For those that don't know where to look, park up at Strumpshaw Fen and walk back on yourself to the house and footpath. Follow this footpath for 5 minutes or so, and the owners of the next house you will encounter kindly allow Butterfly watchers to walk up the border where the above crackers often feed. Sure enough, we watched one individual very closely here. Another was seen on the reserve itself, not far over the railway track, and a final Swallowtail was seen back along the aforementioned footpath. One would have been fine, felt priviliged and lucky to see three!
Had a quick look round parts of the reserve, and the breeding season is now in full swing here. Amorous Marsh Harriers over the reedbed, Ducklings on the ponds, baby Tits and Warblers in the bushes and reeds and a grunting Water Rail was within touching distance but not seen.
We saw plenty of other Butterflies too: Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White and Brown Argus.
lovely photos. I enlarged them all.
ReplyDeletenellie
Thanks for your kind words.I will pass them onto the photographer!I can't claim credit for these ones! Jim.
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