Lowestoft Life 20th - 26th May 2026

I returned properly home on the 17^th from my month and a bit of guiding between Lake Kerkini and Lesvos and back again but I did not quite make it to the hospital to see my ailing father-in-law before he passed during that afternoon but took solace in his enjoyment of the pictures I had sent him over the last few weeks and that the family all got there to be with him.

I now have until the 10th June to regroup, catch up on home life and my sadly falling behind blog, before Svalbard and the high Arctic beckons.

20^th May:

It was a cold and dull start to my first few days but I managed to drag myself just across the river to Oulton where a Hoopoe had been residing for a week.  I had been there all of one minute before he started to sing from the rooftops before dropping down into some of his favoured gardens.  I would have been equally happy just hearing the ‘poop poop poop’ so watching him actually perform was pretty special in such a suburban location.

I was back home for an early breakfast before too long.

Hoopoe

21^st May:

My first proper moth trap of the year overnight was quite successful with 104 from 30 species.  Shuttle Shaped Darts, Heart & Darts and Treble Lines were the commonest species along with LBAMs but I also caught a Coronet, Pale Mottled Willow and a few smart little micros.

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Cochylis atricapitana

Treble Lines 

Coronet

Pebble Prominent

22^nd May:

Lunch on a now wondrously hot spring day was taken at The Ferry Inn at Surlingham with Debs and Marna which was very pleasant indeed with Grey and Pied Wagtails, calling Kingfishers and the occasional circling Marsh Harrier.  I had a walk down alongside the church (where I found Luffia lapidella) and found a good selection of insect life with Scarce Chaser, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red, Azure, Blue-tailed and Variable Damselflies and seven Butterfly species.  There were a few Hoverflies with Eristalis pertinax, Parhelophilus and the newly renamed Eurimyia lineata.

Scarce Chaser

Variable Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Large Red Damselfly

Luffia lapidella

Eurimyia lineata

Eurimyia lineata

Peacock

Hemlock Water-Dropwort

Guelder Rose

Yellow Flag

Orange Tip

Pisaura mirabilis

Horse Chestnut

The trap that night at home gave me a slightly different selection with a Choreutis nemorana, Diamondback, Rustic Shoulder Knot and a delightful Clouded Silver.

Small Dusty Wave

Dusky Brocade

Rustic Shoulder Knot

23^rd May:

A bit a garden pottering to get it back in shape although it looks remarkably well despite my absence.  Four species of Bumblebee were around the towering nearly 4m Tree Mallows along with many Honey Bees and Holly Blues, Small Whites and Red Admirals dropped in.

Tachina fera

Tachina fera

Pisaura mirabilis

Loganberry - 1st time it has flowered

Choreutis nemorana

A good crop of figs on the way

Xysticus sp

Geum

Tree Mallow

Tree Mallow!

Andrea’s craft fair at St Margarets in Hopton gave me the chance to find Luffia here too.  That night there was more of the same in the moth traps with a Maiden’s Blush and Eyed Hawkmoth the pick.

Eyed Hawkmoth

Not a bad front garden for 2.5 years of work

Stinking Iris

A huge female Cockchafer I caught three nights on the trot

24^th May:

A mid-morning walk around Lound Lakes before it got too hot was most productive with plenty of Butterflies and Dragonflies.  Scarce Chasers and Hairy Hawkers were on the wing here amongst the throng of mostly Azure Damselflies. 

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselflies

Hairy Hawker

Large Red Damselfly

Holly Blue

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Small Copper

Small White 

Small White

For the first time this season there were also some quality flies too with three Merodon equestris, two interesting Robberflies, Empis tessellata and a very funky Tachinid.

Merodon equestris

Merodon equestris

Merodon equestris

Dioctria rufipes

Dioctria rufipes

Fan-bristled Robberfly - Dysmachus trigonus

Fan-bristled Robberfly - Dysmachus trigonus

Scorpion Fly

Sicus ferrugineus

Syrphus ribesii

Zophomyia temula - a funly Tachinid

Empis tessellata

Epistrophe grossulariae

The Speedwell was alive with countless little moths all of which seemed to be Glyphipterix fuscoviridella (thanks Antony!) and I also found four Cinnabars and am immaculate Mother Shipton – bent wibbly wobbly nose and all.

Cinnabar

Glyphipterix fuscoviridella

Mother Shipton

There were six Bumblebee species and a few solitary species but I really do struggle with them. 

Bombus hortorum

Bombus hortorum

Bombus lapidarius

Bombus pratorum

Nomada fucata

Andrena flavipes

Cantharis rustica

Oedemera noblis

Cut-leaved Cranesbill

Round-leaved Cranesbill

Storksbill

Dog Rose

Green Alkanet

Scarlet Pimpernel

Speedwell

Water Forget-me-not

It was not just an insect walk with at least 80 Sand Martins swirling back and forth across the lakes while four singing Garden Warblers were my first in the UK this year.  The reserve looks fabulous at the moment and Andrew and the SWT team have done a great job.  I always enjoy my summery walks around here.

 Dunnock

Back at home there were Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies in the front garden.

 Araniella sp

 Azure Damselfly

25^th May:

The overnight trap produced a lovely Pebble Hook Tip, Poplar Kitten and Light Brocade amongst others before we headed out into the Broads for a drive before it got stupidly hot.

 Light Brocade

 Light Brocade

Marbled Minor agg - not identifiable without the chop but a particularly stunning form

Notocelia cynosbatella 

Poplar Kitten

Rustic Shoulder Knot

Scoparia subfusca - this looks the likely species

A Swallowtail flew through the car park at Lathams and at the plant fair in Potter Heigham Church I also found Luffia lapidella as well as a Wall Brown, newly emerged Black-tailed Skimmer and several Painted Ladies. 

We grabbed lunch before seeking shadows at Ormesby Little Broad.  It felt like an exceptional mid-summer day but the insect life was still firmly in May although I did add Four-Spotted Chasers to my little week list as well as Red-eyed Damselflies amongst the other regulars.

Red-eyed Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser

Variable Damselfly

Black-tailed Skimmer

That evening watering the Wrens garden was equally productive with two female Broad-bodied Chasers and three Large Red Damselflies around the pond and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and several Painted Ladies on the Red Valerian. Of course I did message Antony in Lesvos to tell him.

26^th May:

A visit to the osteopath required a short walk after wards so I kept to the shade and wandered down Sprats Water Lane to overlook Carlton Marshes.  It was just too hot but I did find Scarce Chaser and Hairy Hawkers but very few Butterflies with Speckled Wood, Wall Brown Peacock and Holly Blue.

Azure Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

Scarce Chaser

Large Red Damselfly

Hybomitra bimaculata - female

Pretty sure this is a Cuckoo Bumble but seeking advice

Click Beetle

Wall Brown

Not quite sure how this Peacock was airborne

A Hobby zipped through and a family of Stonechats were out on the Brambles while a male Marsh Harrier was quartering but I suspect any quarry was laying low.  With that I too slunk off and back to the car.  The weather breaks tomorrow so I shall put the traps on and see what mothage appears.

juv Stonechat

Marsh Harrier