Frank was discouraged by the piece he'd just heard on radio four. Apparently they (who) have a  plan in place to turn off the old (old!!!) analogue TV signal.  Even Norfolk would have to go digital. This plan, Frank considered,  could only have been designed by someone terminally bereft of their senses ! Digital ! Frank really didn't want to be dragged, kicking & screaming into the digital, high definition  age. Christ, he hadn't even got a colour telly yet, what the devil  was wrong with black & white any way, digital, DIGITAL, that really was the last straw ! The guide , bemused and calm, ignored the  morning diatribe and  considering the early signs of a future living with a miserable old bugger whining in post offices about lack of respect, pension, youth (envy there perhaps) etc. etc.,  and wandered out into the garden to look for Dragonflies.

This time of day they'd still be warming up & easy to photograph. Couple of Migrant Hawkers and a Common Darter where spotted & photographed for the record (above & below).

Frank & the Guide had recently returned from a trip into the Broads with Hippo, who'd phoned in advance to book a day out in order that Frank could have a think about where to go, this exercise took at least a nanosecond & as usual Buckenham & Upton were decided upon  with the usual rationale that they were 1. Likely to be least populated with other human beings, 2. Just down the road.

Their erstwhile friend arrived with good humour and stories of vast wealth which he'd personally converted by metaphorically digging up the golden street pavements  from a place he 'd travelled to  as a youthful petulant adventurer, now his home town. A place , in Frank's aghast mind, filled with  horrors so great that he couldn't  articulate them here, .....a place  perhaps only adequately described by Joseph Conrad's 'The Heart of Darkness'.....that place .....London!

It was a desperately hot August day, too hot for The Guide , Hippo & Frank, and Upton fen wasn't the best place on a hot day. The reeds were quiet & still , no birds were singing & even the butterflies seemed to have given up.  A number of Brown Hawkers patrolled around, and as the padded along legions of tiny frogs hopped across their paths.  Later on Common & Ruddy Darter were spotted along with Black Tailed Skimmer and one Southern Hawker, Frank thought he'd spotted a Common Hawker , but (he thought) was given short shrift from the Guide & they carried on. Walking up to the viewpoint multitudes  of flies hung around the heads of our three companions to such effect that they abandoned the zigzag  & took the short route back to the motor, home & glasses of cold water from the fridge.

Buckenham was  fresher, although still not too much about, nice views of a Sparrow Hawk as well as the odd Reed Bunting as they wandered down to Hassingham beck. The beck was stiff with Frogbit, t no Norfolk Hawker though, Comma & Painted Lady made themselves known  & the Guide indicated a couple of Chinese Water Deer and a pair of Hobby's  way over the back. Later before turning back there were bright colourful views of a male Marsh Harrier ,as well as distant Old Frank loping off the marsh.

Walking back up the track , Hippo called that he'd seen a Slowworm , but strangely enough as the Guide & Frank raced over to verify, it had gone , hmmmmm,  Frank felt the the ever competitive Hippo had toed it into the undergrowth, .....of course nothing was said.

See you next time

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Wilds of Norfolk was set up because of our unquenchable enthusiasm for the Norfolk Broads,  our small part of the natural world. We thought we'd like to try and give something back by helping other people enjoy the countryside and it's wildlife as well as do our own little bit to promote an interest in the natural world and it's conservation , not only for the wildlife but for the sheer exuberance of the precious life we're lucky enough to get the chance to live.

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