Sandlings

We drove down to Snape Maltings today, and walked along the Alde Estuary to Iken. We deliberately went at low tide to see waders, and were not disappointed - they were there in huge numbers - little egret, avocet, sandpiper, curlew, redshank, dunlin, and probably others that we were unable to identify. Sadly they were too far away for decent photos. We also saw two kingfisher at close quarters but very fleetingly. This evening we did another twilight walk on the Common near the cottage. Again we could here a stag bellowing and watched as the sky turned black with huge numbers of crows. The ancient heathlands here in Suffolk, which are sadly diminishing, are known as the Sandlings. I did the Sandlings Walk a few years ago, 60 miles of meandering pathways from Ipswich to Southwold through this magical landscape.