Field Mouse-ear

A rather grey and chilly day spent at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR, on the Lincolnshire coast. Chris and Pete were completing some work started in 2020 - the spring surveys never went ahead because of Covid restrictions.

While they worked, Lizzy and I had a walk round the reserve. It was still looking quite wintry with few flowers, apart from the anthills, which  supported frilly white caps of Field Mouse-ear, a declined species of nutrient poor, free draining soils. Cuckooflower was also out in the dune slacks. 

We heard a range of recently arrived migrant birds, including my first Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler of the year, as well as common Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler. The most exciting sound of the day was the rasping call of Natterjack Toads - only one or two and no chance of seeing them. We'll be returning in a fortnight so maybe they'll be more active then, especially if it's a bit warmer.