads and waves. The origin of this phenomenon is not fully understood, but is possibly caused by the long-set Sun illuminating extremely high clouds of ice crystals.
Having swung around the Sun, Venus has climbed into the eastern sky and is currently visible just before sunrise: these photos were taken at around 04.30 this morning...
With nothing new on the north coast and the Caspian having departed the Brecks, Brian, Norman and I weaved through the traffic to Minsmere. Among the first to arrive, we walked out to the public viewing platform where I quickly found ✔ number one: a Little Gull. After a bit of a delay, a guy with a 'scope pinned down ✔ number 2: the long-staying (but elusive) Roseate Tern. We watched this delightful sprite for nearly an hour: although somewhat distant, we could pick out all the salient features - a terrific bird! Moving round to Island Mere, I met John Richardson and his posse: one of these pointed out ✔ number 3: a small group of Goldcrests! Other birds included Mediterranean Gull, Hobby and Sparrowhawk.
We finished the outing with a walk round Dunwich Heath, starting by the 'quarry'. Some lovely Butterflies, including several Silver-studded Blues, Small Coppers, Small Heath and so on, as well as a singing Nightingale.
Last night, once the twilight had diminished a little, the red planet Mars could be seen in the west close to the blue-white Regulus, the leading star of the constellation Leo, the lion. A comparatively young, hot star, Regulus - at magnitude 1.35 - is one of the brighter stars in the sky.
Linda and I are really lucky to be visited almost daily by the local Kites and Buzzards: this beautiful Red Kite took a real interest in me while I photographed it wheeling just thirty feet over my head..
As Linda and I were driving home from the Harford Bridge car boot, a well-marked dark phase Honey Buzzard flew low over the River Yare bridge, heading towards Strumpshaw.
Since it was such a beautiful evening, I took the short drive to Strumpshaw to complete my sawbill trio for the year with an unexpected juvenile male Smew. Although somewhat distant (on the far side of the Tower Hide scrape) it showed well in the evening sunlight. Nice to chat with Drew L and to bump into Steve & Dot: Steve was kind enough to confirm my Pallid Harrier i/d.
Other birds included Cuckoo, Common Tern (with baby pike!) Garden Warbler and several Marsh Harriers.
As I was typing in my office, I glanced out to see a Harrier flying east to west: I snatched up my old Pentax with its 18 - 135mm zoom lens and grabbed a single shot as it passed between the trees at the end of the garden. I'm pretty confident it was a Pallid, but all input gratefully received!
A little later, as I was walking down to the Post Office, I saw it again - no camera this time, of course. It circled over the school briefly, before dashing off south. (Also: a Chiffchaff and ten Swifts near the school)
Linda, Sue, Peter and I are off to the village cinema to see the new Bob Dylan film: we're all fans! Given the weather, an al fresco supper was called for, so let battle commence! (Oh! The insectivorous plants seem to be doing well at last!)
