RSPB Sandy

We pass signs for RSPB Sandy every time we travel north along the A1 and we say we must call in. Today was the day.

It was different to many of the RSPB reserves we’ve been to in the past. No water for a start. However, there are 3 excellent trails through woodland and heath: the buzzard trail, the woodpecker trail and the nuthatch trail. We walked a bit of a fourth trail called the Skylark trail.

We didn’t see any buzzards or nuthatches. However, we did see a greater spotted woodpecker on the woodpecker trail. Plenty of dragonflies and a few butterflies (small copper) and a shiny black dung beetle emerging from its hole then disappearing down it shortly afterwards.

At last we brought Susan’s birthday present from a couple of years ago. A pair of 10x25 HD compact binoculars. Lovely and light and a really bright image.

The skylark trail led us past some fields the RSPB had seeded with millet, wild radish and white mustard. The plants were full to busting with seed heads. Just right for the coming winter.

It’s been a sparkling day with bright blue skies and cool crisp air. And now for something completely different: tonight’s ukulele jam is about to start down in the bar. A Uketok warmup to tomorrow’s festival