Holme, Holt Country Park & Cley NWT!

A Gloriously Sunny Day & Butterfly Bonanza!

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Mother's Garden at Holme

 
Holme
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth appeared on my mother's Buddleias, which I managed to get some pictures of! Lots of Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas, Peacocks and lots of Bees including mother's Honey Bees (nest near her kitchen). I tried to persuade mother to come out with me for the day, but she felt too tired – so I left her reading the Eastern Daily Press, accompanied by the cat.

Cley and Walsey Hills
Headed east along the coast road. Had lunch at the Cley Visitor Centre NWT, where I bumped into Julian and Sarah B., Ian B., Chris S., Richard and Paul. It was lovely sitting here, looking out over the marshes and sea and the cafe wasn't full, so fairly chilled.

Walsey Hills NOA was very quiet, but saw a Comma and a few Red Admirals along the bottom path and heard a Blackcap.

Holt Country Park
Holt Country Park cost me £1.50 to park. Note: the pay and display machine does not take the new £1 coins yet and doesn't give change. I spent nearly half an hour helping two staff in the visitor centre to get a Robin out of the building – it had been in there for nearly two hours and they had tried everything to get it out, including enticing it with food, playing a Robin singing outside the door – it obviously wasn't the sharpest of birds – it had a massive door opening to fly out of, but it seemed quite happy flying around and hopping from wooden beam to another and then onto the reception desk etc etc. I was a little worried, as the lady said they had to lock up at 4pm and it would have to stay in there overnight if it didn't fly out. Eventually it departed, with 10 minutes to spare before locking up! They thanked me for helping them.

 Silver-washed Fritillary

Holt Country Park

Silver-washed Fritillary – Valesina

Holt Country Park

White Admiral

Holt Country Park

There were tons of butterflies here, including lots of Silver-washed Fritillaries – never seen so many in one day! Also got very lucky and saw two 'Valesina' forms – one ragged one and one perfect one, together at the same time! These were a few yards along the path to the right, just before the pond (walking from the car park). Watched these with Matthew S. and Alan P, but we only saw them for about a minute before they disappeared. There were several White Admirals, Commas, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, a Ringlet and lots of bees, hoverflies and other insects. Sadly I didn't see any Broad-borded Bee Hawk-moths in the usual spot by the brambles in the car park, even though others had seen them – but here are some pictures from three years ago. I walked up to the pond and saw a Chiffchaff, Great Tit and a family of Moorhens, but didn't see a single dragonfly! Amphibious Bistort was abundant in the pond, along with some picturesque Water Lilies. Sat in the car park and had a cup of tea and a snack and then returned to Cley.

 Bumble Bee at Holt Country Park

 Red Admiral at Holt Country Park

 ? at Holt Country Park

Red Admiral at Holt Country Park

Water Lily at Holt Country Park

East Bank, Cley NWT and Glandford
Parked up in the East Bank car park. A tame Magpie posed on the fence by the sluice. Reed Warblers singing and seen on the west side of the bank and also saw a pair of Reed Buntings, Lapwings with three chicks were on 'The Serpentine' along with some Redshanks. On 'Arnold's Marsh' there were a good number of Black-headed Gulls, 1 Little Gull, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, more Redshanks, Little Egrets, Shelducks, Teal, Grey Heron etc.

 Magpie along the East Bank

Sunset at Cley

I sat on the shingle with the waves lapping at my feet, watching a beautiful sunset. I was attacked by midges on the way back, but just about managed to fight them off by constantly waving a few grasses back and forth across my face! At the end of the East Bank a Hobby flew over and then headed south over Walsey Hills and the fields beyond!

Stopped at Glandford Ford for a coffee. I disturbed a Heron fishing as I walked over the bridge – we both startled each other! Headed home and arrived back late.