Still shielding, but stir crazy we went for a drive around Sandwich finding a couple of quiet rural corners to loaf around in nature. At the Restharrow reserve the disabled parking has been newly doubled in size and the surrounding disturbed earth was a mass of wildflowers and busy insects.
Whilst the bank is no longer poppy-clad, there were still many in bloom. As always there, the air was filled with lark song.
It was a slight surprise to find that most of the insects were exactly as I am seeing in the garden, albeit feeding on different plants.
Nice to see Evening Primroses amongst others.
We also went to a track which has a steam that runs into the stour where the yachts are moored.
Few birds, just Little Grebe, Moorhen and Coot on the water, with Sedge Warblers singing and a Cetti’s Warbler flying back and forth across the water.
I’ve noticed before that the area around Sandwich has lots of what I always thought were Roman snails. It turns out they are the larger, edible species.
Grove Snail Cepaea nemoralis
Around the stream were dozens and dozens of damsel flies; all Common Blue ones, one of the three types we usually see in our garden, but sadly, so far this year, there have been none!
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
