I leave the car as the rain comes beating down, much needed I thought, we have only had about 18mm of rain this month so far – a fraction of what we would expect for the month of July, and not looking like it will rain much the rest of the month! As I put my shoes on, getting a tad wet, a Goldfinch is singing away above me. I walk on to Field 34, here a Blue Tit and Robin are spotted, and a Crow heard in the distance.
In South Field, a few Meadow Brown butterflies are spotted as the rain stops, a Bumblebee species is seen on Red Bartsia, other plants spotted are the Rough Hawksbit, Agrimony, Wild Carrot, Birds-foot Trefoil, Bristly Ox-tongue, Brown Knapweed, the odd Wild Parsnip, Ragwort, a Gatekeeper butterfly is also spotted. Towards the end of Saxon, I notice a Rabbit running towards scrub laid back in the winter.
Through the gate and into the scrubbier patches of Saxon Field, Wild Parsnip and Ragwort is more frequent, whilst Woolly Thistle, Greater Knapweed, Field Scabious, Lady’s Bedstraw are also present. A Skylark is still heard nearby singing away, and a Wren chips in too with Goldfinches above me, what I believe to be the sound of a Redstart is calling away, with calls also from a Wood Pigeon, and Jackdaws.
I walk through Ox-eye where the sun starts to break out and the Grasshopper/Bush-crickets start to sound lounder, passing the Restharrow and many Meadow Browns spotted here. I pass through Field 10 with further sounds of a Wren, Robins, Wood Pigeons, as well as a Dunnock and Herring Gulls, with plenty of Meadow Browns fluttering around.
I get into Lighthouse field, I look west noticing a possible Peregrine Falcon, but this disappeared. I get to the Lighthouse and go round it down to the gully and blowhole, whilst doing so a Roe Buck comes running past me so close to the cliffs! As I walk up towards the Clifftop Trail, I hear a Stonechat, spot a Shag, and then see 2x Peregrine Falcons one scratching away.
Have a great weekend!