| Sandwich, Kent I live in the beautiful and historic town of Sandwich in Kent in the southeast of England. The River Stour lies on the edge of the town. Originally, Sandwich was one of the Cinque Ports, and we have many medieval buildings here from the original construction time. Sandwich is two miles from the coast, and although once it was a major port in its own right, this is no longer the case due to the silting up of the River Stour. Gazen Salts Nature Reserve The woodlands are home to many species of flora also such as primroses, celandine, dog rose, oak, ash, wild cherry, elm, field maple, wild privet, marsh marigold, marshmallow, meadowsweet, black bush, yellow iris and many other exciting plants of interest. The lake and the waterways in the Reserve are sustained by a sluice gate connected to the River Stour. The waters further feed and play host to a diverse range of wildlife, including species such as sticklebacks, pond skaters, diving beetles, frogs and toads, newts, kingfishers, moorhens, bats, rats, shrews, weasels, stoats, foxes, hedgehogs, moles, water voles, grass snakes, mallard, tufted, pochard and shoveler ducks, warblers, woodpeckers, blackcaps, sparrowhawks, grey squirrels, parakeets and others including many butterfly species too. |
| Natural Encounters – Season 1 – 2021 Gallery 1 |
| Mallards – Drakes and Hens Anas platyrhynchos |
| European Robin Erithacus rubecula |
| Mallards – Drakes and Hens Anas platyrhynchos |
| Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis |
| Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis |
| Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis |
| Late January 2021 Snows fell in Sandwich |
| Mallards – Drakes debating skating on the stream Anas platyrhynchos |
| Mallards – Drakes, hens and assorted duck species on the bank. Anas platyrhynchos |
| Common Seagulls enjoying an icy cold bath! Larus canus Black-headed gull – winter coat also enjoying colder waters of the stream Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
| Common Seagulls enjoying pondering on the new ice rink! Larus canus |
Earthly Comforts 