A visit to Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnR98kIGP0NRYFgz6paPjysXOujlrvTi80skWduF9TI4qsYJiQqSmPGdB9c8WB7fRhOMDaKNlHKQzUBfN38yGiWtqtVO2CW3P8qvtwoTwxo_LR4Jh4D-RPIxFBCYZK9B-Q1gsr4tvJgc/s640/Scarce+Chaser-1.jpg)
Carlton Marshes , together with Oulton Marshes, is a lowland reserve in the Broads National Park. It consists of meadows, wet grassland, reedbeds, marsh and woodland. It is run by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. We spent a pleasant few hours here and promised ourselves a revisit sometime. Scarce Chaser - a species of dragonfly. The adult male has a bright blue abdomen with patches of black, while the adult female and juvenile male each have a bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with an average wingspan of 74 mm. Cuckoo spit begins to appear in late spring at a time when the familiar call of cuckoos can be heard, but otherwise has no connection with the bird. It is caused by frog hopper nymphs Southern Marsh Orchid - hopefully!. The Southern Marsh-orchid typically grows to between 30 and 50 cm in height although taller specimens up to 70 cm can occur. Difficult to distinguish from the Northern Marsh-orchid, Dactylorhiza purpurella, the lip of the