Thanks for this - I had guessed it must be a Common Blue on the basis that the butterflies book doesn't indicate that Adonis Blues even occur in Norfolk. Probably due to the lack of chalk in this county? Mind you what we lack in chalk - us Norfolk boys make up for in other ways.
I think Strumpshaw is possibly a couple weeks too early for any reasonable numbers of Swallowtails - but then I'm not sure of how many you might expect to see normally at its peak. I may go back in 2 or 3 weeks. The reserve has clearly done a lot of good work to make the site accessible. The Blues were seen on the compacted gravel/sand path that leads upto Fen Hide. Plenty of damsel and dragonflies on the approach to this hide and along the grassy path by the River Yare. I spent most of the day walking round this trail looking for the Swallowtail only to discover that their is a place towards the end as you come back towards the car park which has been beautifully duck-boarded out and even fitted with a seat. It is here that the Swallowtails are supposed to frequent. I must say I can't say I noticed a lot of the Milk-Parsley but Im sure it's there. There certainly were no butterflies. On the walk back to the carpark just over the railway line (down Tinkers lane) one of the private houses has a beautiful front border full of flowering garden plants and a sign saying - if you see a Swallowtail please feel free to walk up there path and take photos. Having recently hit my 40s I have decided the world is full of miserable selfish people (except those on here of course
) (its a mid life thing I think). The owners of this property are clearly more than generous! Next time.
I must say that Strumpsaw is a lovely reserve to walk around - albeit hardwork getting a buggy with a 2 year old, nappy changing stuff, a tonne of camera equipment(I need a decent camera bag but cant decide what to get!), identity guides/binoculars for the kids to use etc round the grassy paths. Still it builds stamina and my 10 year old still got some nice photos too. Its great seeing my kids take an interest in this and watch them begin to accurately identify the more common species!
Oh I also thought I should apologise as the images I uploaded to the sightings were non butterflies - I got carried away!
Mark
)
)
