I make no apology for dwelling on flowers, enjoy our meadows before the hay cut! Firm red / brown & bristly fruits were beside a few of the remaining Blackberry flowers. Water droplets decorated leaves as the wind rustled Sycamore and Field Maple leaves and masts. Agrimony, Red Bartsia, Wild Parsnip and Bristly Ox Tongue bloomed, however, Skippers stayed near the Bramble.
Entering Skipworth a Roe Deer was seen. In tall sward in vanished when it bent down its neck to graze. Pale Flax displayed mostly “Petit Pois” seed pods as well as the occasional flower. At ground level there was Self Heal and Hops Vetch with Greater Knapweed, Bristly Ox Tongue and Quaking Oat Grass standing taller. Swallows were heard before a tent was seen, only that of a Spider nursery! Entering Smithfield, purple “dusted” Sloes were observed. Tufted Vetch, Bulbous Buttercup and unfortunately the garden escaped exotic Mont Breccia flowered. A Field Mushroom, 20cm square, had been nibble by insects.
Before entering Taskers, small white flowers of Garlic Mustard persisted in shelter and shade. Field Bindweed flowers added colour whilst a few Yellow Rattle flowers were found, mid meadow as the sound of Sheep came from beyond. A Meadow Brown tried to land and bask on the path, but the breeze decided otherwise. Rest Harrow and a very stunted Ox Eye Daisy marked the path edge.
Entering Saxon, I was welcomed by the orange of Fleabane flowers. Through binoculars scanning Jack Basis Meadow, Goldfinches passed through the field of view. One of two verbally sparring male Stonechats were seen. Red Fescue and small amounts of Lady Bedstraw were upon an Ant Hill that hard “aero-like” soil exposed. Woolly Thistle had a few flower heads larger than golf balls. I was joined in Ox Eye by two arriving Park Runners. It was then that I discovered a Jelly Fish, however, only one crafted by a runner! A few of the Hereford Cattle, due to their white parts, were just visible upon the coastal ridge. Human footprints dominated the patches of damp, exposed clay. Perched upon a gate by Small Copse was a Jay.