As I wandered slowly along the paths I was struck again by how much fruit is on the bushes and trees, with the Apple trees laden, mostly with small fruits, as it the Wild Pear, one of which I thought had had it, but fruit galore, hopping around the lichen covered branches a couple of Blue Tits. On the Cherry Plum, most unusually the plums have ripened, while the Blackthorns are dotted with dull purple sloes.
As I sat on a stone stile, wandering along the path ahead of me were 3 Dunnocks all searching their for breakfast, while in the Bramble above a Common Whitethroat was spotted. As I watched it landed on a prickly stem, and carefully removed from the Blackberry, one of its globules, then picked another and another – fascinating to watch.
Nearby, landing in amongst the riot of Wild Clematis was a Cirl Bunting, the chest marked with a bright reddish-brown bib, and the head streaked in yellow. Always exciting to see this newly arrived bird which bred this year for the second time.
Pinging through the grass a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, with a Roesel’s Bush-cricket nearby, both of these orthoptera have only been seen here in the last few years, signs of changing climate?
I also enjoyed the sight of the delicate bright green Oak Bush-cricket, with its very thin legs, a complete contrast to the large chunky Great Green Bush-cricket.
While scrambling in the grass, some stems of Tor Grass were being used by the Spiral Snail – Cochlicella acuta, with a Trapdoor Snail on the ground nearby – it is a tough time for snails without and moisture – it hasn’t really rained here for over two weeks and even then it was very little.
On another stem was a still intact papery cocoon of a 6-spot Burnet Moth.
A few butterflies to spot included Wall Brown, Meadow Brown and Common Blue, plus the Clouded Yellow (a bright golden yellow migrant from the continent).
As I return, overhead a few Swallows were flying by.