Anne's Journal

  Monday July 29 I am still getting the following message from Google every time I try to upload a photo to my Blog. 403. That’s an error. W e  are sorry, but you do not have access to this page. That’s all we know.   I've trawled  the internet for a cure but cannot follow the solutions. My IT man is not answering his phone so I've left him an email. Y esterday was notable for a very early morning message on WhatsApp by David N saying that he'd trapped a mega moth. A photo was published but not the name. David would take it to Cley Visitor Cebtre at 10.30. We were there. Such a beautiful specimen in pristine condition, a new moth for all of us = apart from David.  I have a photo! The gremlins have taken over. My PC is refusing to come off underline. Goodnight

 Monday July 22 Not as hot as the last few days, but with enough sun and cloud to make the views interesting. Puffy white clouds in a deep blue sky s summer for me. We did rather better for birds today too. Lingering in Sculthorpe Mill car park overlooking the last house's garden, brought good views of Spotted Flycatcher perched on the teleohone wire across the garden. Never long enough for a photo. Waders are returning to the Wash. The low High Tide saw them amassed on the far eastern shore, Dunlin Knot, Oystercatchers discernible. A lone scruffy Curlew on the mud, late broods of Shelduck legging it like Olympic race walkers, in a straight line behind a lead adult. Several hundred terns, Common and Arctic rested in a massed line on the far mud, others screeched in, carrying food for their young, waiting on the  pits. I took a macro lens with me today so was able to photograph some of the wild flowers from my car window. Only possible with the willing help of Pam jockeying int...

 Saturday July 20 This was the second time I'd been to Whitwell Common, near Reepham.  Last year, they had an Open Day ,and our moth trapping was part of it. This year, it was just us - representing  Butterfly Conservation - invited to moth trap by  the Trustees. The ever industrious and helpful Mike Gasson put out five traps the previous evening and David Norgate started proceedings soon after 9 a.m. Our table was positioned under the shade of a group of trees across a patch of rough pasture kept in check by a small herd of native cattle.   Designated an SSSI in 1965, Whitwell Common is one of the few remaining open fen habitats typical of Norfolk river valleys.   Up until the 1930s, villagers had a right to graze cattle and a retained “hayward” maintained the open habitat.   The Common now provides opportunities for walkers, naturalists and photographers to find rare flowers, watch birds and observe the magnificent, but gentle, rare breed cattl...

 Sunday July 14 Worth noting. It stayed dry all day. Again, no species of any note seen, just the usual enjoyable day out looking. We spent some time inspecting the flowered hedgerows at Harpley Cottages old road and then, along the back road to Abbey Farm. Mellilot, Scabious, Ragwort, Poison Hemlock, Wild Carrot, Chicory, Vipers Bugloss and Mullein amongst those we named. Singles of Small White, Large White, Red Admiral and a brown one (!) the only butterflies on the expanse of flower. No insects either. Pam did find a new Ichneumon Wasp for us in our utility room this morning. Very active.   Parasitic Wasp - Diphyus quadripunctorius Family - Ichneumonidae Diphyus quadripunctorius is a parasitic wasp with distinctive black and yellow markings on both the femora (thighs), and abdomen which has two yellow bands, the antennae are a uniform grey.  A sexually dimorphic species in that whilst the males are seen in this bright black and yellow colouration, the females r...

 Tuesday July 9 Last Friday, Pam found that Kwrkyn had pupated. He'd spent the previous day eating well, but being very restless, climbing around within the breeding cage. Obviously the conditions and the bark Pam had provided were well fit for purpose. He is now stored in the cool, dry conditions recommended - the old coal shed - and will remain there until hatching which can take up to two years. One year is more usual. What a wonderful piece of architecture.

 Monday July 1 Kwrkyn, the Puss moth caterpillar, is now an impressive 6 cms long final instar. It's still eating voraciously but beginning to wander. Signs of pupating. Its been given both cardboard and barked twigs as it needs one of them to form a pupa. First choice should be bark but its got a choice. His tail is spread as I caught him whilst he was defecating. A first of the month outing is always enjoyable. Today's was particularly lacking in sightings. By the time we'd driven to Thorpe Market, we'd seen a total of two birds, a Yellowhammer on top of a post near home and a Wood Pigeon. Such a lovely day too. The highlight was the hedgerows which seem to have been left uncut this year. They were full of wild flowers and grasses. Vipers Bugloss, Mullein, Mallow, Poppies, Oxeye Daisy and Wild Carrot were prevalent. The field edges which have been planted with a wildflower meadow mix have been mown, a good practice to enable the meadow to flourish. Still very few butt...