Flyers

A few of my favourite insects from the Broads this week.

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.

‘Ere be dragons

Some excellent Dragons on the Swallowtail and Norfolk Hawker day. Although in a thunderstorm finding a Swallowtail was quite challenging turning out a green eyed Norfolk Hawkers was a little easier. A Hairy Dragonfly also put in an appearance.

Hawking in Norfolk

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One unique dragonfly of the Norfolk Broads is the Norfolk Hawker. We came across quite a few the other day on one of our tours. It took them an age to settle for photographs … but they did … eventually.

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A convincing Dragon

When you tell your guests that something is quite rare and that we are lucky to see one and then you see nothing but the thing in question it does make you feel a little uncomfortable. It was like that on one of the tours last weekend.

We stumbled upon a small pool where a large tan coloured dragonfly with bold green eyes was patrolling the perimeter; a Norfolk Hawker. Look at any distribution maps for this species in the UK and you will see how restricted its range actually is; confined to a slither of coastline in East Anglia; this is a scarce beastie. We however, couldn’t stop finding them; every ditch and puddle seemed to have one. I’ve never seen as many. I think my guests believed me … as to how fortunate they were. Either way the opportunity was too good to miss photographically.