swallowtail glimpses at Strumpshaw Fen

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The day dawned quite foggy but with the promise of brighter weather to come, we set off for  Strumpshaw Fen in the hope of seeing  the rare Swallowtail butterfly.  Although the main month for sightings is June we had heard that there were already some about.

On arrival we were told there had been some sightings the previous day so we were hopeful despite the slight breeze.  We wandered round the reserve, seeing plenty of ducks and a few other butterflies but no swallowtails in sight.  At lunchtime we took a break on  a seat on a boardwalk and then suddenly spotted a butterfly fly past and disappear over our heads. Was it or wasn't it?  

We carried on round the reserve keeping our eyes peeled but no swallowtails.  Then just ahead of us by a garden of a house on the edge of a reserve we noticed a group of photographers, surely this must mean they had been spotted...  but as we got closer we saw one fly off into the distance,  just seeing enough to positively identify it as the elusive swallowtail.. We waited a while and the photographers were eager to show us the photos they had captured which proved it was, indeed the beautiful swallowtail butterfly. Sadly, however it did not return so we carried on our search.   We backtracked to the original place we thought we had seen it and there again were a group of butterfly spotters.  They had were keen to show us their pictures but it seemed we had been just too late again!

We decided that we were unlikely to see it despite the warmth of the sun as it was quite breezy so we left slightly disappointed we were unable to get any photographs but nevertheless pleased to be able to record a sighting. 

Ah well ,  maybe next time...

 
 
 
Great spotted woodpecker

Swans with cygnets
 

Black swan

Heron
 

Blackheaded gulls with pile of eggs
 


 
 

Sleeping shoveler
 

Greylag goose, mallard and shelduck


Sleeping teal

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