[goosey]

This afternoon I went to The Zuid Kennermerland National Park, I am lucky as it is only a 10 min bike ride – but take it from me it is not easy riding in hiking boots!
The NP is primarily sand dunes, broad beaches, inland dune forests, woods, lakes and even peat polder and rare flora and fauna which goes with these conditions. It runs down the North Sea coast from Ijmuiden in the north to Zandvoort in the south. There are deer, red squirrels, sand lizards and highland cattle, wild ponies and natterjack toads around.
I wanted to see if I could find the place I found last week where there were lots of Migrant Hawkers and common Dater dragonflies and see if there were any different species. There was nothing different and numbers were well down on last week so that was a bit disappointing. I didn’t want to wander too far as I was alone and I don’t know the area very well and its so easy to get side tracked looking at something and not paying attention.
I saw three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a tree creeper and a flock of at least 20 Long Tailed Tits though which was great.
Last week I didn’t see any birds but I was with my daughter so we were chatting and may have scarred things away. There were quite a few butterflies, mainly specked wood and small coppers, but I also noticed Large White, Red Admirals and a few moths. I didn’t see any of the bigger wildlife but it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
This lovely area is right on our door step and I hardly know it - something I will definitely be changing. I use to live in Cumbria - in my view the most beautiful county in England and it wasn't until I moved away I realised how wonderful it was or appreciate it - shame on me!