Bertha roles on through

A day in the office was largely unremarkable, however upon checking the 'raintoday' website I realised that the ex hurricane Bertha was almost upon us. With that I grabbed my camera and headed to the reception.

The clouds were clearly of interesting persuasion and something was brewing. Within 5mins the line of angry looking clouds were overhead and with it came some strong winds and squally showers. It was quite an impressive scene and although the camera didn't quite capture the true feeling it gives an impression of the view, the oddest thing about the clouds were that all of a sudden they would just rise up really quickly in small pockets. Then as quickly as it came it disappeared and the sun came out. I'll let the photos do the talking as I'm guessing most people saw something similar today.

 

Recent sightings, a reserve tick too!

After the initial wader peak at Buckenham it appears to have physically and metaphorically dried up (at least the hide pool has anyway).
Signs of autumn are making themselves increasingly evident at the moment, not least made obvious by the fact that I'm back cutting and burning in the fen! The wildlife has also shown signs of changing times, a Garganey and plenty of Ruff from Tower Hide as well as second generation swallowtails emerging and thousands of swallows roosting in the reedbed each evening symbolise departures.

I decided to have an evening walk at Strumpshaw on Saturday evening, I knew that the water levels were looking particularly crakey and with pictures of Titchwells spotted crake all over the net I thought I'd try to find my own. I sat in the hide looked out for about 10 mins enjoying a busy broad when I turned to look at the sightings board- Spotted Crake today! Ok so I was pipped to the post, now to refind the thing. After a couple of hours and the onset of almost darkness I had 'only' seen a couple of water rails and plenty of Juv and adult Moorhens, I conceded defeat and headed home. On the way back I was amazed by the sheer number of Swallows, I estimate that at least 1200 but more likely 2500 must have roosted in the reedbed, a fantastic sight!

Swallows coming in to roost on Saturday night

On talking to a reception volunteer it sounds like the crake sighting could possibly be erroneous with a description of angle of walking rather than bare part or plumage details, they also saw some Sandwich Terns, which not impossible is highly unlikely. I'd love to be proven wrong but at the moment it has not passed the SBRC.

On Monday I was cutting the trails and nipped into Tower hide for lunch and found a Garganey feeding continuously in front of the hide. Its not been reported again but I wonder how many visitors would pick it out of the flocks of eclipse ducks on offer from the hide!

 Today I had a real bit of excitement, I had finished my burning for the day and thought I would follow up on yesterdays fritillary sighting. I walked past the reception to the buddlia and quite astonished to see a SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY nectering out in full view, I dropped my bag to the floor to get my camera out and just as about to push the shutter it flew off into the wood. Wow my first Frit for Strumpshaw, so glad I followed up the sighting, so often the turn out to be Commas, this was the real deal!

Second generation swallowtail

 Whilst watching the Garganey a Buzzard flew over, While I'm sure it is just a common Buzzard I couldn't help but think it looked a little different so I snapped a couple of shots. Structurally it does look a little odd to me or is it just the pale undertail coverts changing the structural impession, the face also looks as if its stripy , with a pale throat, the diffuse and in places thick trailing edge also appears slightly odd. I am aware of variation in C Buzzards so know it probably is one, but any thoughts would be good, could it be a juvenile?
 

Moths at Snetts and Strumpy

A great couple of nights mothing with dad at the weekend resulted with quite a few additions to my list, many of which are micros and in wait of being identified by a chop from dad. There were some macros to see but not that many of which were new.
A list will be passed on to the relevant authorities when all identified, but as always was pleasant, if a little shattering with several very early starts.
The extra bonus was that mum and dad helped out with some gardening and now its looking great- thanks guys!!

Here are just a few of the pics from weekend for all to ponder/enjoy

Sand/coast dart or something else??

Double Kidney- a Yare valley speciality

Marbled Clover- a new macro for me from Snettisham

This wee beasty was in the moth trap, I am not sure what it is called but it is a louse like insect that had some of its previous meals carried on its back. Any ideas on  an ID?

Buckenham, strumpshaw and water levels

Buckenham continues it's good run of waders, this time with a fine summer plumaged knot, yet another patch year tick.
In the past two weeks Buckenham has given up greenshank, spotted redshank,  knot, black tern and little ringed plover- all great inland species.
I have cut a lot of the docks in front of the hide pool to allow a better view in, just in case anything good does turn up! Unfortunately it appears as though the water n the hide pool will not last much longer than the end of this week unless it rains a lot! The positive news However appears to be that the mill pool is still pretty full so will allow views of waders for the majority of august, extending the wader season a little. Strumpshaw fen water levels are now on the decrease too so there should be plenty of mud to look at from tower hide soon.

On a different note there are 5 swallowtail caterpillars feeding on fennel at strumpshaw near the visitor centre. They are fast becoming the most photographed caterpillars in the world I should think! It is quite odd that they are surviving so well on fennel, but it have little reason to believe that they are from continental origin. My thoughts are that a female swallowtail was nectaring in the garden as they do so frequently and got caught short without a milk parsley plant nearby, I have since been told that the caterpillars seem to survive on a few plants other than milk parsley, however it is the female swallowtails that show a very strong attraction to milk parsley as somewhere to lay their eggs, an evolutionary process which has kept them in the broads!

Here is one on its more traditional Milk Parsley food plant