Swallowtail butterfly by Matthew Wilkinson, Warden.
This photo is from a previous year, but we had the first confirmed sighting of a swallowtail today, seen by Fen Hide! Needless to say we're all very excited and looking forward to more of these fantastic butterflies emerging, and hopefully being able to watch them enjoy our wildflower garden outside the Visitor Hide this year.
They should be around until mid-June and the best time to see them is on sunny, warm and still days. Bring on the good weather!
It's about this time of year that I get my best views of Cetti's warblers.
The male seem to be more shouty, more showy and a whoel lot easier to get to grips with. There's been many a time when I've walked around the fen trail at Strumpshaw looking at people staring forlornly into a dense willow bush or some impenetrable piece of reed and sedge.
As ever with these things early morning or evening seem to be best.
Th added bonus with Cetti's warberls is that they are so loud that it usually triggers competition from blackcaps, garden warblers, wrens and song thrush. So you end up with what can only be described as a pleasant, cacophony of noise. Often this interaction gets quite heated and in trying to be 'top bird' many species tend to show really well.
Other highlights at the moment are an abundance of lapwing chicks at Buckenham and Cantley, which is very rewarding given the long hours Alasdair and Dominic have put in.
Finally, about 30 minutes ago, whilst taking a break from the computer I popped over to the screen at our reception hide. There was a sudden burst of splashing no more than 30ft away and a great creasted grebe appeared with a fish in it's beak. A bit later after a spell of bashing against the water and re-orientation, the fish disappeared down the hatch. the other parent bird who is sitting a further 50 metres away on what looks to me to be a really precariously built nest missed the action, and the fish.
Across the River Yare from Strumpshaw Fen are the less-visited but equally special nature reserves at Surlingham and Rockland. We have some great events coming up south of the river so if you have never been, why not come join us?
First we have a Wildflower Walk at Surlingham Church Marsh on Sat 19 May (10.30am-12.30pm). Join RSPB warden Matt for a trip into this wetland oasis to see some of the wealth of wetland wildflowers and other wildlife and, if you are lucky, to meet the Highland cattle that look after this special place. And if the walk gives you a hearty appetite we finish conveniently by the Surlingham Ferry Pub where lunch can be had.
Then on Sun 3 June, 8.30-10.30am, on the Rockland Wildlife Walk an RSPB warden will lead you around Rockland Broad and show you some of the birds, butterflies and dragonflies that live in this pretty corner of Broadland.
To book a place on either of these two events, please phone 01603 715191 or email strumpshaw@rspb.org.uk.
And if you want to immerse yourself in pondlife, our friends at Wheatfen are hosting an Introducing freshwater organisms workshop on Sunday 27th May (10am – 4pm) at the Ted Ellis Reserve study centre, Surlingham. You will get a broad introduction to freshwater organisms, collect animals from the pools and dykes and identify them using Stereo microscopes. To book a place on this workshop please phone Tony Leech on 01263 712282.
Hairy dragonfly by Jenni Rowlands
Majestic monsters maybe? Hairy horrors?
Well, I say monsters, but once dragonflies and damselflies emerge from the deep (or not so deep actually) to transform into beauties like this hairy dragonfly, I don't think 'monster' is an appropriate name. They really are the most fascinating beasts and the British Dragonfly Society has a huge amount of information about both dragonflies and damselflies. I've just spent a brief ten minutes having a browse and I've learnt a whole load of amazing facts and only just scratched the surface. I recommend!!
Have you ever seen anything as cute as these three little leverets? They're all snuggled up together at Buckenham Marshes while mummy hare is out and about finding food.
Baby hares stay huddled in a 'form' during the day - this is a little area of scraped ground among the grass. They lie extremely still so that predators don't spot them. At sunset, their mother comes back to feed them - the milk is so high in fat and nutrients they only need to be fed once a day.
Leverets are born with a full coat of fur and their eyes wide open, so these little cuties might be newly born!
[note: the warden used a long zoom to take these photos without disturbing them - if you see leverets please don't get too close!].