A Walk to Mappleton and Rolston

I walked on the beach to Mappleton then back home via Rolston in the hot sun, and although it was an enjoyable walk in many ways, I found it draining and I was really knackered when I got home after doing 9.5 miles. I had plenty of water so that wasn't an issue - the heat was the thing, especially with very little breeze to add any cooling.

Along the beach at low tide there were an estimated 4,500 gulls - Black-headed, Herring, Common and Great-black Backed. Only a few terns were seen, 8 or so Sandwich Terns.

Some of the thousands of gulls near Mappleton

Walking up the road towards Great Hatfield I expected to see a few birds flitting around the hedgerows but although there were some, I was dismayed to see how few there were.

Reed Buntings, Whitethroats, Wrens and Goldfinches were the species seen which was pretty poor compared to previous walks up that road.

Dropping down into Rolston things picked up a little with Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs in the wood and Buzzard and Kestrel above.

A couple of Moorhens were fratching on the pond edge and more Willow Warblers were feeding in the bushes.

I hoped to see many dragonflies given the sunny and still conditions but only Common Darter and Migrant Hawker appeared for me.

Migrant Hawker - a distant and not very good image

The pond was, as usual, alive with fish. Grey Herons don't appear to venture into the water here as it is too deep for them, with no shallows to wade in.

I still think these are Roach but I'm probably wrong

More roach (probably)

Butterflies were few in number too with the usual suspects: Speckled Wood, Large White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and a single faded Gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper looking a bit worn

Red Admiral

In Rolston village Swallows and Sand Martins were practicing their communal gathering skills on the wires. Hopefully they won't be needed for a few weeks yet before they decide to leave us.

Sand Martins

Swallows