I headed to East Blean wood late afternoon. Unfortunately the weather was changing with building thick cloud and few and far between sunny intervals as well as a cool wind. Still, with the hope that it might improve I had a look to see what I could see. A few Meadow Brown butterflies were flitting around the car park area but I couldn't see any dragonflies. A Chiffchaff was calling away and I could hear both Blue and Great Tits but otherwise it was very quiet. I had a wander up the path for a little way. I could see a Norfolk Hawker hawking for insects in a clearing but I did not see it come down. I came across a beetle I haven't seen before. On looking it up it is a Leaf Beetle, a
Clytra quadripunctata. From some views it looked rather like an elongated Ladybird.
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| Clytra quadripunctata |
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| Clytra quadripunctata |
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| Clytra quadripunctata |
I could see some Heath Fritillaries resting up. In the duller light the colour of them seemed more intense. One of them enabled an unusual view of the underside of both the upper and lower wings. It was a bit obscured but nice to see. A mating pair were also resting up. They are beautiful butterflies and I always enjoy watching them.
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| Heath Fritillary |
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| Heath Fritillary |
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| mating Heath Fritillaries |
I caught sight of a White Admiral butterfly but it did not settle and a little further on I could see a Purple Hairstreak high in the canopy. A Harvestman was sitting out on a leaf and appeared to be the same type that I saw the other day but I was able to get a little bit of a closer photo.
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| Harvestman |
With walking not a strong point today I stopped at the large bramble patch I was aiming for and sat and waited to see what came visiting. It wasn't long before a White Admiral flew in and I enjoyed watching it as it moved from flower to flower. They are handsome butterflies.
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| White Admiral |
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| White Admiral |
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| White Admiral |
A flash of orange caught my eye as a mating pair of Comma butterflies landed and remained tucked down in the grass for quite a while. While watching the two Comma's a Lacewing flew across and landed above me. I think that it is a
Chrysopa perla.
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| mating Comma Butterflies |
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| Lacewing Chrysopa perla |
A Common Blue Damselfly was sheltering out of the wind and gave the opportunity for some good views. A moth flew out from cover and settled briefly before moving off again. It was a Four-dotted Footman
Cybosia mesomella which was the same species of moth I saw the last time I came but this one was not f. flava. It has given a good chance to compare them.
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| Common Blue Damselfly |
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| Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella |
A White Admiral reappeared and gave some nice views of its underwings as it fed, this time, while a second one was feeding further over.
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| White Admiral |
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| White Admiral |
I had seen a couple of Ringlet briefly but then in one of the sunny spells I saw one settle and though a little obscured and not very close I was able to get some photos. It was nice to catch up with some views of them again and my first for this year.
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| female Ringlet |
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| female Ringlet |
I started to head back and came across a teneral Common Blue Damselfly and a Speckled Bush Cricket nymph. I also saw a couple of Large Skipper butterflies.
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| teneral Common Blue Damselfly |
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| Speckled Bush Cricket nymph |
I had a peep around the car park area again in case there was a resting Norfolk Hawker. I did not come across one but I did come across a handsome male Emperor Dragonfly enjoying the sunshine that had finally come out. It allowed some very nice views.
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| male Emperor Dragonfly |
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| male Emperor Dragonfly |
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| male Emperor Dragonfly |
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| male Emperor Dragonfly |
A White Admiral dropped in briefly before moving on. I could hear a Tawny Owl calling.
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| White Admiral |
I was chuffed when a Banded Demoiselle came out from cover and sat soaking up the sunshine and giving some stunning views. They really are stunningly beautiful damselflies and it was a joy to be able to just spend some time watching it. I felt very lucky and it was a lovely end to the visit.
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| Banded Demoiselle |
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| Banded Demoiselle |
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| Banded Demoiselle |
Birds seen this visit include: 2 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, 3 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 2 Wren, 1 Tawny Owl (heard)
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