Holt Country Park - 30th July 2023

 Today, Jayne and I started the day at Holt Country Park, We were there to see the Silver-washed Fritillaries, but whilst there, we also had  several other species, including two "lifers".

We started the day in the car park (!), where the buddleia bushes were absolutely alive with butterflies (helped by the warm sunshine, and 20 degree heat). Species seen were: Silver-washed Fritillary (20+, including 2 "valezina" females), Comma (c.15), Peacock (c.20), Gatekeeper (c.10), Brimstone (1m and 1fm), Ringlet (1), Holly Blue (1), Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood (5), Meadow Brown and White Admiral (1). We also saw several dragonfly species: Common Darter, Ruddy Darter , Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Migrant Hawker.

Silver-washed Fritillary (female valezina)

White Admiral

We carried on around the site and walked down to a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve called Holt Lowes. Here we bumped into a local, who explained about the resident Keeled Skimmer dragonflies. We had a look around and spotted 3 males and a pair "in tandem". Although, not quite a lifer, as I'd seen them in Majorca, it was a very good British tick.

Keeled Skimmer

Whilst searching for the Skimmer, I spotted a Bush-cricket, that, after a bit of an internet search, was identified as a Roesel's Bush-cricket - a lifer!! 

Roesel's Bush-cricket

Norfolk Butterflies and Reptiles

Holt Country Park in North Norfolk is an excellent spot to find a couple of butterfly species, so I had a few hours here on Monday.

The first species is Silver-washed Fritillary. Several individuals were seen straight away in the car park feeding around the Buddlehia bushes.

Silver-washed Fritillary

 We walked down to the small pond, where there were several more fritillaries, including 2 females of the form valezina. As you can see, the markings on this individual are the same as the more usual form, but the colour is very different. Apparently, 10 - 15% of females can be of this form, and its more common in central and southern Britain. See the Butterfly Conservation website here for more details about this species.

Silver-washed Fritillary, valezina form 

The other key species at this site is the White Admiral (see here for details). We saw 2 individuals, but I didn't manage to get a photo on this visit- more reason for a return visit!

When we returned to the car park, we spotted a sign warning visitors about Adders that were present in the area. We were very lucky to spot this individual curled up about 1m away from the sign! I've seen one before, on Big Moor in Derbyshire, but this was the first one I've managed to get a photo of. See here for details about this species on the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Group website.

Adder

Whilst looking at the Adder, we noticed this Slow-worm! It too, was sunbathing just by the edge of the car park. This is my first ever record. See here for details.

Slow-worm

Suffolk Butterflies and Moths

As well as looking at the birds in Suffolk last week, I also managed to spot a few butterflies and moths. Most of the species seen were at the RSPB Minsmere reserve. Over the course of the week I managed to spot 19 species of butterfly and 3 moths.

The butterflies included many of the commoner species, namely Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Small Copper, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Small Heath, Small, Large and Essex Skipper (a new species for me) and Comma as well as a few more unfamiliar ones such as Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Grayling, Purple Hairstreak, (2 basking in the sunshine from Bittern Hide), White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary. More information about all these species can be found on the Butterfly Conservation's website here. Here are a few pictures.

Essex Skipper

White Admiral

I didn't take my moth trap with me, so the moths I saw were three day-flying varieties; 6-spot Burnet, Rosy Tabby (Endotricha flammealis, seen at Dunwich Heath) and a mint moth called  Pyrausta aurata or Small Purple and Gold. More information about these species can be found on the UK Moths website here.

6-spot Burnet

Small Purple and Gold

Rosy Tabby

A Week in Suffolk

I've just been down to Suffolk for a week's holiday, and in between visits to Southwold and Aldeburgh, and sitting on the beach in amazing 25 degree heat, I managed to see a few birds and increase the Year List, including a  new British Tick, in the form of a Collared Pratincole. Here's a terrible picture that I managed to get.

Collared Pratincole

 

Most of the birding, including the Pratincole,  took place at the superb RSPB Minsmere reserve, which was just 10 minutes drive from our cottage. I managed to see all of the year ticks except the Dartford Warbler and the Garden Warbler, at this site. Here's another poor shot, this time of the part breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper.

 

Curlew Sandpiper

 

Year List update:
153 – Red-legged Partridge

154 – Green Sandpiper
155- Curlew Sandpiper
156- Collared Pratincole
157 – Little Gull (20+ every day at Minsmere)
158 – Little Tern
159 – Sandwich Tern
160 – Arctic Tern (1)
161 – Dartford Warbler (Dunwich Heath)
162 – Garden Warbler (1 ringed at The Avenue, Chesterfield on 12th July)

As well as the birds I also managed to see a few butterflies and moths, so I'll add another post about those later.