Sunny Monday at the Fen: lots of new insects and an enormous larva!

A hot and sunny walk around the Fen produced just a few interesting birds (Kingfisher, Little Egret, Reed Warbler etc) but lots of lovely insects! Brown Hawkers were everywhere, as were newly-emerged Common Darters. Lots of Damselflies (only a few of which can I ever i/d with confidence!) as well as at least five White Admirals that annoyingly stayed up in the canopy! In the dipping pool by the Reception Hide was an amazing huge beetle larva - I guess Dytiscus - that measured at least four inches!

Norfolk Hawker

Reed Warbler

KIngfisher

Beetle larva

Red-eyed Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Common Darter

White Admiral - honestly!

Emerald Damselfly

Brown Hawker

Duxford Airshow - just a few highlights....

Curious smoke ring 'blown' by a Bearcat that resembled a dog's head!

Monty's!

This beautiful male Montagu's Harrier flew a few metres in front of my van this morning as I drove to the Post Office! I stopped briefly, causing a traffic jam on this single track road, and got one useable photo....
Fabulous patch bird, just half a mile from my front door!

Three Turtles!

Darn sarf!

A few days away to exhibit meteorites at the Oxford Mineral Show left time to visit relatives in Maidenhead: this included a walk by the river at Boulter's Lock, where these images were taken. There are few more beautiful creatures than Banded Demoiselles, particularly in bright sunlight.....

Dragons at the Fen!

Despite the wind, the Sun brought out a few Dragon and Damselflies: these are the pick of the crop. Still haven't added Scarce Chaser to my Strump list!
Only bird of note was a typically skulky Reed Warbler at the sluice...

Four-spotted Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Large Red Damselfly

Crowd pleaser!

I remember, back in the early eighties, rushing off to the Ouse Washes (and missing a dinner party!) to see my first Little Egret: now they're everywhere!
But they are still very welcome at Strumpshaw Fen, and all the 'Old Dears' (including myself and my fellow desperados Norman & Brian!) enjoyed taking a few snaps.... Global warming? Bring it on!

Every boy needs a Hobby!

Another day when interesting wildlife just appeared to brighten a walk around Strumpshaw Fen....
A Hobby perched in a dead tree near Fen Hide allowing great views (but not photos!). Dull and overcast, so few Dragons flying, apart from a couple of Norfolk Hawkers & Hairy Dragonflies. Emerald Damselfly was new, but not Azure or Blue-tailed, which did allow decent photos, however...

Star turns were the adult and juvenile Kingfishers by Lackford Run. Since I watched the youngster catch at least two fish, I'm not sure why he needed to beg from the parent bird... Kids, eh!?

Yare Valley goodies!

Not every day turns up rare birds and unusual insects, but the joy of Strumpshaw & Buckenham is that, even on a quiet day in July, there's usually something worth pointing the camera at!

Main interest today was a pair of Buzzards displaying and nest-building: they did some spectacular aerial manouvres which included passing a stick! I never get tired of watching these 'tourist eagles' - it isn't so long ago that they were a rare sight in the Norfolk skies....

Other raptors included several Sparrowhawks (one of which was a whopping female!) and a couple of Hobbies. Norfolk Hawkers and Black-tailed Skimmers were everywhere, as were the various more common blue damselflies. I also found a White Helleborine to add to my Yare Valley orchid list.

Back home, the Turtles seem to be feeding young: they are making much more regular visits to the feeding stations....