Undeterred by a poor forecast fourteen members of the group, including two new members, met in Burnham.  It was decided that as August is a poor month for bird watching we would combine the regular monthly outing with Our Patch.  It was also decided to do the Our Patch route in the opposite direction from usual so that we could end at the Parlour Café for lunchtime refreshments.

Setting off across Riverside Park there was not much to see except the usual contingent of dog walkers.  Even so there were some flowers growing in the longer grass that we couldn’t identify.  Our route took us past the reed beds and into the former caravan park.  Birds are always present there and today was no exception as we sighted flocks of goldfinch, sparrows and long-tailed tits.

We noticed a profusion of berries, blackberries, rose hips, haws, buckthorn, elderberries, rowan and many deep purple sloes.  The dull weather had kept the butterflies away and we sighted just two but couldn’t make out if they were meadow browns or gatekeepers as they kept their wings firmly closed.

As we approached the point of our figure of eight grey clouds gathered and rain began to fall; some decided to call it a day and others to drive to the Parlour Café.  Only two continued along the seawall and after a short bright spell showery rain set in and, shortly after arriving in the café, prolonged torrential rain fell.

It was drinks all round, thanks to the generosity of Jill & Ken who were celebrating their wedding anniversary; afterwards many stopped for lunch – even those who had intended to leave remaining, rather than going to their cars in the tropical-like downpour.  A lovely social end to the morning.

Birds: Sparrow, Robin, Blackbird, Starling, Goldfinch, Whitethroat, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Long-tailed, Blue & Great Tits, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Green Woodpecker, Little Egret, Curlew, Herring & Black-headed Gulls,

Flowers: Wild Carrot, Spear Thistle, Ragwort, Oxford Ragwort, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Bristly Ox Tongue, Common Fleabane, Ribwort Plantain Broad-leaved Plantain, Knapweed, Mallow, Field Poppy, Daisy, Hedge Bindweed, Field Bindweed, Sea Lavender, Red & White Clover, Black Horehound, Smooth Sowthistle, White Deadnettle, Great Willowherb, Purple Loosestrife, Woody Nightshade, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Common St John’s Wort, Burdock, Lucerne, Scented & Scentless Mayweed,

Other: White-tailed Bumble Bee, 7-spot Ladybird

Next Meetings: Wednesday 13^th September meet 10.00 at Elaine & Steve’s house 29 Mountview Crescent, St Lawrence tel 778613.  Please car share as parking is limited.

‘Our Patch’ Monday 11^th September meet 10.00 Burnham Marina Car Park.

Diane Caulkett