First of the Month

 Wednesday July 1

Our usual north coast run - with even fewer than usual birds. The first highlight was Selbrigg pond.  The surface was alive with shimmering, darting, very active odonata. As usual too, they were concentrated on the back half of the water. I find this species in flight difficult enough to identify. Distance makes it impossible.I still enjoy the spectacle. 

The bracken beside the Selbrigg forest gate was also very active. Very small dark butterflies were zooming about, seldom landing. Probably Ringlets. Why bracken? We saw many Large White butterflies on our journey west, the number diminishing as we drove. There had been reports of hundreds coming in off the sea in the Cley area in the last few days.

Only two caged off nests on the beach at Snettisham this year. One of them was occupied by a Ringed Plover, still very well camouflaged.

 


More Shelduck families on the pits. Baby ducks are quite delightful in the fluffy feather stage, most of them staying fairly close to a parent.

 


Some of them not.

 The banks are beginning to look good, the Horned Poppies are coming into flower, soft yellow offset by glaucous foliage.

 


 One returning wader in almost full summer dress, fed on the verge of the reserve pool. The light was completely wrong to show off its finery.

 



We stopped at Harpley Cottages to view the hirundine flying around. Some of the House Martins landed on the wires so I took a few photos.

 


A nearby bank was covered in tiny pink and white flowers, Field Bindweed. Taken with my 500 lens, not the best for depth of field.

 


Home in time to suffer  a poor England performance against DR Congo. Thanks to Harry Kane, they won and are through to the last 16. I can't see them beating Mexico at altitude.

 

 

 

 

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