Anglian Adventures, Day 3 - 16th June, 2023

Herewith my account of the third day of my break in Norfolk. If you missed the previous two days, you can find them here:-  https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2023/06/anglian-adventures-day-1-14th-june-2023.html, and here:- https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2023/07/anglian-adventures-day-2-15th-june-2023.html

Friday, 16th June                    Strumpshaw Fen

It had been my intention to have an early start this day, and make a pre-breakfast visit to Strumpshaw Fen to see if I could find a Barn Owl to photograph. I was then going to come back to my room for breakfast and follow it up with a gentle day somewhere.

I'd set the alarm on my phone to wake me at 05.00, so was horrified to wake in the morning and find that it was already 08.15. I never sleep through an alarm, but what I'd done was select the time OK, but neglected to press 'save', so it hadn't activated.

I had my usual breakfast of cereal and dried fruit before leaving for Strumpshaw Fen, arriving at about 09.30. Having paid the entrance fee, I set off towards the Meadow Trail to see if I could have any better luck with Norfolk Hawkers in flight.

There was a bit of activity in the channel that runs beside the trail and I photographed a Four-spotted Chaser that was nicely posed.

Four-spotted Chaser (Sympetrum quadrimaculatum) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

A fellow with a camera pointed out something that he was not sure of the identity of - it was a dragonfly exuvia. I subsequently found out that it was that of a Norfolk Hawker.

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (exuvia) - Strumpshaw Fen

I suddenly noticed a Barn Owl in the far distance. It was between 400 and 500 metres away, and I took some record shots before rushing, via the trail alongside the River Yare, to my favourite spot for watching them, beyond the Pump House. 

Barn Owl (Tito alba) - Strumpshaw Fen

On the way, I stopped briefly to try and photograph a pair of birds that seemed to be having a squabble. I only got some poor shots of just one of them and I think it is just a common Meadow Pipit - please let me know if you think I'm wrong.

Meadow Pipit ? (Anthus pratensis) - Strumpshaw Fen

I had not had any further sightings of the Barn Owl after leaving my original position, and spent an hour and a half at what should have been an ideal spot, patiently waiting for one to appear again. Even the dragonflies were playing hard to get at this point, but I did find one obliging Norfolk Hawker before I decided to give it up as a bad job.

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

It was time to head back to the Visitor Centre via the Woodland Walk to see if I could find some butterflies. I had been hoping to find White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary, but it seems that it was too early in the season for these. The best that I could find was another Brimstone!

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

From the Visitor Centre, I crossed over the railway line to the car park and spent a little time resting my legs and enjoying another picnic lunch. I then set off down Tinker's Lane, seeing nothing of interest as I went, and crossed the railway line again at the far end to head back into the reserve. Just inside the reserve were a few orchids, of which species I do not know.

Orchid sp. - Strumpshaw Fen

Further on, I was pleased to find a few damselflies, including a Variable Damselfly in an area that I'd seen my first ever, a few years ago.

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

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

Halfway along Lackford Run, I stopped to try and photgraph a distant Marsh Harrier. A month ago, I would not have stood a chance, but I'm now getting a little more used to the camera, although I still have a fair way to go!

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

Beside the River Yare, I took photos of a colourful hoverfly and another Brimstone, before reaching Tower Hide. I can't ID the hoverfly beyond genus.

hoverfly (Parhelophilus sp.) - Strumpshaw Fen

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

I found Tower Hide to be almost full of people but did manage to find a space. Once again, there seemed to be little happening in front of the hide but, way over to the left, there was some Marsh Harrier action. Again, this was a little too distant for pleasing photography.

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

The harriers disappeared and I continued my travels alongside the Yare. 

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - Strumpshaw Fen

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - Strumpshaw Fen

At one point, I found a person taking photos at a gap in the landward belt of trees. He pointed out that a grebe was out on the water with a chick riding on its back. 

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) (adult with chick) - Strumpshaw Fen

The chick eventually hopped of the adult's back and I was interested to note that it had regained its buoyancy.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) (adult with chick) - Strumpshaw Fen

The two of us left the area and were chatting as we went. Turning left down the trail that leads to the Visitor Centre, I almost immediately said "stop!" to my companion. On the trail, way ahead of us, was a Brown Hare, and it was heading our way.

Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) - Strumpshaw Fen

We stood stock-still, taking photos, as it came forward, stopped a while came forward again, stopped again, and then came forward until it can't have been much more than four metres from us.

Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) - Strumpshaw Fen

Remarkably, it stopped there long enough for me to set my camera to take some video - note the sound of a Blackcap in the background. 

You might find it interesting to see that video in slow-motion.

My companion and I then continued to the Meadow Trail and spent some time there photographing dragonflies and damselflies. I also managed to collect that exuvia which features in the second image in this blog post, and it is now in my small collection of exuviae.

 

A large part of Meadow Trail was closed off, due to the presence of longhorn cattle, including a bull.

Longhorn cattle - Strumpshaw Fen

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

Four-spotted Chaser (Sympetrum quadrimaculatum) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (male) - Strumpshaw Fen

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

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

It seemed to have reached ovipositing time, as several species were observed in this activity at around 17.00.

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)(male+female ovipositing) - Strumpshaw Fen

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles) (female ovipositing) - Strumpshaw Fen

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (female ovipositing) - Strumpshaw Fen

I'll supplement that last image with a bit of video:-

 

I had been on site for getting on for eight hours and was getting to the end of my stamina. My walking distance was not far short of the previous day's record. It was time to leave Strumpshaw Fen, head a short way down the road to 'The Scottish Restaurant' for some speedy refreshment, and then return to the Travelodge. 

 

When planning this trip, it had been my intention to spend the following day at somewhere fairly local and then head home after hiving some lunch. However, a couple of days before my departure from home, I received a message to say thay I'd got a place on a visit to a dragonfly hot-spot in Northamptonshire on 17th. As this is a place that is not open to the public, I was keen to go. It did, however, mean I had to make a relatively early start in order to travel the 125 miles (201 km) and arrive at 10.00. This meant that I, once again, turned in relatively early.

Although I felt that, for some reason that I cannot fathom, there were far fewer dragonflies and damselflies around on this day, it had been another highly enjoyable time.

If all goes according to plan, I'll be publishing my next post in about a week's time. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature.

Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard