A Painted Lady gently flaps its wings as it perches on the purple flowers of the 5” long Buddleia flowerhead. The top section checked with white, while the lower is marked in orange.
Meadow Browns emerged from the long grass as I walked along, as did a few lilac coloured Common Blues. The Small Heath and a Dingy Skipper added to the list, the highlight of which was a brilliant turquoise shimmering Adonis Blue, which was basking on the limestone. In addition to these butterflies, a flash of red spotted as a Jersey Tiger moth landed on the very faded pink flowers of Hemp Agrimony. On landing, the red underwings disappear and the distinctive black and white triangular shape of the Jersey Tiger takes over.
Overhead a number of Swallows followed by a group of Sand Martins, for me always a wonderful sight.
A sudden screeching call took the airspace as a Peregrine Falcon flew along, just above the cliff top, the crying continuing once it has landed on an outcrop. A second Peregrine Falcon was perched on a rock ledge gazing seaward – seemingly oblivious to the others antics.
On the feathery Tamarisk, flitting in amongst the small pink flowers, was a Willow Warbler, showing off its yellowy-green plumage.
A little further along, a small group of Long-tailed Tits dangled in the thin branches, a constant chattering taking place within this flock.
Returning up the hill the grey body of a Blackcap nipped ahead of me, landing on one of the long ropes of Black Bryony, the berries of which are turning a bright juicy red.
At my feet a Dark Bush-cricket sprung upwards to land on the lower leaf of Wild Madder (this plant has hooks all along the leaves and square stem).
The ground is cracking more and more and looking very brown as the lack of rain and heat continues.