karen's country calendar

 I have been to Therfield Heath a few times over the past years but I received an email notification that a guide led visit was scheduled for last Tuesday - at a time I was free so decided to book and see what I could learn from others.  The starting point was at the main Therfield Heath carpark, which I didnt know existed as I always parked at the other end of the Heath so that was a new place for me. As I waited for others to arrive, I saw a good number of meadow browns,  ringlets and large skippers amongst the grasses near where I parked my car. Soon I spotted a few others arriving so  I went over and joined the group where we were introduced to our leader, Nick who said he only lived a few hundred yards away and was a Conservateur of Therfield Heath.  He lead us round the edge of the eastern side of the Heath, an  area I hadnt explored before, we saw all the usual grass loving butterflies including a good number of Marbled white and skipper butterflies including the Essex skipper. 

 A few weeks ago when the weather was warm and sunny I made a few trips looking for the summer butterflies in Norfolk, Northampton and Cambridgeshire. Our Norfolk trip was to Strumpshaw Fen where for the past few years we have tried, to spot the beautiful but elusive swallowtail but only managed short glimpses due to cloudy or windy conditions or being too early or too late in the season!  However on 16 June this year the weather and flight window seemed perfect so we were very hopeful  of success this time. On arrival we checked in and immediately saw a group of people with telescopes at the reception hide where they had spotted a bittern amongst the reeds, Someone kindly offered us the use of their telescope where we had a quick sighting before it disappeared into the reeds again. We then made for the area known as the 'Doctors garden' where swallowtails are most often seen nectaring and several people standing in the area told us they had just had a close up of one on nearby

 Today I made the first of hopefully several trips to Brampton Wood this summer to see the specialised butterflies as they emerge.  I had read reports of a number  Black hairstreaks being seen  and as it was a sunny day and I was able to go in good time I made the 15 minute drive at 9am.  I knew exactly where to go although there was also helpful signage and immediately saw several of the small butterflies flying  amongst the blackthorn. It wasnt long before one came down and  settled nearby for several minutes giving me ample time to photograph it. Today there were also numerous black tailed skimmer dragonflies flying up and down the main  ride and I also saw my first large skipper of the year.                                                                                 Black Hairstreak                                                                            Black tailed skimmers

 After waiting a few weeks for a free day and suitable weather, on Monday, we made the 3 1/2 hour  trip to Yorkshire  arriving at Bempton Cliffs at 9.30 where there was plenty of parking space  due to there not being any species of special interest about such as the albatross or red shrike!  The weather was cloudy with a very cold northerly wind so we were glad we had brought coats and needed hoods up too!  The forecast was for sunny skies later though.  All the usual seabirds were nesting on the cliffs including puffins, guillemots and razorbills and you could soon smell and see the gannet colonies!  Lots of flying to and from the nests though no chicks were seen that day.  We were told by a keen photogapher that the northerly wind was ideal for the birds to give them a extra uplift (and I guess to provide better photo opportunities as they often hung in the air on the wind gusts before landing)  No butterflies in evidence due to the weather which we do often see on the meadow areas.