Nature Notes October 2026

The local walk we do most often is along the Marriotts Way from Orchard Lane Bridge to the cart track which leads down to Moor Farmhouse and back along the Moor. We usually find something of wildlife interest whatever the time of year. The Marriotts Way has grown up with mature oaks and is the place we go to look for Purple Hairsteak butterflies in July, as they are most active on still, sunny evenings, with males chasing round the treetops. It is also good for fungi in the autumn. This year however we are waiting for rain to stimulate their fruiting. We were very surprised a few days ago to catch a glimpse of a young Grass Snake as it vanished into the undergrowth. Everywhere is so dry that we presumed it hadn’t been able to find enough food in the usually damp places near Booton Beck and had moved to somewhere unsuitable in desperation. Alongside the cart track is a wide grassy strip with a bank of wild flowers and herbage in which a wide variety of insects seek shelter. The most notable this summer was the Bishop’s Mitre Shieldbug, with its longitudinal striped, diamond shaped body in shades of brown and beige. We were also delighted recently to find a Vestal moth nestling in the grass. This is a beautiful migrant from the continent with cream coloured wings and a scarlet diagonal streak. The same day, a flash of orange dashed past heading north. We just had time to see the dark shading in the corner of the wings before it was gone: a Clouded Yellow – another migrant! These butterflies do breed along the south coast of
England but only in exceptional summers do they reach Norfolk. This year we have seen four, three of which were along ‘our’ cart track. The Moor road is between banks at it furthest end, covered with wild flowers in season: deep purple Hedge Cranesbill; white Greater Stitchwort and bright Field Poppies. Further on, in the shade of well grown trees grow various ferns and minute lichens. The mature Wych Elm trees have been felled as they succumbed to Dutch Elm disease, which unfortunately wiped out the colony of White-letter Hairstreaks that bred on them. Along the edges of the road, where there is only short grass, Dwarf Mallow (pictured left) has done really well this summer, as it send down deep taproots. It is a dainty pale pink flower with five petals and is easily overlooked.

Do let me know if you see any interesting wildlife (rachel.42rr@btinternet.com)