Yesterday, all 48 Hereford cattle were gathered into Fields 1 & 2 for TB testing. Today, all bales were seen to have been removed. Next week the cattle would begin their tour grazing the hay cut meadows. Dogs would need to under close control and all gates closed when this occurs.
To the west a Waning Gibbous Moon hung in the sky, as a rising sun dazzled from behind cloud to the east. Seed clocks of Bristly Ox Tongue joined Field Maple, Sycamore and Ash in trying to set seeds to the breeze. Many Swallows and Martins were over Skipworth, Large Copse, South Field and the coastal ridge. Dew was underfoot whilst some five Red Admirals were seen on the wing. Before the Copse on of the Burdock “elephant ear” leaves had been reduced to “lace” by insect larvae. Nearby Burdock burrs we on and upright stem and Agrimony held its smaller burrs in Saxon.
To me it was Turkey Tail brackets upon a path-side log. Nearby where two pure white Bracket Fungi I was unable to identify. The dry upright stems of Garlic Mustard still showed remains of its elongated conical seed pods. From the quarry the sound of a mechanical stone pecker reverberated above the Hirundinidae flying overhead. Yellow Goats Beard flowers showed in the uncut parts of Saxon along with what might have been a second flowering of Wild Parsnip. Field Sacbious flowers persisted and even Self Heal was spotted whilst Knapweed was visited by a Bumble Bee. Along a drove a Magpie duo chattered.
Upon the downland a scattering of Common Toadflax flowers still bloomed. Amongst the gully scrub, male Stonechat, Great Tit and Bullfinch were noted. Yellow Wort flowers had closed, whilst offshore a yellow pot fishing vessel raced back to Swanage for a break as a Shag sat upon the sea, still fishing.
Jackdaws mostly flew passed the Lighthouse, although on closer inspection two were seen upon the green. Another pair perched about an outbuilding window ledge. Brief and light spots of rain fell but amounted to nothing more. Tonight’s FoD meeting has our residents “Allsort’d” giving a presentation on the many activities and partnerships they are involved with.