My previous blog post, (which you can find here: - https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2023/06/anglian-adventures-day-1-14th-june-2023.html) stated that the previous evening I had set my alarm for 05.00 so that I could return to Strumpshaw Fen
for a pre-breakfast visit in the hope of photographing a Barn Owl. I now find, looking at my notes, that this was not that day! All will be revealed at a later date.
Thursday, 15th June Hickling Broad ; Trimingham ; Wheatfen ; Strumpshaw Fen
Having had a relatively long day the previous day, I had set the alarm for 06.45. A quick trip to the M&S Foodstore to get some cold milk to have with the cereal and dried fruit that I'd brought with me for breakfast, and some items for a picnic lunch set me up for the day.
I had been told that Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Hickling Broad was a great place for Swallowtail butterfly and, as I'd never been there before, that is where I went, arriving at about 08.15. The Visitor Centre was not open, but some of the staff (volunteers?) were on site, and gave me some pointers as to where I might go to find things. I was also told that the Swallowtails were late this year and a bit thin on the ground.
I set off down the track that I was told led to the Raptor Roost. To check the settings of my camera, I took quick shot of a Goldfinch.
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Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - Hickling Broad
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I was soon passing by some promising-looking wetland habitat on my right.
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Wetland - NWT Hickling Broad
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I was on one of the viewing platforms and starting to spot a few interesting birds. There were two Great White Egret in the distance, one of which was a male in breeding condition with a dark bill.
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Great White Egret (Ardea alba) - Hickling Broad
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I'd just photographed the egrets when a couple came from the opposite direction and asked if I'd spotted the Black-winged Stilts that were in the distance. I hadn't and, as I have only ever once seen this species, and that was in Morrocco, I was somewhat excited! I did manage some distant record shots.
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Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) - Hickling Broad
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The viewing platform had a notice which stated that only two people should be on it at any one time and, as this couple had so kindly shown me the stilts and they were both eager to get more views, I vacated the platform and headed further down the trail, taking a few photos as I went.
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| Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) - Hickling Broad |
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Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) (female) - Hickling Broad
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I thought that I reached the end of the trail, with no Raptor Viewpoint having been seen, so turned back. I subsequently found that I should have turned left at the end and continued a while.
More birds were spotted on the way back to my starting point, although the stilts were no longer there.
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| Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - Hickling Broad |
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Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - Hickling Broad
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The Visitor Centre was still not open by the time I returned, so I headed into a different area of the reserve without the benefit of a site-map in my hand. I took the trail that passes Cadbury Hide, finding the occasional dragonfly along the way.
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| Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (female) - Hickling Broad |
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Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male) - Hickling Broad
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| Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (female) - Hickling Broad |
As I approached the junction where the short trail to Secker's Hide departs to the left, I spotted a dragonfly whose behaviour led me to believe that it was looking for somewhere to settle. It must have been ten or fifteen minutes before it did so, but the wait was worthwhile. It was an immature male Hairy Dragonfly.
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Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (immature Male) - Hickling Broad
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I then went along into Secker's Hide, where I found a few people watching a Swallowtail on Thistles. Before I could train my camera on it, it flew to a rather more distant thistle. I attempted a few shots here which really came to nothing, but also took some video, which is a little better.
In spite of being told that it would soon be back in front of the hide, it had still not returned after about half an hour. However, the people that had alerted me to the stilts earlier were in Secker's Hide, and informed me that they'd seen Bee-eaters at Trimingham, and I made my mind up to see if I could find them.
Having left the hide, I found a few more dragonflies, including my first Ruddy Darter of the year, and a Black-tailed Skimmer against a dark background, before I took a long circuitous walk along the woodland trail, which is described informal seasonal path, back to the Visitor Centre.
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| Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (female) - Hickiling Broad |
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| Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (female) - Hickling Broad |
Back at the Visitor Centre, I paid my dues, returned to my car, and set off for Trimingham, arriving at about noon. In need of some refreshment, I had a quick picnic lunch before heading over to the designated viewpoint.
I had only seen Bee-eaters in UK six years ago, when there were several of them at a site quite close to my home, so this was a really exciting opportunity for me. This Trimingham site was first seen to be used by Bee-eaters last year, and two chicks were raised. This year, was the first ever time this species has been recorded returning a site in UK. On arrival, I saw two of the birds up on wires at quite a distance. They didn't come any closer, so I only got record shots.
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Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) - Trimingham
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The nest site, which was in an old quarry, was visible from a position only a few metres from where I'd been viewing the birds on the wires. This location was, however, even further away. This is what the site looked like in a photo with my lens at its full 400mm stretch - there is a bird in the centre of the frame!
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Trimingham Quarry
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So here's the bird via a very heavy crop of the image.
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| Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) - Trimingham |
Sadly, I have recently learned that the nest has failed, with Stoats being seen nearby and suspected of having predated the nestlings. However, that report also stated that the birds were being seen performing courtship behaviour again and it was hoped that they'd try for a second brood.
On my previous visit to Norfolk I'd been told of a highly recommended nature reserve - Wheatfen, managed by the Ted Ellis Trust. Wheatfen is literally directly over the River Yare from Strumpshaw Fen, so 70 metres as the crow flies, but 13 miles (21 km) by road! I set off for there, arriving at around 13.40.
Having parked my car and had a quick chat with the person manning the information centre there, I headed into the reserve. I soon found a bunch of flowers that had been put there, presumably to attract Swallowtail butterflies, but a Brimstone was making use of them.
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| Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male) - Wheatfen |
A bit further on, a heron was in a field beside the reserve.
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| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Wheatfen |
