We arranged to meet up with two of our good friends, Mark and Rachel (not a couple!) today, but owing to a mix up of erm sites, we were in Norfolk and they were in Suffolk 😂😂
Lou and I had a lovely walk through half of the meadow, then a bit of sandy wall and into Fen Hide. Caught sight of a rather large grass snake (probably a good thing Mark wasn’t there!) as it lobbed itself into the undergrowth.
We were the only people in fen hide and we sat watching a gorgeous juvenile marsh harrier sitting in a nearby tree, and doing short flights calling to Mum! There was also a reed warbler darting about (when the marsh harrier wasnt up!).
After leaving fen hide, we headed back along sandy wall towards the River Yare and common lizards were basking themselves along the wood joists, it was lovely to see.
We sat and had a drink and ate our raspberries (we are off to Meales of Stalham to pick more tomorrow!) watching butterflies and dragonflies flying around, was so peaceful.
We then walked along the river towards the Pump House (on being restored), watching holiday makers sailing past, and watching more insects. We were treated to a few Roesel’s Crickets, Meadow Grasshoppers, various spiders, various butterflies, bees and a few random moths. Lovely!
When we reached the pump house we were treated to the Highland Cattle in the field opposite, truly beautiful cattle. Again, more butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, hoverflies, bees, beetles and birds.
We sat on the new-ish owl watching seat for a while, and there was a poo underneath , Lou said she thought it was water vole, I think hedgehog. Didn’t take a picture for prosperity 😂 however, there was an owl pellet underneath too, so I guess the owls are using the owl watch point too 😂🦉
When we went into the woods, it was a smorgasbord of baby birds!! Spotted Flycatcher, treecreepers, nuthatch, marsh tit… To name but a few!
As you can see it was a good day for sightings really.
Birds – Marsh Harrier, wren, blackbird, robin, reed warbler, reed bunting, treecreepers, nuthatch, spotted flycatcher, grey heron, marsh tit, buzzard, plus some am probably forgetting!
Butterflies – silver washed fritillary, red admiral, gatekeepers, small white, large white, brimstone, meadow brown, ringlet, comma, painted lady, peacock, speckled wood… Think that’s them all!
Dragonflies and Damselflies – emperor, norfolk hawker, brown hawker, migrant hawker, blue tailed damsel, comman blue damsel, azure damsel, common darter, ruddy darter
Bees / wasps / beetles / flies – yellow loosestrife bee, common carder, all the bumbles, mason wasp, common wasp, hornet hoverfly, marmalade Hoverfly, the footballer Hoverfly, devil’s coach-horse beetle, scorpion fly plus so many more…
A very enjoyable day!
Wild Sue's Wilderness 