Norfolk 2022

Beeston Regis Common - July

Beeston Regis Common is a English Nature SSSI site and is a mosaic of different habitats, broadly covering grassland, heath, bog, fen, secondary woodland and freshwater ponds and streams. The vast array of flora and fauna at this site makes it 1^st on the team sheet when planning my Norfolk visits.

Images- Liocoris tripustulatus, Marsh Fragrant Orchid, Marsh Helleborine, Oblong-leaved Sundew, Philodromus species, Rhopalomyia tanaceticola (gall on Tansey)

Hickling Broad - July

Hickling is the epicentre of wildlife on the broads and an important part of the wider broadland landscape, Hickling is a haven for many of the UK’s rarest animals and plants. You can’t visit Norfolk without calling in here, usually twice.

Images - Anthocomus rufus, Emerald Damselfly, Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Milk Parsely, Green Colonel Soldierfly, Ornate-tailed Digger Wasp, Ruddy Darter (female), Short-winged Conehead, Tropidia scita Hoverfly.

Horsey Gap - July

This site is probably better known for the seal colony and worth seeing, but the dunes are a great area for specialised insects. Having said that the vegetation around the carpark and immediate paths is also great for pollen loving insects.

Images - Sheepsbit, Sea Sandwort, Rest Harrow, Oxybelus argentatus, Miltogramma germari, Epeolus variegatus, Dune Robberfly, Americorchestia species, Grayling.

Kelling Heath & Walsey Hills - July

I’ve combined these 2 because of their proximity to each other and the small size of the Walsey site. The heath can a challenge but is home to Nightjar and Dartford Warbler, I usually call here for a couple hours on the way down. Walsey is a small heavily vegetated hill and home to a bird observatory.

Images - Ruby-tailed Wasp Species, Red Legged Spider Wasp, Red Banded Sand Wasp, Dodder, Ant Damsel Bug, Sicus ferrugineus