Grey Partridge and a Hovering Kestrel - Broomfield Track 05/06/20

 I paid a short visit to Broomfield Track on a beautifully fine afternoon. I came across an insect I have not been able to find at the moment in my books but was very smart with its iridescent purple hues and the green colour at the base of its abdomen.

In the same area a Hoverfly was busily working its way around a flower head and a little further along a bee was busily collecting nectar.

I caught a glimpse of white amongst the vegetation and saw a Crab Spider patiently waiting for prey to come within its reach.

A Whitethroat was singing away out of sight but then helpfully popped up onto a stem and gave me some brief views before disappearing to the other side of the bush again.

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

As I made my way along the track a smart Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was on a bare patch of ground sunning itself, its colours looking gorgeous in the afternoon light.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

I could see a blob tucked in by the back fence and binoculars revealed that it was a Grey Partridge (126) which came as a very welcome surprise. Movement behind it revealed a female as well. Though a little distant for the camera the male gave some good views.

Grey Partridge

Grey Partridge

It was time to be heading back and as I turned for home a small flock of 5 House Martins made their way through. I tried for some photos which though not very successful did give me good practice at trying to photograph such a fast moving bird.

House Martin

I finished a short but enjoyable walk through with a hovering Kestrel a little way in front of me.

Kestrel

Kestrel

It then moved over to the field next to me and started some low level hovering giving some very nice views indeed. I did not do very well with the photos but they do give me some good memory shots.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel

It had been an enjoyable wander made all the more special by the things I had seen.

Hovering Kestrel, Dragonflies and Insects - Highstead to Marshside 31/05/20

I made a return visit to Highstead today to see if I could manage to catch up with the Norfolk Hawker I saw the other day. While I was scanning the bushes near the old stables a Kestrel was hovering nearby and then moved much closer and gave some fantastic views as it hung in the wind, adjusting its wing strokes to keep itself completely steady.

Kestrel

Kestrel

Once the Kestrel moved on I started out along the track and came across a Large Skipper butterfly resting up. I had not realised just how long its probiscus was until it unravelled it. I am always amazed at the level of control and accuracy that butterflies have over it.

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Large Skipper

I caught sight of blue and could see a Broad-bodied Chaser resting up before recommencing hunting sorties. I am presuming that the markings are down to age but it was very striking all the same.

mature Broad-bodied Chaser

mature Broad-bodied Chaser

A beautifully fresh Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly looked great in a patch of sunlight and I saw a moth that I think may be a Common Carpet Moth although some aspects don't look quite right for it so I will need to look into it further.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

It was nice to catch up with some Azure damselflies but I did not have any luck with the Norfolk Hawker. One of the Azure's had a marked kink in its abdomen.

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly with kinked abdomen

A Yellow Shell Moth was tucked down amongst the vegetation and a Dock Bug was making the most of the sunshine.

Yellow Shell Moth

Dock Bug

I had a wander down to Marshside to reach the pick up point and a Kestrel was tucked into the hedge shining pale against the dark leaves.

Kestrel

I caught sight of a Norfolk Hawker flying along the dyke but unfortunately it kept going and I wasn't able to get a photograph. It is the first time I have seen one at Marshside and I suppose that it is not inconceivable that it could be the nearby Highstead one. A couple of unusual colouration Ladybirds were climbing stems. I am not sure if they are in fact Harlequin Ladybirds which could explain the colour forms. I couldn't see an 'M' on them but it may have been down to the angle I was viewing them from.

I finished the visit with good views of a Broad-bodied Chaser and it made a nice way to finish, they are beautiful dragonflies.

Broad-bodied Chaser

A Longhorn, a Bee and an Orange-tip - Broomfield Track 15/04/20

After a few days at work it was good to be able to have a walk around the now familiar route for my exercise walk. 2 Speckled Wood butterfly were rising in a dancing flight around each other and this was only broken by the arrival of a Comma butterfly whereupon one of the Speckled Wood broke off to give chase.

