A Plume in August

Wednesday August 17 

We'd been promised a southerly 'plume' of hot weather towards the end of the week. To-day was almost cloudless and a comfortable temperature when we set off. Earlier than anticipated, as a phone call from Specsavers in North Walsham cancelled my 9.30 check-up appointment for my new hearing aids. Rachel is ill. A nuisance, because that's another 'free' day partially taken up next week.

The only deviation to-day on our drive west, was a dive down the old road towards Harpley Cottages. Known to us as Mud Lane,  it involves crossing double yellow lines part of the way down a hill. The only other traffic in the lane is a very occasional farm vehicle or, once, a dog walker. The latter get everywhere. Dog walkers probably say the same thing about birders. The hedge rows are unkempt and very overgrown. Linnets, a Bullfinch female, Song Thrush and Goldfinch erupted before us. The only butterflies flying to-day were large White - until two second brood of the diminutive Holly Blue appeared. 

Arriving at the cottages, Pam spotted a few hirundine perched on the wires. A quick photo opportunity , gazing upwards. Both House Martins and Swallows, which very soon, and for no apparent reason, took off, and we didn't see them again.

A Green Woodpecker just called from the back garden. As has become usual at this time of year, one or more young birds have found our many ant nests.

Cresting the rise on the approach track to Snettisham is like opening a moth trap. As we now expect.... it was low tide. Acres of dry mud interspersed by small puddles of water. Maybe scoping the pits would be where to start.

No-one else around to-day, I had a good look around the main pit. At least nine Spoonbills loafed on the shingle to the left of the new hide. Sandwich and Common Terns announced their arrival, bringing food for their begging young, Greylag geese were the other denizens of the islands.

A young man pushing a bicycle passed. A little later, prompted by Pam, he arrived at my car window to show me a beetle he'd found. He was happily allowing it to crawl up and down his arms. I took a photo with my camera, then ObsId'd it. A Musk Beetle. This is not my photo - can't get it off my phone.

 

The Musk beetle is a long, narrow-bodied longhorn beetle that has very long antennae. The larvae live in the wood of willow trees (particularly pollards), taking up to three years to develop. The adults can be found on flowers and tree trunks near to wetlands during the summer. The adults emit a musky secretion, hence the common name.The musk beetle is a Eurasian species of longhorn beetle belonging to the subfamily Cerambycinae, tribe Callichromatini. Its name comes from the delicate musky smell it emits when menaced. The beetle has a shell with an iridescence that changes with the angle of view. Widespread but scarce through England, Wales and southern Scotland.

The Musk beetle is most common in areas where there are lots of willow trees, such as the Fens and Broads in East Anglia, or the Somerset Levels.

Once the cyclist had departed, a Stoat ran out of the shrubbery, pausing, upright in the middle of the path, before, apparently legless, flowing into the far side. A very enjoyable interlude.

Scoping the still empty mud, produced a reasonable variety of waders. Several Grey Plovers, all but one still in winter plumage, Dunlin, Curlew, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, and one Curlew Sandpiper, a juvenile bird.

The Horned Poppy clumps  on the shores of the Wash, have been joined by the white flowers of the Aster family.

Our remaining stop was Wells North Point, not a favourite of mine, the views from the car are not great. Pam loves it here. Another hang-out for Greylag Geese, and mostly Black-headed Gulls. There was still a large flock of Black-tailed Godwit standing up to the top of their thighs in the water, heads down feeding. Far right, on the near shore were at least forty Barnacle Geese. Maybe the feral flock from Holkham Hall. 

It wasn't possible to stop at Holkham Marsh, the gate was open, another car driving in as we passed. 

Delighted to read on my phone that the Lionesses beat Australia on their home turf ,and are through to the World Cup Final 3-1

Less good news for our moth group friends, was that the possible Radford's Flame Shoulder we had showed them yesterday (Tuesday) was reported as a Flame Shoulder when it had been further examined. We had trapped the first Radford's for Norfolk a year or so again and had hoped for another to show the group.

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