Monday 28 June 2010

Wheatfen Reserve and Hickling


Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

Friday June 25
This morning we visited Wheatfen Reserve, the opposite side of the River Ant from Strumpshaw. It is run by the Ted Ellis Trust, set up by to remember the radio broadcaster and curator of the Norwich Museum who lived here. The warden, David Nobbs, was very helpful and the trails were well signposted and with the map enabled us to navigate the series of pathways easily. There were plenty of seats on the trail which Sue appreciated…




Speckled Wood
Milk Parsley, food plant of the Swallowtail caterpillar
Heron
 

Small Tortoiseshell
Large Skipper

 Large Skipper
 Large Skipper 
first Ringlet of the year
Fen Longhorn, Strangala maculata
Swallowtail on Yellow Flag Iris
I called it Tortoiseshell City as they were everywhere, together with Red Admirals, Large Skippers, male and female Brimstones and the a Ringlet which the warden said was the first reported this year. We also saw plenty of Milk Parsley, food plant of the Swallowtail caterpillars. We saw three Swallowtails to finish an excellent morning. The reserve has plenty of variety, we enjoyed it very much.

We lunched nearby at the New Inn, Rockland St. Mary, NR14 7HP, excellent fish and chips.
After tea at the Clippesby cottage I returned to Hickling Reserve for the last time, arriving at 4:30. I saw two Swallowtails at the usual boardwalk area then I completed a tour of the reserve. I observed two Red Admirals fighting aloft around an oak tree. One kept landing on then path and attacked the other every time it came near. I also saw the wrens again in the woods.
Black-tailed Skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum


male Red Admiral

2 comments:

  1. dear colin and sue, thank you for your kind comments!regarding wheatfen,lovely photos which reflect thr reserve so well,and glad you enjoyed the chips at my local pub!hope see you again in the future.regards david nobbs warden

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your comments David, we appreciated your advice and look forward to visiting your wonderful Wheatfen Reserve again.

    ReplyDelete

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