Strumpshaw Fen Pt.2 - 8th (lunchtime) to 9th (lunchtime) July, 2019

This is the second part of my report of my short visit to Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk. You can find the first part here:- https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2019/08/strumpshaw-fen-pt1-7th-to-8th-lunch.html

Up until now, I'd had two 'lifers' for the visit, and my best ever views of Barn Owl. The second half of my visit wasn't quite as rewarding, but there was another unexpected 'lifer' in store for me.

Monday, 8th July - lunchtime onward

Having had my picnic lunch in my car, I set off down Tinkers' Lane. Little of interest was seen on the lane, but I started seeing camera fodder as soon as I crossed the railway tracks onto the path that leads to the Lackford Run. 

I was keeping my eyes open for another Variable Damselfly, having had one as a 'lifer' the previous day. Common Blue and Azure Damselflies were readily found.

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

There were a few butterflies in evidence too. Here are a couple:-

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

Comma (Polygonia c-album) - Strumpshaw Fen

I got quite excited when a Southern Hawker arrived, and landed in an inaccessible tree at some distance. This was heavily cropped with the lens at 500mm

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) (immature male) - Strumpshaw Fen

I got even more excited when, a short time later, a Hairy Dragonfly appeared and perched in an equally inaccessible place. This was the first (and will be the last) time I'd seen this species in 2019. It is quite late in the year for this species and, coincidentally, this exact date (July 8th) was the last recorded sighting of this species in Norfolk in 2018!

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

I spent some time photographing Scarce Chasers, but only males were seen.

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

I'd also seen mainly males of Black-tailed Skimmer, but got lucky when a pair arrived in mating wheel. These ones were trying to fool me into thinking they were Scarce Chasers by not being on the ground.

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

ail

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male+female in cop) - Strumpshaw Fen

I did keep myself busy by photographing the occasional 'other insects', including butterflies - it's all good practice!

longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata) - Strumpshaw Fen

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (female) - Strumpshaw Fen

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

The day ended on another high as I got to the end of my walk. In the area where I'd seen the Variable Damselfly the previous day, I found a few more, and was particularly delighted to find a female amongst them.

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (female) - Strumpshaw Fen

It was now around 17h00, I'd had an early start and had spent virtually the whole day on my feet, and it was time to head back to base. I stocked up with provisions for an evening meal from the M&S Foodstore, and ended up with another early night.

Tuesday, 9th July - to lunchtime

The gentleman that I'd chatted to while watching the Barn Owl the previous morning had told me that he tried to get there every day at around 07h00 to watch the Barn Owls, and they never let him down. The alarm was set for 05h00, a quick breakfast was had, and off I set for Strumpshaw Fen once more.

The day was not as bright as the previous day, and rain was forecast to arrive at lunchtime. I arrived shortly after my companion, briefly spotting a Barn Owl enter a box that was relatively close to the path, just before I arrived. 

We waited for quite a long while, but the only thing that flew anywhere near us was a Marsh Harrier with prey.

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) (female) - Strumpshaw Fen

The juvenile Barn Owls were showing at the entrance to their nest box. There were at least three of them, and we came to the conclusion that some would be fledging very soon. 

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) (juveniles) - Strumpshaw Fen

We'd been there for about two and a half hours, with no further sightings of an adult Barn Owl, so decided to explore other areas of the reserve. My companion (yes, I've forgotten his name!) had not seen a Grasshopper Warbler, so we headed to where I'd seen one the previous day, more in hope than expectation. On the way, I photographed a moth which, I found out later, is a bit of a speciality of the area.

Lesser Cream Wave (Scopula immutata) - Strumpshaw Fen

We didn't see a Grasshopper Warbler, and little was seen at Fen Hide too, but we were informed that there was a Great Egret being seen from Tower Hide, so we headed to there.

The Great Egret was distant, and stayed that way.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) - Strumpshaw Fen

I spent a little while trying to photograph a Common Tern, but with limited success.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) - Strumpshaw Fen

A family of Shoveler arrived, including six youngsters. The adult female had a very noisy preening session.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata) (female) - Strumpshaw Fen

A juvenile Great Crested Grebe was cruising around at a distance.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) (juvenile) - Strumpshaw Fen

We spent nearly an hour here before deciding to go our separate ways as it was starting to look like the rain was coming our way. My companion headed back southward, while I set off in the opposite direction towards the Lackford Run.

Whilst still beside the River Yare, and on the densely tree-lined path, I noticed an Emerald Damselfly perched. It was in a difficult position and, with the rain clouds overhead reducing what little light there was, I nearly didn't bother to photograph it. It was only nearly a month later, when I got out of hospital, that I came to look at my photos - and found that I'd actually photographed another 'lifer' - a Willow Emerald Damselfly! This was largely confirmed by the marking on the side of the thorax.

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (female) - Strumpshaw Fen

Rain was already in the air, and I high-tailed it back along the Lackford Run and down tinkers' Lane to my car, managing to get there before the worst of the rain arrived. Having had my picnic, with the weather turned for the worse, it was time to head homeward.

It had been a rather exciting and rewarding visit to Strumpshaw Fen, although I had not managed to achieve either of my original two objectives. I was too late for the Swallowtails and, although I'd had very distant views of Norfolk Hawker, they had been very elusive, and I'd not managed a single photo. Several people stated that it had been a bad year for them in those parts. I hope for a return visit next year, and who knows what wonders might entertain me!

Thank you for dropping by. Unless I get out somewhere to take some more photos, I expect my next post be a short one and feature mainly dragons from the end of June.