Leaving a bit later to go around Fishbourne Meadows made a great deal of difference today. Many more people were out walking in what’s expected to be the warmest day so far in April. Too many fo
r comfortable social distancing; it’s just not possible to keep two metres away when you’re on a narrow path on the sea wall.

Talking of sea walls, when we were on the bit that sticks out south east of the mill ruin several mallard were flying about. Quite why wasn’t clear but they were a delight to watch flying in a formation of 3-6 at a time in slow, large circuits of the head of the harbour. Their loud quacking each time was an early indication of their imminent passage overhead!

A large plant that we’ve seen several times that’s at last coming out into flower seems to be an Alexanders. It’s growing on the sea wall in large clumps, apparently it likes the sea. Another new flower seen today is this Red Campion, very pretty little flowers here and there along the footpath.

The cuckoo flowers were still in full bloom amongst the marshy grass attracting many orange spot
butterflies. We counted twelve in the field, so good to see a healthy number rather than the occasional ones and twos normally encountered. Apparently Cuckoo flowers are thier favourite to lay eggs on, or rather one egg per plant as the caterpillars are cannibalistic!