Despite a chilly, overcast start to the summer in the first week of June, the temperatures soon soared to around 30°C by the middle of the month. A scorcher! And it is not just the weather that has been overwhelmingly good. There's been plenty to see across the Mid Yare. It is that time again to look back at another action-packed month of highlights.
We start, as usual, with the highlight of the month. However, it isn't a bird. In fact, it isn't a living thing at all. On the 23rd of June, the most famous steam locomotive in the world, the Flying Scotsman, rolled its way through Norfolk and those by the front gates at Strumpshaw at the time were treated to something truly special.
Swallowtails were out throughout June, but were slightly elusive at times, more so than in previous years. There's certainly fewer of them around this year. I've only had fleeting glimpses of them flying away this year, but they've definitely been visiting the nectar garden after seeing the photo evidence you, our visitors, have been sending us. Other places to look for them are around the meadow trail, on the boardwalk and along Tinkers Lane.
If you are hoping to see our cranes. There's been some news. Since our first ever chick hatched last month, they went on quite a journey. First, they were seen in front of Fen Hide on June 5th. A week later, they left the reed beds and footprints along the path behind the hide suggested they had moved on and was seen spending a few days in the meadow trail. By June 10th, they had left Strumpshaw completely and were now at Buckenham Marshes. Sadly, the chick has since disappeared and is believed to have perished. Let's hope the parents return next year and try again.
On June 2nd, a firecrest was heard and then seen on the yew tree by the feeders and, on the 19th, a mandarin was reported on the reserve. At Buckenham, a drake green-winged teal (which is the American version of our teal, but with a vertical white line instead of a horizontal one) was spotted on the marshes on June 6th and a Temminck's stint on June 4th. An osprey also paid us an early visit on June 24th at reception.
It has to be said that Buckenham and Cantley is like visiting southern France just lately. In the past couple of months, we've had a few spoonbills and glossy ibises paying us several visits. There has been at least 2-3 of each reported throughout June. And then on June 20th, a pair of black-winged stilts were seen at Buckenham and stayed for a couple of days. They have long bright red gangly legs, which makes them stand out of the crowd.
Black-winged stilt (Drew Lyness)
Bitterns have been incredibly lively this month as there have been almost daily reports on these normally elusive birds. At least one or two have been poking out of the reed beds to sun themselves most mornings at reception. Otter sightings are beginning to increase once again, including a female with two cubs. Kingfisher sightings are rare these days, but there have been a few sightings here and there.
A grasshopper warbler has been showing really well and reeling loudly from a bush close to the ramp entrance to the meadow trail along Sandy Wall. While spotted flycatchers are still being reported along the woodland trail, though one was also located around the pond behind the feeders on June 2nd. Barn owl activity is also on the rise as they are seen hunting most mornings. The toe-dipping platform is the best place to stake them out. You may be lucky to spot a water vole there too while you wait.
Grasshopper warbler (Sean Locke)
In invertebrate news (other than swallowtails of course), we have exciting news. Back in 2012, as part of a reintroduction project, we released many endangered fen raft spiders at a secret location near Cantley. Since then, they were doing really well and were increasing their range year by year. So, when we discovered one in the ditches of the meadow trail on June 21st, of course, we were very excited indeed! All the hard work of monitoring them has paid off! We finally have fen raft spiders at Strumpshaw!
Dragonflies and damselflies are everywhere right now, including Norfolk hawkers, scarce chasers, southern hawkers, 4-spot chasers, black-tailed skimmers, red-eyed damselflies, banded demoiselles and many others. The log in the nectar garden has been attracting ruby-tailed wasps and even the odd wasp beetle (a beautiful beetle that mimics the appearance of a wasp). We are running a dragonfly and damselfly safari on the 15 July and there are still tickets available here: https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/43422
Wasp beetle (Sean Locke)
Evening walks at Strumpshaw have discovered the first glow-worms of the year lighting up parts of the undergrowth with their bioluminescence. Only the females do this as they are flightless and use their light to attract the smaller males (which can fly).
We also ran a moth trapping event on June 11th and trapped a fantastic array of species (39 in all). Highlights include 3 species of hawkmoth (eyed, poplar and elephant) as well as many other beautiful species with unusual sounding names such as reed veneer, oblique carpet and small seraphim. The full list of highlights can be found on our Facebook page. The next moth event is on July 23rd and you can book you ticket here: https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/41655
In plant news, the first orchids (southern marsh) were found on the meadow trail on June 5th and are now everywhere there. A few others can be found at the boardwalk at the far end of the Lackford Run along with the odd purple-red flowers of marsh cinquefoil (though I've yet to locate them myself). Common spotted orchids can also be found in the grass by our sand cliffs.
Next month is likely to be another hot one. If you are feeling the heat, hopefully our ice creams and cold drinks will hit the spot. The heat will also, hopefully, encourage a 2nd wave of swallowtails to emerge. There will also be plenty of horseflies and mosquitoes on the wing, so make sure you bring some repellent if you need it as well as the sun cream. See you in the next repot!