Herman 9,581 Posted July 17, 2020 Insect lovers will like this creature, the Giant Wood Wasp.One was flying around me today. It freaked me out when I first saw one a few years ago but after some research found out they were harmless. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted July 22, 2020 A piece about the thriving Red Kite. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/20/red-kites-thriving-in-england-30-years-after-reintroduction 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted July 22, 2020 30 minutes ago, Herman said: A piece about the thriving Red Kite. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/20/red-kites-thriving-in-england-30-years-after-reintroduction Went out this afternoon for a walk round Baconsthorpe castle near Holt. (Encouraging great grandson with his medieval history). Buzzards and Red Kites sighted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted July 22, 2020 https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming/red-kite-reintroduction-project-30th-anniversary-1-6754460 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted July 22, 2020 (edited) Nice to see some good news for a change. I see that guy in the EDP report regularly at Blickling, sight for sore eyes Edited July 22, 2020 by Van wink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
How I Wrote Elastic Man 1,166 Posted August 1, 2020 About a week ago, I gave up my usual evening/night time routine of Pub, Dinner, Bed to go driving. I left Reykjavík about 9.15pm and got back at 4.30am Sun on the way down over the mountains west of þingvallavatn, just gone 10pm þingvallavatn from the east, around 10.45pm next two are Gullfoss at midnight about 10 miles north of Gullfoss, just gone 12.30am looking to the east, over the town of Hveragerði, from Hellisheiði, about 03.30am just before sunrise about 15 miles east of Reykjavík, 03.50am 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted August 1, 2020 Thanks for that Elastic. My dad was there during WW2, a lovely wild place. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,423 Posted August 1, 2020 I was supposed to go to Iceland in June ☹️ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
How I Wrote Elastic Man 1,166 Posted August 1, 2020 1 hour ago, FenwayFrank said: I was supposed to go to Iceland in June ☹️ There are tourists here now, can you reschedule? Failing that, Iceland will still be here next year 🙂 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Apples 1,314 Posted August 3, 2020 I was in Iceland for a couple of days last February (just after a large dump of snow) and did the Golden Circle Tour. The coach journey was terrifying as we sped along in whiteout conditions from the snow being blown across the road but the sights were totally amazing. The windchill was pretty incredible too. 🥶 Thingvellir also has toilets with possibly one of the most spectacular views in the world. 🤣 Apples Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dylanisabaddog 4,728 Posted August 5, 2020 I live on a 10 year old estate south of Norwich and we have House Martins nesting every year. We are getting close to the time when they go back to Africa and they all gather on and around the roof of one house for a couple of days before they start the journey. The lovely people who live there are thrilled even though they spend ages pressure washing the house afterwards. Yesterday I saw my first ever Red Kite in Hethel. What a sight! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted August 5, 2020 4 minutes ago, dylanisabaddog said: I live on a 10 year old estate south of Norwich and we have House Martins nesting every year. We are getting close to the time when they go back to Africa and they all gather on and around the roof of one house for a couple of days before they start the journey. The lovely people who live there are thrilled even though they spend ages pressure washing the house afterwards. Yesterday I saw my first ever Red Kite in Hethel. What a sight! We have the Swifts here in Norwich, they seem to like nesting in the eves of the old terrace houses. They turn up regular as clockwork, the first week in May and will be gone by the end of the first week in August. I saw a couple of stragglers this morning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Raptor 1,178 Posted August 5, 2020 A kite in Hethel? That's just down the road. Might have to go for a wander later. I hope you shouted at it that there were plenty of rabbits to eat on mulbarton common! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 5, 2020 Blessed this morning with two pair of Kites and a Buzzard floating over the adjacent field of wheat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) According to the EDP. a Hoopoe has been sighted in North Norfolk. