Brampton, Norfolk

  • The first day of June

    The morning of 1st day of June and Brampton is at its verdant best. Last week, a period of showers and occasional sun drew out out the first crop of Mayflies, But now a blue cloudless sky only serves to highlight the rich green of the oak and ash trees which border the old railway line, where Speckled Wood butterflies bask on leafy branches. On the Town Field the wheat is in ear and nearby the allotment gardens are near fully planted. The growing Sunflowers are leaning towards a warming morning sun.

    In the garden the air resounds with the feeding calls of newly fledged Blackbirds and Blue Tits. In order to sustain a nest full of hungry young the Barn Owl hunts constantly over the grazing marshes. The meadows carry a golden cloudy glow with the flowers of thousands of buttercups. The lanes and verges are brim full of Cow Parsley and Red Campion.

  • New jewels

    This morning’s soaring temperatures have brought a welcome crop of new butterflies. On our way round with the dogs, a Buddleja at Romany Cottage was laden with newly-minted Peacock butterflies. Seemingly no more than a few days old, their wing colours are vibrant and polished. They stand out amongst the more weather-beaten Red Admirals and Commas which have been flying for some time. A single Painted Lady bustled about – possibly a migrant from the continent as the steady winds have been from a south-easterly direction for the last few days.

  • Buddleja and butterfly hunting

    Mid August and the village street is filled with the über-sweet scent of Buddleja bushes. Several large bushes have established themselves at key points along the village street. A particularly large specimen has taken up a prime spot on the edge of then allotments, another – it’s racemes a rich pink – marks the junction with Back Lane, others are sprinkled liberally in gardens along the way. Brampton people favour Buddlejas.
    The reason for this is of course, the plant’s ability to attract butterflies. Until this recently this has not been a good butterfly year, the weather has been against them, particularly earlier on. So, I am keenly looking to see whether there will be a late summer flush of butterflies. The wait has not been all in vain; the last two weeks has seen quite a few Commas on the wing – rich patterned brown with their filigree cut hind- wing, Red Admirals have been relatively abundant, but as yet no Painted Ladies. Cabbage Whites are causing anxiety on the allotment. Gatekeepers we’ve their way along the hedgerows. There have been few if any Tortoiseshells, so far.
    There is still time. Hence the Buddleja watching. We wait.

  • A search

    This seems to be Red Admiral week. Every Buddleia in the village is covered with them as soon as the sun shines. This Garden butterfly does not seem to be in short supply.

    This is more than I can say for the Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly– or at least as far as I am concerned. So far we have made two trips to their local habitat on Buxton Heath. According to Iris and Diana “is easy to spot…they don’t fly very high and they stick to the heathery areas at the north end”, and as I always believe what I hear, I went along with it. What else would you do if instructed by people named after classical goddesses? It may have been a coincidence that another “Iris” appeared – this one was rainbow after a heavy summer shower. The shower put pay to any idea that I would be able to find my quarry. I had no further luck on the other occasion. I will persevere and hope for fine weekend

  • Butterflies

    As the temperature rises, butterflies are out in profusion. The flowering Thistles along the Bure were especially attractive this morning. Large numbers of Small Tortoiseshells were accompanied by Meadow Browns , Large and Silver Spotted Skippers. Along the lanes Ringlet Butterflies emerge from their Bramble nurseries and the Speckled Wood basks near the Railway Bridge.

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