High pressure has returned so it’s sunny and the tide is right out; ideal conditions for a walk around Chidham. Setting off from the Church towards the Poplar trees we were amazed by the new
found silence, the birdsong had suddenly disappeared. The hedgerows that had been full of chatter had not just quietened down but become silent, it was if all the birds had decided last night to keep quiet. Of course there were a couple of dissenters, a coot and a few Goldfinches which had been the last to start singing so it’s fitting that they’re the last to stop.
The butterflies were out in huge numbers, shame there were only White and Meadow Browns about
but this is their habitat. The other noticeable aspect was the dryness of the ground, hard everywhere 
with most of the ponds dried up. We could have done with more rain last week, shame the rest of the country had it but it missed the south.
There were a few interesting plants about as well as the usual suspects. Lots of Great Willowherb out at the moment, more attractive that the Ragwort that’s all over the place also plenty of Teasle which is flowering now. This huge Cotton Thistle really stood out at Cobnor, apparently they can reach one and a half metres high. Close by was this attractive little flower; apparently it’s a Rose Campion which is cultivated, often known as Mullein Pink.