From the Blackthorn bushes came the gorgeous sound of twittering, and there, Linnets were perched. The pink breast of these Linnets showing well in the morning sunlight, as they flittered to another twig the white edges to the tails noticeable – so wonderful to be able to watch and listen to this flock.
Goldfinches added to the soundscape, with their tinkling call, flashes of gold to be admired as they flew. Overhead the screech of a Swift made me look up to see 5 of these black scimitar shaped birds swooping across the sky.
In the background the constant chiff-chaff call of a Chiffchaff completed with the melodious song of a Skylark for airtime.
For late June the meadows are surprisingly golden, the lack of rain has speeded up the process, but the flowers are adding a range of colours from the deep purple of Greater Knapweed, the paler lilac of a scattering of Field Scabious and Pale Flax, and the white of Ox-Eye Daisy to the wide variety of yellows ; Bristley Ox-tongue, Hay Rattle, Ladies Bedstraw, Agrimony, Meadow Vetchling and Yellow Vetchling.
At ground level the carpet of Wild Thyme is joined by the fluffier Squinancywort and by the bigger round heads of Hop Trefoil.
Soaking up the sunshine of the yellow flowers of Rough Hawkbit was a iridescent beetle – the Thick-kneed Flower Beetle, Oedemera nobilis – a wonderful looking creature.
From amongst the Crested Dog’s Tail, Cocksfoot, Meadow Fescue and Yellow Oat Grass came the chirring sound of grasshoppers and bush-crickets. With a bit of searching the Dark Bush-cricket was spotted on the leaf of Burdock and a young Great Green Bush-cricket clambered on the grass stem, while a Field Grasshopper hopped away.