Any outing planned for August Bank Holiday

[Jonners]

Well, we braved camping in Norfolk over the long weekend. Nearly got blown away by the wind, soaked a few times by the rain, but somehow the tent stayed up (apart from a few brief wind-driven interludes) and the sun shone to dry things off nicely as we packed everything away this morning.
A shower-dodging walk on Saturday from Blakeney to Morston and back was rewarded with a flock of around 40-50 Black-tailed Godwits feeding in a stubble field alongside the path, plus a spattering of Little Egrets and some passing Spoonbills. Sunday, and we braved the wind and the rain (an ample supply of both) to visit the seals at Blakeney Point. Later in the day we popped in at Cley and saw around half a dozen Curlew Sandpipers, a couple of Avocets, Dunlin and a better view of six more Spoonbill. The campsite was about half a mile inland in a rural setting with decent sightings of Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Buzzards, plus a couple of really wonderful Large Red Underwing moths on the outside wall of the shower block. I'll try and post some pics up later. Certainly a weekend to remember

[monkey]

Just thought I would show you some photos of a great impromptu weekend which was good company, good weather and great laugh.

Our picnic looking for Dartford warblers which we saw and Dave missed!

Steve amongst the Sika deer at Arne


Steve and Dave at Hillhead Beach next to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve photographing the sunset towards the Isle of Wight. (Dave couldnt go Horizontal here!!)


This is just about where i fell in the bog!




In the New Forest where Deer Stalker joined us looking for dragonflies, grasshoppers and spiders but not snakes

Steve gained friend on the walk home

[Boddie]

It was a super weekend. A big thanks to Linda and Bob who were fantastic hosts and guides. If any of you get an invite you should jump at the chance as you will have a great laugh and meet two very kind and extremely knowledable individuals.

A big thanks to Simon, who came out to meet us too, and of course to Steve and Dave.

[pressld2]

Sounds like you had a good trip too, Jonners, in spite of the traditional Bank Holiday weather.

You've got some lovely shots there Linda. I particularly like the beach silhouette you got me to pose for. The best shots of me are always silhouettes!

I've just about finished editing Sunday's pics so here are a few more from me:

The speckled bush-cricket we found before setting off...



Our destination in the forest, Crockford Bridge...



Rob T, Boddie, Monkey and Fourwings...



Our first find, a small heath butterfly...



Steve (Fourwings) and Si (Deer Stalker) scanning the ground for insects, while Andrew (Boddie) looks in an altogether different location...



A keeled skimmer...



A golden-ringed dragonfly...



A beautiful demoiselle...



A small red damselfly...



A new gall for my collection, Robin's pincushion...



A bog bush-cricket hiding on Steve's tripod...



And finally, here's the slow-shutter speed shot of the canada geese coming in over Titchfield haven reserve...



Didn't work as well as I'd hoped it would. Never mind!

Dave P.

[pressld2]

Here's a few images from Monday starting with some more of the Sikas at Arne...



Here's Linda on the beach at Arne...



I know I was lagging behind again but I didn't realise you had time to build sandcastles. Where did you get the bucket and spade?

Here's a view of Corfe Castle, also taken from Arne...



A small copper where we had the picnic...



Then back to Crockford Bridge where we found common blue and grayling butterflies...



The golden-ringed dragonflies and keeled skimmers were still about...



There's a robber-fly just to the left of the keeled skimmer's abdomen which looks suspiciously like a hornet robber-fly.

Linda found a couple of stunning wasp spiders...



Here are Steve and Andrew photographing a large marsh grasshopper...



That's about my lot, except for this hoverfly which Janet (JRsbugs) has just confirmed as Eristalis horticola...



Dave P.

[pammosley]

Great photos & wildlife, I`m glad you all had great trips, even if the weather was iffy for you Jonners, at least you didnt have to dry stuff out when you got home....that`s a horrible job