Kingfisher

This morning we went to How Hill Nature Reserve again but still no swallowtail butterflies.

We went for a trip on the Electric Eel boat which took us down some of the narrow dykes where the big boats can't get.

It was very enjoyable with a guide pointing out lots of the plants of the Broads as well as the insects.  I mentioned the lack of swallowtails although it's been very cold, wet and windy this week.  He said that they haven't been seen there at all this year.  They overwinter as a pupa and all the rain and high water levels could have destroyed them.. Very sad if that's what has happened.

We didn't see many birds on thetrip but did hear the bittern booming.  Apparently they're booming a month later than usual.

We had a walk around the reserve after the trip and were rewarded with a great sighting of a kingfisher.

We tried to go tonother reserve this afternoon but there was too much mud on the track to risk driving through. A second was temporarily closed - flooding I would guess.  We've had so much rain this year but at least there's central heating at the cottage.