Amongst the light dew I pondered shed dog hair which might be repurposed as a bedding by a bird or mammal. I smiled at the elephant ears that were Burdock leaves, then a Goldfinch landed in an Ash. Plenty more Yellow (Hay) Rattle was flowering in South Field, weakening the grass cover due to its saprophytic behaviour. One such flower was visited by a Buff Tailed Bumble Bee.
Two Wrens were to be seen upon unusually high perches for these usual mouse mimicking birds. Today Cuckoo Spit was noted upon fresh Honeysuckle leaves. Rambling white flowered Wild Roses crept at ankle level out of the scrub edge. Solid ground level rosettes of Spear Thistle were noted before I tramped through a dense carpet of Old Mans Beard. Despite this cover a few Bluebells, still in flower were found. Dry Rabbit dropping, but no sight of the mammals themselves. More I found, having failed earlier in the month, beside a Saxon water trough. Goldfinches were again noted landing amongst Elder flowers. A tiny first instar Grasshopper had much growing, hopefully, to do.
Beside the drove a few Early Purple Orchids still bloomed under scrub shade. Fresh Wayfaring Tree seedlings sprouted from the earth. It was pleasing to see the tiny white cross flowers upon Cleavers (Goosegrass / Sticky Burrs). Johnston Meadow held more Ox Eye Daisies than the namesake meadow. In centenary meadow I saw for myself the delightful pink of Sainfoin. Off course the curly whirly twisting sounds of Skylark were heard, although never to be taken for granted. Fleabane leaves indicate orangey yellow flowers to come whilst such colours were already out upon Milk (Sow) Thistles. A Whitethroat made it scratchy vocals from near the coastal ridge. In the upper gully a male Great Tit called from dead Hawthorn branches whilst a Jackdaw “chuffed”. A trio of “meep, meeps” came not from a roadrunner but a Carrion Crow. A Jack Go Bed at Noon flowers was still closed.
In lighthouse field I lifted a slab of limestone only to disturb a colony of Red Meadow Ants underneath. A Chaffinch emerged from the Small Copse. It was a Robin that stared intently at the ground from one of the many scrub islands. Back by the office an Ash held many seed keys whilst the Sycamore still held flowers.