A very quiet early morning (ruined only be the incessant whine of an alarm at the Castle – turned out to be a faulty detector). Once the buzzing was out of my ears the screeching call of a Peregrine Falcon took over, as this dark grey bird swooped just above my head, tore off westwards and then returned – always fascinating to watch.
The brilliant white wings and back of a Gannet spotted as it skimmed just above the grey sea, its black wing tips and pale lemon coloured head also showing well as it headed west.
As I walked, at least 10 Garden Snails were crossing the path, all from north to south – as I ponder why this might be the case, I was distracted by a Meadow Brown butterfly holding firm to the stem of a Hemp Agrimony, the dull pink flowers of which are still in bloom.
Off out to the downland to have a check on the cattle, where Stonechats were chatting and flicking their tails as they perched.
On the ground amongst the short turf a Wheatear stood, from behind it has delicate black stripes across the bottom of its back, as it took flight the wings opened and showed off the white rump, which on landing was again covered.
A few of the plants still providing splashes of colour, from the soft yellow flower heads of Lady’s Bedstraw, the purple of the Black Knapweed and the white of Wild Carrot, all flowering low to the ground.
Alongside these, the Stemless Thistle blooms, this lovely purple flower sitting on the prickly thistle leaves, gives it its other name of the ‘Picnic Thistle’ as it is so easy to sit on! Also to be seen the golden Carline Thistle and some sprigs of Burnet Saxifrage.
A few Swallows flying overhead, while in amongst the mass of Old Man’s Beard rambling aver the top of a Hawthorn tree was a Bullfinch, the male showing its brilliant pink chest
The hedgerows have more fruit than I have ever noticed before in August, with blackberries on the Brambles, sloes on the Blackthorn, berries on the Elder and apples on the Wild Apples – hopefully this bounty will help the animals which have suffered with lack of food such as Badger and Fox.