Green Tiger Beetle

 

At Last! After searching for years amongst Norfolk's many heathland paths, I've spotted my first tiger beetle.  And where did I find it: on the edge of the wood as I was putting in a field gate!

Quite a large colony; I spotted several over the course of the day and I'm wondering if they've been here all the time or established themselves after clearing a large stand of conifers and replanting with broadleaf?

Before the commercial conifer plantation was set in the 1960's this area was predominantly a mixed heathland, with birch and gorse together with scattered oak and sweet chestnut.  Now it seems that the heathland community is re-establishing itself.  The gorse is back along with birches, linnets and mining bees.  And now we have the green tiger beetle.  What next? Let's hope for a nightjar!