I enjoyed listening to the various bird songs as I made my way along. There did not appear to be much change in what was around since my last walk but it was good to be out. As I walked along the top path I came across what appeared to be a small moth fluttering near the hedgerow. Luckily for me it settled and I was able to get some photos. I did not know which it was but having looked it up since I got home I think that it is a Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella. The colour of the wings appeared to change noticeably depending on the angle of reflection I was looking at it from, appearing either dark or much paler and also as to whether it was in the sun or shade. The antennae were remarkably long. A little further along I could see another fluttering along.

Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella

Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella

Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella

Green Longhorn Moth Adela reaumurella

A little further along I came across a queen Common Wasp chewing woody material from a dried stem.

Queen Common Wasp

Queen Common Wasp

As I reached the second half of the lower path I came across a little patch of Cuckoo flower. With their delicate colour they are a lovely sight.

Cuckoo Flower

A Willow Warbler was singing in the same area that I heard it the other day and 2 Swallow were hunting at the back of the cow paddock. I caught sight of a very striking bee. At first I thought the bright yellow that I could see on it must be pollen but it appears to be the colour of the bee. It was a really bright flash of yellow as it moved rapidly from flower to flower. At the moment I am not sure what bee it is except perhaps a Carder? I could not manage to get much in the photo line as it was extremely active but hopefully in time I will be able to put a name to it. It was a little beauty.

I came across a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly that was sunning itself and giving a lovely view.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

I finished the walk with an Orange-tip that was resting up and allowing some great views.

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip Butterfly

Orange-tip Butterfly

Birds seen this visit included: 20 House Sparrow, 15 Starling, 8 Blackbird, 9 Stock Dove, 15 Chaffinch, 3 Robin, 4 Dunock, 3 Blackcap, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 5 Wren, 2 Swallow, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Magpie, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gulls, 3 Whitethroat

First Butterflies of Spring - Broomfield Track 25/3/20

With the government lockdown in place due to Coronavirus, when I am able, I am going to have my daily exercise walk along Broomfield track which is just across the road from me. I am lucky it is so near and though there tends to be a fair amount of disturbance as it tends to be very popular with dog walkers and joggers, and even more so now, there is still enough space to be able to have no difficulty in maintaining social distancing.

It was good to be out on a beautifully sunny spring morning and the air was full of bird song with Chaffinch, Robin and Dunnock all giving it their best. A Wren exploded into song nearby as I made my way down the track and Blackbirds and Song Thrush were busy feeding in the paddock. A Chiffchaff sang frequently as it made its way through the trees and a Great Tit appeared to answer in song each time it did so.

I saw a good mix of the usual suspects as I made my way to the upper track. A Jay called as it flew above the hedgerow while in the fields Carrion Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws were feeding in various places. As I neared a sheltered spot I saw my first Peacock butterfly of the year looking absolutely stunning against the blossom.

Peacock Butterfly

As I came down onto the lower track I could hear a Bullfinch (99) calling and a pair of Coal Tits (100) were calling away as they moved steadily through the trees. Each sheltered spot I came too seemed to have at least a couple of Bee-flies busily feeding away, again my first for the year. I always enjoy watching them. They were visiting both the Aconite and Wood Anemone flowers. I also caught up with my first Ladybird of the year.

Bee-fly

Movement amongst the next patch of blossom caught my eye and I came across another new butterfly for the year when I saw a Small Tortoiseshell closely following a Peacock Butterfly. Each time the Peacock butterfly flew it followed it and then settled right next to it and on several occasions seemed to be stroking it with its proboscis. I couldn't tell if it was warning the Peacock butterfly off or attracted to it.

Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies

Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies

I could hear a Common Buzzard calling with another replying a little further away. Next second one appeared directly above lazily thermalling as moved past and looking stunning with the light shining though its wings.

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

I finished the visit with another first butterfly for the year when I came across a Comma butterfly sunning itself as I headed for home, what a beauty. It had been an enjoyable walk by the end I had seen several Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Comma Butterflies making the most of the sunshine.

Comma butterfly

Birds seen this visit included: 12 Blackbirds, 4 Robin, 4 Dunnock, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Collared Doves, Woodpigeons, 4 Song Thrush, 3 Wren, 1 Jay, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 6 Chaffinch, 15 Linnet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldfinch, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Common Buzzard, Stock Dove,