April was cold and very dry with a record number of frosts. May has been cold and very wet/windy. Only one day this month has the temperature got in the high teens centigrade compared to twenty last year. Not the spring I was hoping for when I took early retirement. But nature is resilient, It has to be to survive. Given a good day butterflies will appear and eggs will be laid, maybe not as many but just enough to ensure a future generation.
Sunday Stroll
We took a walk with Rose and Mick and chanced the forecast. Our route, to the west of town, was quite familiar during this pandemic. Ominous black clouds to the west, cracks of thunder, yet it rolled on by and not a drop fell. It was a lovely morning.
Searching for Skippers
Every year in early May I try and get across the County to Breckland. It is here, at only two sites, that Norfolk’s rarest and smallest butterfly can be found. As I approached Foulden Common it was obvious there had been a good helping of the wet stuff. However the sky was clearing, sun appearing and after an hour long drive I was going to make the most of it. This year I didn’t have my extra pair of eyes, Mrs H was at work, so I had to carefully scan the ground alone. As it warmed up the butterflies emerged from wherever they had sheltered for the night. Brimstones, Orange-tips, Small Coppers, Peacocks and Speckled Wood. Then, suddenly, what I was searching for. A tiny dark butterfly flew up to chase a smaller, greyer variety, a Dingy Skipper seeing off a Grizzled Skipper, my target. In all I saw four Grizzles, not many but at least they are still surviving.
Pond Update
It’s all systems go at the garden pond. Every time I turn my back it seems another dragonfly has emerged! I’ve still yet to see the actual breaking free of the exuvia but there’s plenty of time. The total now is 3 Broad-bodied Chasers, 1 Four-spotted Chaser and 5 Large Red Damselflies. The rains have left the pond brimful and all the new arrivals have had to bide their time to take flight.
For the weekend and beyond the forecast is for proper spring weather, bring me sunshine!
Great blog,I live in Norfolk but haven’t been to Foulden common.
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Many thanks! Foulden is a lovely secluded spot and well worth a visit especially with Oxborough Hall close by.
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Lovely! The Orange tip in Finnish has a sweet name: Aurora. 🙂
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That is a great name!
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Very nice shots. Our Spring was also cooler and wetter than normal, but based on the past few years that may be the new normal for us.
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Thanks David. Last spring was great, summer not so. I don’t think anyone can predict what the future holds but things ain’t what they used to be.
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You really are a remarkably talented photographer, Brian. Beautifully done photographs, each and every one of them. And nice to see you’re making the best of your trips into the fields despite the weather making it hard for you.
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A very kind comment Dries. As you know, as much as anyone, photographing wildlife requires a huge amount of luck. We are fortunate to have digital cameras now so we are not limited to the number of shots we can fire off, this is a huge help.
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Oh wow, every images are stunning! What a great day of insect hunting! I love the Polygonia and the Skipper. Both of which I’ve never seen before.
Our May has been a little wet, but big time windy! I’m not seeing any Dragonfly’s yet or many butterflies hopefully that will pick up as it gets warmer.
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Many thanks Deborah. What a strange spring we are all suffering.
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Wow! These are impressive photos, Brian!
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Cheers Tina.
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Beautiful photos! I hope your weather dries out and warms up. 🇬🇧
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Thanks John, send over some of your spare Vegas sun!
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I wish I could!
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Despite the poor weather the butterflies don’t seem to mind and your pond has come to life. Lovely!
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Indeed Belinda, nature finds a way through the tough times.
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Lucky you!!! Spotting butterflies, skippers and above all, a beautiful Four-Spotted Chaser. That is an exquisite sharp capture, Brian.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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Thank you Greta, I like that shot as well mainly because the beautiful dragon had survived a rough night.
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Your few lovely days have certainly produced lovely sighting, Brian. Thank you for sharing the variety.
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Thanks Tanja, just wish it was a more ‘normal’ spring then I wouldn’t have to keep searching so hard.
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I understand. But at least you are still able to find them, even if takes an added effort. Maybe June will be better.
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Oh my goodness, what amazing photos! I love bees and dragonflies! your photos are beautiful ❣❣❣
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They are beautiful insects and deserve our admiration. Thanks for taking a look.
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Oh, Brian! Absolutely stunning post my friend! Loving them all but your Mining Bee… what a stunning piece of work! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a great weekend, B! 🙏📷
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Cheers Rob! Difficult photographing bees, well most insects to be honest, that one turned round just nicely to face the camera, Lady Luck smiled.
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Thank you, Brian, for sharing so much beauty!
Congratulations on the Grizzled Skipper! I guess I’ll have to travel to the U.S. west coast (or maybe the U.K) to glimpse that stunning Orange-tip.
The Chaser coming to life in your garden – well, it just doesn’t get much better than that.
We have plenty of sun to spare, please take some! Just to our south, they have declared a water emergency as drought conditions persist. Should be getting our rainy season start next week.
Have a terrific weekend!
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Cheers Wally, looks like we might get a drop of sun and warmth over the next few days, about time! Planning to visit the wetlands to see what is happening.
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Very Nice! Enjoyed seeing your beautiful images!
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Wow! Beautiful photos! Can’t decide if the bee with pollen on it or the dragonfly with water droplets is my favorite . The detail in both is outstanding.
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Thanks Kim. My two favourites as well!
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Had no idea Orange Tip caterpillars were cannibalistic. Will never look at them in the same way again. Thought all caterpillars were vegan!
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Sad but true David, yet interesting to note that the caterpillar will leave alone those of the Green-veined White laid on the same plant.
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Extraordinary. A pact between the two species made back in the mists of time? Nature gets stranger and stranger.
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Very nice set of shots B! Always jealous at the variety of butters you have over there (we make up for it in Warblers). Stunning bee shots and my favorite was the last dragon – looked like it was pulling the leaf down as protection from the rain!
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Hi B. Indeed that Dragon did use the leaf as an umbrella! When I saw it late evening it was in the open and it moved there overnight as the weather got worse.
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Great stuff Brian
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Many thanks for taking a look.
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Such beautiful images. Thanks.
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Cheers CJ!
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So good!
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Thanks Nuno.
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I have seen no dragonflies yet, so these are very cool to see. Lots of Orange-tips on the local woodland path down the road, but they are always on the move to snap. Lovely set of photos!
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Even over here where we have rather a lot of wetlands the dragons have been slow to appear, nearly a month late. My latest walk and numbers were building.
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