Cantley Marshes

Today I felt like a break from trudging around Strumpshaw, so I moved a couple of miles down the Yare Valley to Steve & Dot's local patch.
The first thing that struck me was just how many Little Egrets were loafing about: there was a group of ten, plus other groups of six and four!
But the most amazing difference was the quantity of dragonflies! I saw at least 100 Brown Hawkers for a start! Here are a few highlights and one I need help with!

Norfolk Hawker

Brown Hawker

Ruddy Darter

Emerald Damselfly

Six Egrets

Linnet

Help! Female what?

Turtle update!

Watching the behaviour of our two pairs of Turtle Doves, it seems highly probable that one pair are now feeding a second brood, while the second pair (see photos!) are contemplating laying more eggs...

One for the future?

I know of at least five sites in Norfolk (including one on the Heath) where there are reasonable colonies of feral Helmeted Guinea Fowl: there are probably more of these wandering about than Golden or Lady A pheasants. I wonder when/if they'll be promoted to the 'list'...

Oooo-er Missus!

Found a fine specimen of the delighfully-named Phallus impudicans at Strumpshaw today: Stinkhorn to you and me! Apart from that: a Kingfisher at its nest-hole on the riverbank, an otter and a Little Egret were the most interesting vertibrates, while there were lots of butterflies and dragonflies making the most of the sunshine...
Also: often heard all over Strump / Buck / Hassingham etc: finally saw a group of Peacocks.
Finally, after a cool six years, my birding chum Martin Reed finally saw one of our Turtles on Wednesday!

Little Egret from Tower Hide

....and in flight

Kingfisher flying towards burrow

Stinkhorn

Common Darter

Brown Hawker

Black-tailed Chaser

Skipper (sp!)

Peacock

Oh how I love computers!

A TWO DAY system restore on my office PC left me little time for wildlife: still, I did manage a total of 10 miles around Strump / Buck, which turned up over 100 butterflies! Nothing rare, but lots of variety: Comma, Meadow Brown, Large / Small White, Tortoiseshell, and this literal-minded Red Admiral (One of 12)

Good views of all three young Turtles (This is No. 3) and a delightful baby Jay that has spent three days in the garden even roosting on the pergola.

Lastly: help with this big, beautiful Dragonfly would be much apprecciated!

And again!

Couple Number 2 just dropped in with their youngster! And a new garden breeder: Song Thrush in the Leylandii!

Success!

One of our two pairs of Turtle Doves have brought a large youngster to the feeding station!
The male parent is attentive and protective, while the female has been a bit aggressive at times... Of course, this female may not be the mother: she might still be sitting on the nest.
Exciting stuff!

Young Turtle

Male and youngster

Female and young TD

Aggression!

Young TD. The windows are covered with rain-drops, hence the
somewhat less-than-crisp pictures!

Female and young TD

More 'drought' in East Norfolk!

Ouch! The rain is torrential today....
A couple of snatched seven-milers around the patch were relatively uneventful: more Buzzards, a couple of Crossbills at Strumpshaw and more wild flowers for the album!
I did manage a photo of an extremely fortunate Swift, that missed being lunch for a Hobby my centimetres!
There are still three (possibly four) Turtles visiting the garden every day: they seem to be feeding young. This female spent half an hour sunbathing / gaping during yesterday's hot and muggy afternoon

Lucky escape!

Back on patrol!

Back home after three days away at Duxford Airshow (where the best bird we saw was a 'female type' Red-footed Falcon by the A505)
A seven mile hike around Buckenham & Hassingham produced SEVEN Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier and two Red Kites: also cute young Kestrel and Great Spotted Woodie at Strumpshaw!

Summer at last! (But just for two days...)

The temperature rocketed to 26 degrees here in the Yare Valley today, so a seven-mile walk was really enjoyable for once!
A few more butterflies around: Small Copper, Small Tort, Large White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and, amazingly, Orange Tip! Also lots more Dragonflies...

Four-spot

Norfolk Hawker

Ringlet

Meadow Brown

This Speckled Wood seems to have met heavy flak over the Ruhr!

Small Tortoiseshell

Where are all the butterflies???

A long walk around the Heath and Strumpshaw produced not a single butterfly today :(
Only 'highlights' were a confiding treecreeper at Strump and the ever-present Turtles...

Yet more rain!

Despite more days of torrential 'drought', I've put in at least 6 miles a day around the patch: lots of wild flowers (see appropriate pages!)  as well as plenty of raptors...
I've now seen Buzzards. Hobbies & Marsh Harriers on the Heath, as well as a Peregrine over the A47 at Trowse. This, I guess, must be one of the Cathedral birds.
At home: the Turtles are still happily feeding and visiting the bird bath!