Nature Notes – March 2020

February has proven to be an extremely wet and windy month with the Swale breaking its banks on three occasions.

The large areas of flood land have attracted blackheaded and herring gulls, together with lapwing, golden plover and curlew, all of which will be dispersing to their breeding grounds within the next week or two.

For those of you who frequently walk by the Swale look out for a Great White Egret that has regularly been seen locally. It is the size of a grey heron and quite spectacular.

Oystercatchers and grey wagtails are returning, and the first of our summer migrants, the chiffchaff, should be here in the next few days.

Spring flowers are much in evidence, including early cherry blossom, hellebores and crocus on the village green. Finally on Sunday I saw my first butterfly, a brimstone!