December’s Our Patch was done early in January.  We are a small group of enthusiastic people but had decided this would be our last meeting, our swansong, so seeing a happy family group of swans was quite significant.  It was a gloriously sunny day, clear and cold, and we were treated to some wonderful sights and sounds.  We missed the seal that others had seen as it swam in the marina but were rewarded with flocks of lapwing and dunlin feeding on the shoreline and the delightful chatter of the brent geese.

Over the years we have been doing Our Patch we have formed friendships – and even romance!  We have greatly improved our flower identification and have a good general idea of what to expect to see in our immediate vicinity at all times of year – but there are always surprises.

We enjoyed today so much that we are now having doubts about whether to cease or not and have come to no firm conclusion…..watch his space!

Birds: Blackbird, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Starling, Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Magpie, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Kestrel, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Mallard, Brent Geese, Black-headed & Herring Gulls.

Flowers: Bristly Ox-tongue, Groundsel, Yarrow, Wild Radish, Daisy, Red Deadnettle, Dandelion, Gorse, Red Clover.

Other: Mole Hills

Diane Caulkett