The sound of birdsong coming from the Wildlife Area where the bird ringers are at work, adding to the worldwide data set on migration and bird movements (yesterday they recorded Cirl Bunting and had a Nightjar overhead).
Otherwise the park was quiet as I took to the meadows to continue my monitoring. Walking through the fields clouds of butterflies erupted from the grasses. A flash of blue and a Common Blue rose then landed on the Marjoram flowers, the lilac blue looking lovely against the deep pink.
The slightly grey colouration of the underwing of the Small Heath contrasting with the tan coloured top as these fly and bask.
Meadow Browns galore, the variety of colours and sizes surprising as they range from velvety brown to pale tan. To add to the interest (or confusion) a scattering of Gatekeepers provided more brown butterflies to the mix!
In amongst a patch of long grasses including Crested Dog’s Tail, Timothy, Yorkshire Fog, Cocksfoot. Sweet Vernal Grass, Quaking Grass and Yellow Oat Grass, was a carpet of small pink and white flowers of Restharrow.
As I admired these, a sudden explosion from next to my foot and a young Pheasant chick took flight, followed by another and then its mother, all with a sudden loud noise and dramatic flapping. They were so well camouflaged in amongst the mostly brown grasses that they were not visible, even when I was looking at them!
From the Hawthorn came a wheeze, which on investigation turned out to be a Greenfinch, nearby the yellow feathers of a group of Goldfinches were catching the sun’s rays.
In amongst the ropes of Wild Clematis a Lesser Whitethroat could be seen as were Common Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff. A Garden Warbler perched on the branch of the Buddleia while a Sedge Warbler showed form the Brambles.
A good display of flowers in the meadows still with Wild Carrot and Greater Knapweed the most common, but Field Scabious, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Agrimony, Sainfoin, Kidney Vetch and Common Toadflax are all to be found.
A disappointing moth trap, with a female Oak Eggar the highlight, Smoky Wainscot and Setaceous Hebrew Character other species.