It was a bright and hot morning, a half tide and very little wind; in fact a wonderful day to be out in the countryside. The birds however were mostly silent, except for linnets singing from their perches in the pea field, goldfinches chattering as they flew past, the resident reed warbler calling at intervals and various fledglings asking for food as the adults returned to them (swallows, lesser whitethroats and sparrows). Many wildflowers still remain in flower but already some have gone to seed. Feeding on the flowers were multitudes of butterflies of many varieties and the highlights of the day were once again sighting the marbled white and also a male brimstone conspicuous by its sulphur yellow colour. The lake at Creeksea produced nothing, partly because a pump was being used to extract water for some of the newly planted trees. Although some mud was exposed in the river only black-headed gulls and a lone oystercatcher were seen.

The next ‘Our Patch’ outing is on Thursday, August 25th 14.00 meeting in the marina car park.

Birds: (numbers in brackets indicate the highest number seen in one sighting) Robin 1, Blackbird 4 (1), Linnet 3 (2), Lesser Whitethroat 3 (3), Goldfinch 9 (6), Sparrow 29 (15), Swallows 6 (4), House Martin 4 (4). Skylark 5 (4), Reed Warbler 2 (2), Magpie 8 (2), Wood Pigeon 12 (2), Crow 2 (2), Moorhen 1, Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed Gull 16 (8), Herring Gull 2 (1),

Flowers: Bristly Ox-tongue, Dandelion, Common Vetch, Mallow, Dove’s-foot Cranesbill, Small-flowered Cranesbill, Buttercup, Red Clover, White Clover, Agrimony, Cow Parsley, Prickly Sowthistle, Smooth Sowthistle, Daisy, Elder, Stinging Nettle, Field Poppy, White Campion, Bladder Campion, Black Medick, Scented Mayweed (Wild Chamomile), Hoary Cress, Sea Lavender, Grass Vetchling, Ox-eye Daisy, Lady’s Slipper, Ragwort, Bramble, Greater Plantain, Ribwort Plantain, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Bindweed, Bellbine (Hedge Bindweed), Black Horehound, Great Willowherb, Broad-leaved Willowherb, Honeysuckle, Creeping Cinquefoil, Common Reedmace, Sorrel, Marsh Thistle, Wall Lettuce, Self Heal

Other: Skipper, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Comma, Gatekeeper, Brimstone and Marbled White Butterflies, Red-tailed bumble Bee, White-tailed bumble Bee, 7-spot Ladybird, Grasshopper, Longhorn Beetle.

Diane Caulkett