2016 is almost over and what a year it has been. My brother got married, I became an uncle for the first time, I celebrated my 30th birthday, I've had an amazing adventure in France and I have tracked down 40 species to celebrate 40 years of Strumpshaw. So many great memories. And as 2017 is just around the corner, it is time to look back at some of the highlights that made my year memorable. Here are just some of my favourite encounters and photographs as well as drawings that I've drawn in my wildlife diary from this year. If you want to read the blog post in which each photo and drawing represent, I have left the title of each post in brackets underneath them.
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| Whooper and Bewick's Swans (Jan 13th Strumpshaw Fen, Buckenham Marshes and Ludham) |
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| Glaucous Gull (Jan 17th Great Yarmouth) |
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| Twite (Jan 18th Thornham Harbour and RSPB Titchwell) |
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| Grey Squirrel (Jan 28th Earlham Cemetery) |
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| Helping out at Norwich Castle (Jan 30th Norwich Castle) |
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| Purple Sandpiper (Feb 1st Cley and Sheringham) |
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| Long-tailed Duck (Feb 7th Lackford Lakes) |
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| Redpoll (Feb 18th Wheatfen Broad) |
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| Ermine Stoat (Feb 20th Holkham Hall and RSPB Titchwell) |
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| Red Kite (Feb 29th Cley) |
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| Snow Bunting (Feb 29th Cley) |
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| Jack Snipe (March 9th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Adder (March 11th Minsmere) |
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| Hawfinch (March 17th East Wretham, Grimes Graves and Lynford Arboretum) |
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| Greylag Goose laying an egg! (March 26th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Redstart (April 10th RSPB Titchwell) |
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| Common Cranes (April 13th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Woodcock (April 16th Sculthorpe Moor) |
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| Barn Owl (May 14th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Sunrise (May 1st Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Chocolate-tip Moth (May 22nd Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Dad with Oscar the Otter (May 22nd Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Swallowtail Butterfly (June 5th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Meeting Dr George McGavin (June 8th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Banded Demoiselle (June 9th Hellsdon Mill) |
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| Knot (June 13th RSPB Titchwell Marshes) |
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| Kestrel Chicks (June 14th Mousehold Heath) |
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| Grasshopper Warbler (June 15th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Green Woodpecker (June 27th Minsmere) |
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| Lizard Orchid (July 4th A Secret Location and Harrison's Wood) |
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| Diving Beetle Larva (July 3rd Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Nightjar (July 4th Buxton Heath) |
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| Glow-worm (July 4th Buxton Heath) |
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| Hornet Clearwing (July 5th Norwich) |
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| Burnt Orchids (My French Adventure - Part 2) |
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| Asptic Viper (My French Adventure - Part 2) |
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| Alpine Marmot (My French Adventure - Part 3) |
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| Alpine Chough (My French Adventure - Part 3) |
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| Short-toed Eagle (My French Adventure - Part 5) |
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| Marsh Warbler (My French Adventure - Part 6) |
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| Apollo Butterfly (My French Adventure - Part 6) |
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| Beaver (My French Adventure - Part 6) |
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| Alpine Ibex (My French Adventure - Part 7) |
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| Ghost Orchid (My French Adventure - Part 7) |
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| White-letter Hairstreak (Aug 12th Mousehold Heath) |
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| Glossy Ibis (Aug 31st Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| White Starling (Sep 12th Titchwell) |
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| Whinchat (Sep 14th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Red Deer (Sep 26th Holkham Hall and Titchwell) |
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| Pectoral Sandpiper (Sep 26th Holkham Hall and Titchwell) |
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| Bittern (Sep 28th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Great White Egret (Oct 12th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Porcelain Fungus (Oct 12th Mousehold Heath) |
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| Japanese Maples (My Gloucestershire Holiday - Part 1) |
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| Fallow Deer (My Gloucestershire Holiday - Part 2) |
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| Waxwing (Nov 4th Cley and Holt) |
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| Velvet Scoter (Nov 12th Whitlingham Broad) |
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| Frost on a Spindle berry (Nov 30th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Sunset (Nov 30th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Grey Seal Pup (Dec 5th Horsey Gap) |
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| Fieldfare (Dec 14th Strumpshaw Fen) |
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| Frost on a Bramble branch (Dec 28th Strumpshaw Fen) |
It has been quite a year hasn't it? Full of fantastic wildlife and natural wonder. 2017 will hopefully be just as eventful as 2016 has been. I will be starting my Ultimate Bug Hunt, in which I will be exploring the many habitats of Norfolk and trying to find a selection of rare, beautiful, important and mysterious minibeasts including stag beetles, emperor moths and many more. I hope you will follow me every step of the way. Happy New Year!
