Saturday 01 August
Up in Norfolk again today; in Wells-next-the-Sea with the family. We so totally love this part of the planet and have done for many years.
A poor turn out of moths last night but I didn’t give it much of a chance to be honest. There was a Garden Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe fluctuate) on the tree stump but I only checked once.
But there was a peacock butterfly (Aglais io) on the buddleia this morning. It’s the archetypal butterfly in the UK and reminds me so much of summers as a child. Probably because they are one of the later species to start flying which would have coincided with the August summer holidays. The colouring is there to confuse predators and it’s the large wing eye-spots that give it it’s name.
The journey up here was markedly busier than it has been on previous weekends recently. Boris Johnson explained yesterday how important it is for people to get out and about this summer and enjoy stay-cations. People certainly seem to be out in force at the moment. And there is a a very real worry that the virus is taking hold again.
The beaches on the north Norfolk coast are as big as the skies above them so finding space shouldn’t be an issue. We have been coming here every year since the kids were babies and although there is no Wells Carnival this year it will still be wonderful. Walks, games, beach time together. Simple stuff, again.
The Bald Birder 