We tend to stick Close to Home these Days

A few years back we visited the Farne Islands. We saw Arctic Terns, Guillemots, Puffins, Razorbills, Shags &c. but there was a feeling of anti-climax. To our minds it was a little like visiting a Zoo. And the journey Northwards was particularly Fraught: it was a Great Relief when we arrived back at Home (we only spent the one Night away: one Night too many to our Minds).

We were reminded of this yesterday as we sat in a train hurtling Northwards, journeying to call on a Relative.

We very rarely travel more than a few miles nowadays: it must be a couple of years or since we visited the likes of Dungeness, Oare Marshes, Shellness &c. Even Rainham Marshes: just across the River from us.

We occasionally toy with the idea of returning to Vancouver BC. to walk round Stanley Park to see the Gulls again (we remember them dropping Sea Shells from a height to crack them open) but it's a mighty long way to go for a short walk!

But why travel anyway?

The previous day we had walked beside the Thames locally and up and down a favourite Footpath where we hoped we might find a Butterfly or two.

We have a fondness for Ringed Plovers (but who doesn't?) and there were a few about beside the River viz.

We first heard and then saw, a small Party of Mallards looking totally at Peace with the World viz.

Our attention was then drawn to the Gulls: a Lesser Black-Backed Gull and some Black-Headed and Common Gulls viz.

And we were entertained by a few House Sparrows and a Pied Wagtail attending to her/his toilette viz.

Other Birds seen included Black-Tailed Godwits, Linnets and Redshanks.

The Council Strimmers had destroyed the last of the Flowering Plants beside the Thames Path but we did spot Common Toadflax flowering on the other side of the Railings close to the Waste Incinerator.

Beside the Footpath there were quite a few Plants in flower including:

Also: a single Wild Teasel and some Goat's-Rue.

We have mentioned Butterflies. It was an Overcast day and for a long time there was no sign of the Sun: the possibilty of seeing any Butterflies seemed unlikely.

But the Sun then put in an appearance: not the Orangey coloured one of the day before viz.

but a normal coloured one viz.

and we were were fortunate enough to see three Small White Butterflies viz.

and a Holly Blue Butterfly viz.

OK: nothing special perhaps but good enough for us.