My first snipefly of the year

Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus, cooling down on a bramble leaf.

The observation of the day!

 After a warm start invertebrates were on the wing in big numbers. But soon, down to yet another sea fret it cooled, allowing the chance to photograph a few insects without them flying off. This four-spotted chaser went to rest in this bramble, but sadly got more than it bargained for!

 The web it was hanging in belonged to the Orbweb spider Larinioides cornutus, this game female spider came out and promptly bit the dragonfly in the back of the head. A few shakes later and the insect was dead.

   What followed was the folding up of the insect for the larder, and then hauled up 5-6 inches to a fold of leaves. The strength of the single web strand , and of course the spider herself made the experience that more special. 

Off patch - Macdonalds near Sutton Bridge!

Swollen-thighed beetle contrasting nicely with fox and cubs

Off Patch: at Roydon Common

Common groundhopper, Roydon, 29th May 2018

Broom Leaf Beetle Gonioctena olivacea, Roydon, 29th May 2018 (olive and red morphs)

Broom Bug, Heterocordylus tibialis, Roydon, 29th May 2018

Anasimyia lineata, Roydon, 29th May 2018

Two sawflies, a leather bug and a longhorn from the patch

Tanbark Borer, Phymatodes testaceus, Hunstanton, 18th May 2018

Denticulate Leatherbug, Coriomeris denticualatus, Redwell Marsh, 19th May 2018

Dolerus triplicatus, Redwell, 19th May 2018

Arge ustulata, Holme NWT, 19th May 2018

The Black Colonel

Black Colonel, Odontomyia tigrina, Redwell Marsh, 19th May 2018

Off Patch: a scarce soldierfly at Denver

Beris clavipes, Denver, 21st May 2018

Off Patch: at Foulden Common

Rufous-shouldered Lonhorn, Anaglyptus mysticus, Foulden Common, 21st May 2018

Great Yellow Cress, Foulden Common, 21st May 2018

Miris striatus, Foulden Common, 21st May 2018

Microdon devius, Foulden Common, 21st May 2018

 Oncopsis flavicollis, Foulden Common, 21st May 2018

Scaeva pyrastri

Scaeva pyrastri, Ringstead Downs, 26th May 2018

Three Longhorns

Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis, Ringstead Downs, 27th May 2018

Common Grammoptera, Grammoptera ruficornis, Ringstead Downs, 27th May 2018

Umbellifer Longhorn, Phytoecia cylindrica, Ringstead Downs, May 26th 2018

A new Robberfly for the patch

Common Red-legged Robberfly Dioctria rufipes, Ringstead Downs, 26th May 2018

The Hunstanton Dune slacks

The Hunstanton dune slacks are owned by L'Estrange Estate and leased by Hunstanton Golf Club. According to a recent social media post, the 'land has been and will be managed in accordance with ecological expert advice by the golf club at their expense' The area supports an immense number of orchids (Southern Marsh, Early Marsh, Common Spotted, Bee, Twayblade and Marsh Helleborine, some species which are scarce in far northwest Norfolk (Fox and Cubs, Ragged Robin, Slender Club Rush, Bog Pimpernel) and a mass of other species. At this time of year, the area is a visual feast. Here's some photos from today......

An extensive mown area running the length of the slack

Orchids in the uncut area, next to the cut area

What remains of one of this year's orchids in the mown area 

A Fox and Cubs, set off by the red paint marking the route of the soon-to-be-installed new fence

Another orchid, not at its best

And another

Some cuttings piled up and apparently left to rot

another orchid

Off Patch: White-winged Black Tern (and a Spoonbill) at Burnham Overy

White-winged Black Tern, Burnham Overy, 24th May 2018

Spoonbill, Burnham Overy, 24th May 2018

A wet night for the hairy bear

The garden tiger caterpillar after a cold wet night!

Spring is in the air

A pair of green tiger beetles on the job. Probably only my third or forth ever sighting at Holme, in the Forestry.

Not a great shot due to the camera shy couple, but I guess it records the moment.

Green hairstreak on Hawthorn

In the same bush as the sawfly a confiding green hairstreak.

A cracking sawfly

Not to be out done, on the same day but at a different site, another Tenthredo temula nectaring on hawthorn blossom. This one was seen close to The Firs, another earlier along the edge of Broadwater on the NOA reserve was not quite as photogenic.

Off patch: two common invertebrates from Denver

Spear Thistle Lacebug Tingis cardui, Denver, 14th May 2018

Tenthredo temula, Denver, 14th May 2018

Off Patch: three scarce invertebrates at Denver

Spuleria flavicaput, Denver, 14th May 2018

Clivina collaris, Denver,14th May 2018

Hydrothassa marginella on creeping buttercup, Denver, 14th May 2018

Off Patch: skippers at Foulden

Grizzled Skipper, Foulden Common, 14th May 2018

Dingy Skipper, Foulden Common, 14th May 2018