Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed seeing my first Painted Lady of the year. This morning was pleasant, if not simply another day of survival for the performers in the natural world. Vapour trails marked patches of blue sky between the high cloud. The sun made efforts to shine through.
Perch facing each other beak to beak where a Magpie pair, upon Hawthorn. Last years dry cones hung from Monterey Cyprus whilst both old cones and fresh flowers were upon Black Pine at Large Copse. Below Garlic Mustard held slender “ET” finger seed pods and hosted cuckoo spit (of Frog Hopper Larvae), as did many plants. Under the canopy I found Ash, Elm and Sycamore saplings but more importantly also a Roe Deer buck (short antlers). I followed the mammals track and regretted pushing through increased thorn cover to reach the paddock. Therein was a bounty of Common Spotted Orchid, as well as Quaking Oat Grass and spent Cowslips. The occasional sheet web of a spider was picked out by a light dew amongst the grass.
Today I saw a silent Song Thrush perched upon Elder in Saxon. I though I held a distant Tawny Owl, albeit briefly. Followed another mammal track I passed Dyers Greenweed which was yet to flower. The track halted where Old Man’s Beard carpeted ahead amongst a low scaffold of Blackthorn regrowth and grassland. A Hoverfly did as its named suggested before I found and all but hidden water trough. Holcombe’s path side Moss and Ivy wearing, shaded wall was further hidden by lush green vegetation. Ox Eye Meadow had a good show if its namesake flowers, whilst a silent Jay perched in the hedgerow. This did not stop a Skylark from ascending to hover and sign overhead.
Upon ground hugging Cotoneaster upon the quarr hollows, perched a Robin and Meadow Pipit separately. A solo Carrion Crow gave a noisy call before heading up the gully, latter to be seen with a partner. Upon the scrub edge in the upper gully, I saw another Jay, then it was a pair that flew off to the other side. Another pair, this time Pheasants, were seen near the Lighthouse. Upon the properties boundary wall perched a couple of Jackdaws. Throughout I heard the soothing sounds of Wood Pigeon. Another Pigeon performed a “switchback” manoeuvre up above the Horseshoe bridge. Below a Squirrel scampered from road up bridge parapet then beyond!
Unfortunately, I sent up a Greenfinch, Goldfinch from downland sward and passed over an exposed Gorse root which was sending out fresh needle growth. I wish all well whom a preparing for the Jubilee Celebrations.