5th June 2011
For the last day of the Whitsun holiday we decided to go and see some Swallowtails. Cathy isn't a big fan of Strumpshaw, so we bucked the trend and went to Hickling instead. On the way we detoured to Yarmouth to have a quick look for a Channel Wagtail mentioned to us the previous night by Justin L, but we didn't find it.
We arrived at Hickling with a cloudy sky, and we arrived at the observation hide having not seen a single dragonfly or butterfly. Luckily the sun was beginning to come out, and we soon saw 2 Swallowtails, a Norfolk Hawker, two Four-spot Chasers and a Hairy Dragonfly. Walking back to the visitors centre we saw at least six more Swallowtails, loads of Black-tailed Skimmers including a yellow-and-blue immature male, and lots of Blue-tailed and Azure Damselflies. We also saw a Cuckoo, which was the 9th or 10th one I've seen or heard this year, suggesting anecdotally that they are doing well this year!
For the last day of the Whitsun holiday we decided to go and see some Swallowtails. Cathy isn't a big fan of Strumpshaw, so we bucked the trend and went to Hickling instead. On the way we detoured to Yarmouth to have a quick look for a Channel Wagtail mentioned to us the previous night by Justin L, but we didn't find it.
We arrived at Hickling with a cloudy sky, and we arrived at the observation hide having not seen a single dragonfly or butterfly. Luckily the sun was beginning to come out, and we soon saw 2 Swallowtails, a Norfolk Hawker, two Four-spot Chasers and a Hairy Dragonfly. Walking back to the visitors centre we saw at least six more Swallowtails, loads of Black-tailed Skimmers including a yellow-and-blue immature male, and lots of Blue-tailed and Azure Damselflies. We also saw a Cuckoo, which was the 9th or 10th one I've seen or heard this year, suggesting anecdotally that they are doing well this year!
Swallowtail
Norfolk Hawker
Four-spotted Chaser
I laid on the ground to get this dragonflys eye view of a Black-tailed Skimmer
Immature male Black-tailed Skimmer, changing from 'female-type' yellow to typical male blue.
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