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/rare-bird-spotted-in-wighton-1-6777958 And a White Tailed Eagle. Edited August 5, 2020 by ricardo 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dylanisabaddog 4,728 Posted August 6, 2020 21 hours ago, The Raptor said: A kite in Hethel? That's just down the road. Might have to go for a wander later. I hope you shouted at it that there were plenty of rabbits to eat on mulbarton common! The Red Kite was being discussed on the Mulbarton FB site this week. Most sightings have been around Hethel Woods and Bracon Ash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 6, 2020 Just seen the most stunning butterfly. Luminous pink wings with black and cream, tiger striped back. Never seen one before so God knows what it was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,423 Posted August 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Herman said: Just seen the most stunning butterfly. Luminous pink wings with black and cream, tiger striped back. Never seen one before so God knows what it was. I’m definitely not an expert but could it have been a moth ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 6, 2020 It may have been Frank. Going to do a Google search and see if I can find it. I was trying to photograph it but it flew off and have a blurry image of its back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jools 584 Posted August 6, 2020 4 minutes ago, Herman said: It may have been Frank. Going to do a Google search and see if I can find it. I was trying to photograph it but it flew off and have a blurry image of its back. Was it the Privet Hawk Moth?: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 6, 2020 You were right that it was a moth but, after a bit of a search, I am certain it was something called a Jersey Tiger Moth.I normally associate moths as being boring grey/brown. Photos don't do the colouring justice. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/jersey-tiger 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted August 13, 2020 8ft wing span, so shouldn’t miss it 😉 https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/white-tailed-eagle-sightings-north-norfolk-1-6789661 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 15, 2020 ....and a Partridge on a plant pot. A nesting partridge was stumbled upon hidden amongst the clematis. A handful of chicks with her, although I couldn't count how many as they would hide under her wing when I approached for a photo. Cute little things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SHRIMPER 328 Posted August 15, 2020 Hope you are still clicking the old camera shutter Herman. I paid a visit to WATATUNGA the new nature reserve in Watlington a couple of days ago and met this chap..a Great Bustard. Forgot to put the trusty Nikon in the car and only had my phone with me so pictures were not to good. Place is well worth a visit and the grandkids loved the ride in the golf buggy each family gets to drive round in convoy in. Will be going back but with my big cam and tele lens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted August 15, 2020 The Chough, which used to be prevalent in Cornwall, and is in fact on the county badge, and then died off, is beginning to make a comeback. There are a few nesting sites but you can't go anywhere near them. I saw one or two in the 80's near Lands End. Part of the Crow family but is the only one to have a very distinctive red beak. They are called Cornish Choughs here. Mind you, in Cornwall, if it flys past here, flows past here and blows past here, it is claimed as Cornish. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SHRIMPER 328 Posted August 15, 2020 The Bustard in my picture is am import. The last one in Britain was shot in 1832. The reseve has several but they are kept apart because they fight to much when together. It is the worlds heaviest flying bird but these have had one wings flight feathers clipped to stop them flying away. There is no blood to them so it does not harm them. After the moult a new set grows. The ranger gave a couple of my grandkids a feather each that I have been tasked to make a quill pen out of. It will consist of me cutting the tip off and pushing a biro refill in...job done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,581 Posted August 16, 2020 Have my phone on me all the time, just in case @SHRIMPER A couple from friday. The Jersey moth is here to stay by the looks of it and more than welcome. The chicks are under its wing, honest.😀 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SHRIMPER 328 Posted August 16, 2020 Took these at Hunstanton. Cliff formation and rocks. I sent the rock formation on the beach to the British Geological Survey people for some info. The rocks on the beach are between 101 and 113 million year old Carrstone formations. It looks like they are man made but are natural. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jools 584 Posted August 16, 2020 On 15/08/2020 at 11:01, keelansgrandad said: The Chough, which used to be prevalent in Cornwall, and is in fact on the county badge, and then died off, is beginning to make a comeback. There are a few nesting sites but you can't go anywhere near them. I saw one or two in the 80's near Lands End. Part of the Crow family but is the only one to have a very distinctive red beak. They are called Cornish Choughs here. Mind you, in Cornwall, if it flys past here, flows past here and blows past here, it is claimed as Cornish. I spotted several at St Ives last year.. I was really chuffed 👈🙃 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jools 584 Posted August 16, 2020 15 hours ago, Herman said: Have my phone on me all the time, just in case @SHRIMPER A couple from friday. The Jersey moth is here to stay by the looks of it and more than welcome. The chicks are under its wing, honest.😀 To be specific, that's a Red-Legged Partridge, Hermo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites