NWDW

It’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch this week so I shall again be holding a sea watch this coming Saturday, 4th August, at the eastern promenade from the bench half way up the slope at Overstrand here in Norfolk. Everyone is welcome to come and join the watch for any length of time they can spare between 10am and 4pm. Free roadside parking is available along Clifton Way NR27 0NG. There has already been a sighting of Humpback Whale and three Minke Whales further north off Flamborough Head today; so I’m hopeful of these moving south by next weekend. Maybe this year we can see more than the Harbour Porpoise that entertained us on last years watch.

Great White!

Non breeding, due to their yellow bills, these three were hanging around Hickling the other week. It’s certainly good to see them but I can’t help wondering if their expansion north in their range is due to global warming as temperature gradients also move north; is that also good?

Dragons and Butterflies

It’s always difficult to be sure that the weather will be suitable for insects when I book a tour so far in advance. However pick the right time, the right place and even a little sunshine will bring benefits. This years day tour for Norfolk Hawkers and Swallowtails went well with good views of both species being obtained.

Reedbed Denizens

On a tour recently to an area of extensive reedbed we were treated to superb and extended views of both Bittern and Bearded Tit.

I’m constantly surprised by how many of my guests have not seen Bearded Tit and wish to do so. It’s not a difficult species to see but knowing the call makes it soooo much easier.

Back to Black

The trip to Mull this year gave us some pretty good wildlife encounters; not least with Black Guillemot. I particularly liked this shot in bright sunshine of an individual swimming below us. There are still places available on next years tour

Splitting hairs

The White letter Hairstreaks were playing their usual tree top escapades the other day. A couple eventually came a little lower to avail themselves to the camera.

 

A broken necklace of glass beads

Thrown up on the beaches here in North Norfolk the other week was a small wreck of Sea Gooseberries. These Comb Jellies are carnivores but won’t sting you; they lack stinging cell. However they have sticky tentacles that catch passing small copepods. Laid on the beach they looked like a scattering of glass beads catching the sunshine.

 

Dualing Insect

Completely benign but enough bravado to make you reel back. This Sabre Wasp caught my attention on tour recently. Amazing insect.