Underfoot the cracked earth, dried and brown grass was a little damper than of late, a sign of a bit of dew last night, making my feet wet first thing.
The deep croaking sound of a Raven made me look upwards to the blue sky, where 4 of these large black corvids were flapping over, the thick neck and long wings making them easily identifiable.
A Wall Brown butterfly captured my attention, a beautiful sight with the dark markings etched across the bright orange-brown wings.
Meadow Brown, Common Blues and Small Heath taking flight from the meadows, with a Painted Lady sunbathing on the bright yellow flower of Golden Samphire. No sign of any Clouded Yellows – two of which were reported yesterday.
A glimpse of turquoise on the short downland, and a very fine Adonis Blue shining. A Brown Argus also spotted, this is an all brown despite being part of the blue family!
However my highlight was seeing a Grayling, such a superbly camouflaged butterfly when at rest, and this one on a patch of dried cow dung!
Amongst the long grass of the meadow, a russet coloured head of a Roe Deer appeared, the shape of the ears and antlers easy to see against the blue backdrop. From nearby a loud crashing of Blackthorn undergrowth and a female Roe arrived into the field.
Scuttling across the warm path a tiny Lizard (probably Common), while the orange round body of 7-spot Ladybird was settled in the yellow flowers of Wild Parsnip.
A sudden screeching and a Sparrowhawk nipped along the edge of the copse, not much of a view!
In the Wildlife Area, our bird feeder was being used by a family of Greenfinches, as well as Great Tits and Blue Tits. While appropriately in the Willow alongside was a Willow Warbler, being so close providing really good views.
Last night a Badger rushed past, the nails tapping on the path as it lumbered, I had been watching the Pipistrelle Bats prior to that.