20.08.13 continued ...
Returning 15 minutes later and the butterfly was back ... and wow, what a sight it was
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. I snapped away as the majestic butterfly energetically and systematically worked its way around the flowers seemingly oblivious to mine and other photographer's presence. Other butterflies continually mobbed it as if put-out by it's splendour. The only problem was getting a good picture as it remained on the sunny side of the bush overhanging the water and we had to shoot directly into the light. After 5 or so minutes feeding this majestic insect left the others to it, and spiraled upwards and over a tall willow. Thankful for our experience we were all about to depart when another appeared (reckoned there had been two there all along) and we were treated to a further 2 or so minutes before this one too, vanished in the same fashion.
![E IMG_5261 Swallowtail, Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.jpg (99.15 KiB) Viewed 640 times First one making off](./files/thumb_10062_f814fa6358b201ae2a80c40abbf754ec)
- First one making off
![F IMG_5262 Swallowtail, Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.jpg (113.3 KiB) Viewed 640 times second Swallowtail](./files/thumb_10062_600342b8dd7e87fb67e44a371055098c)
- second Swallowtail
Mindful of the fact I needed to get back to Southwold I set off with haste. My gouty feet in my trainers were sore from all the walking (compounded by the miles covered in the Maize Maze earlier). In addition my head ached and my throat was parched as I had failed to bring some drinks and a sun hat
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
. Nevertheless the joy of a lifer would carry me through and before I'd got back it was augmented by my first Clouded Yellow sighting of the season (and first since 2009)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
![G IMG_5284 Clouded Yellow, Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.jpg (163.75 KiB) Viewed 640 times This landed on the track ahead of me but 10ft was as near as i could get.](./files/thumb_10062_ab2ca9b295a738866c25b4f77b5cdc07)
- This landed on the track ahead of me but 10ft was as near as i could get.
![H IMG_5279 Red Admiral, Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.jpg (110.19 KiB) Viewed 640 times Faded Red Admiral. One of only two seen the whole holiday.](./files/thumb_10062_618b10d1ff24a21a4811ea5d354c07b7)
- Faded Red Admiral. One of only two seen the whole holiday.
![I IMG_5287 Peacock, Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk.jpg (116.37 KiB) Viewed 640 times Peacocks were the commonest butterfly on the fen](./files/thumb_10062_567f1694cc9a8679653678b8fcfdcc46)
- Peacocks were the commonest butterfly on the fen
The Journey back to Southwold (from the Fen car-park to our pre-arranged meeting place of the Solebay Inn) took just under 1 hour. Alas there was no fanfare for my arrival in record time ... I had to wait for 15 minutes before they turned up from shopping on the pier
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
.
This year like last year I'm running my moth trap in my garden and also taking part in a Garden moth challenge which is a fun competition to find out who can record the greatest number of species in 2013.
http://gardenmothchallenge.blogspot.co. ... -page.html So far I'm on 357 which is nearly double my number taken for the whole of 2012. This is because I'm trapping more often, throughout the night and also because I'm getting better at identifying the micros. I take the trap (or at least part of it (the MV light and a net) as there's not enough room in the car boot) to see what different species I can find in Suffolk as compared to Surrey (Woking). The following are a few of ones I haven't had (yet) in Surrey:-
![J P1150834 Magpie Moth, Sibton.jpg (123.17 KiB) Viewed 640 times Used to be very common when I was a kid in the North East](./files/thumb_10062_1274c48bc0e2732c623cfe6696477fc1)
- Used to be very common when I was a kid in the North East
![K P1150899 Lime-speck Pug, Sibton.jpg (120.3 KiB) Viewed 635 times Expect to get this in Woking](./files/thumb_10062_df8d2a1560868f20d8fda73304db48d8)
- Expect to get this in Woking
![L P1150904 Rosy Rustic, Sibton.jpg (120.49 KiB) Viewed 640 times Hope to get this in Woking](./files/thumb_10062_4cddfdd648f870597c387571490a9c45)
- Hope to get this in Woking
![M P1150911 Chilo phragmitella or Schoenobius gigantella, Sibton.jpg (80.32 KiB) Viewed 640 times Not sure of the ID of this huge micro that I've never seen before](./files/thumb_10062_e91b71a5acac6612d51482d0419e5cfd)
- Not sure of the ID of this huge micro that I've never seen before
In addition other creatures apart from moths can turn up ....
![N P1150892 Dytiscus water beetle (female), Sibton.jpg (119.52 KiB) Viewed 640 times Female large diving beetle (not sure if this is Dytiscus marginalis seemed bigger than one's I'd seen years before)](./files/thumb_10062_58875e4f5b44d1a90d702484b0099c92)
- Female large diving beetle (not sure if this is Dytiscus marginalis seemed bigger than one's I'd seen years before)
The following day was a fine weather one so we all went to the beach. As I was still buzzing from the Swallowtails I took out a few minutes for some more Buddleia shots
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
![O IMG_5357 Peacock on Buddleia in Southwold.jpg (129.36 KiB) Viewed 640 times Peacock nicely set off against white Buddleia Davidii](./files/thumb_10062_b6116814f3b59e6212ac04d25a62b443)
- Peacock nicely set off against white Buddleia Davidii
![P IMG_5379 Painted Lady on Buddleia in Southwold.jpg (102.29 KiB) Viewed 640 times Painted Lady in the spotlight again](./files/thumb_10062_7ca94ee824ae5b45a7fcc7c958cd021b)
- Painted Lady in the spotlight again
Other events that day were trip for me and the kids to the top of Southwold Lighthouse and an evening spent at the summer theatre to see Dick Barton and the Curse of the Pharaoh's Tomb. Great entertainment if perhaps a little risque for the kids
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
![T IMG_5316 View of Southwold from the light room at the top of the lighthouse.jpg (128.88 KiB) Viewed 640 times View of Southwold from light room in lighthouse](./files/thumb_10062_5731aeae7772814531049d06c4a1b1a2)
- View of Southwold from light room in lighthouse
Thursday was a bit cloudy and so I suggested we should go crabbing at Walberswick. As we parked the car and waited a while I stared out the window pondering on the gloomiest day weather-wise and suddenly a Clouded Yellow flew by
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. I raced out of the car grabbing my camera and waited patiently for the butterfl;y to land. It seemed to be looking for somewhere to settle, but in that infuriating way that Orange-tips do, it just would not land
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
. First it went one way along a mown bank then over and out of sight before returning and going the other way. I watched and prayed for a landing ..... but as is often in these situation it never happened and in the end it was gone
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
. I had to make do with this Small Tort NOT on Buddleia. Never mind I consoled myself, there's plenty of crabs in the Blyth.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![V IMG_5448 Small Tortoiseshell, Walberswick.jpg (113.94 KiB) Viewed 640 times seenon thistle for a change](./files/thumb_10062_6dfb4780215880f3cd590b35d5f4b37e)
- seenon thistle for a change
Crabbing at Walberswick is very popular, and virtually every available vantage point was taken. The local immature Herring Gulls loiter close by waiting for the crabbers to discard their bacon bait. The adults stand closer
![Exclamation :!:](./images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
. A group of Black-headed Gulls also hung around but at a further distance. Fantastic aerial combat ensues when a lump of streaky is tossed into the air. In addition to the gulls and crabs a playful seal entertained us swimming against the outgoing tide.
There is only so much crabbing you can take mind, so I had a mosy around a little grassy area where I found this little fellow (part 3 to follow sorry wurzel
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
).
Phil