Last night saw a wonderful lightning storm, the flashes lighting the sky for a moment, while the thunder was not very loud, just a rumble, sadly very little rain came with the storm, just 1mm.
Out on the National Nature Reserve the flowers and butterflies are looking great at present, with the Adonis Blues fluttering and basking on the short turf of the downland, a turquoise gem amongst the green.
A Stonechat was perched on the Elder, the orange chest topped with a white band and black head – this a very smart male.
Nearby a Cirl Bunting (the striped face alerting me to its presence), have they bred again this year is the question?
Numerous Common Whitethroats, on the tops of many Blackthorns called loudly, the scratchy call on of the main sounds of the season.
Across the turf a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle wandered, an almost clockwork movement as it clambered over the stems.
The meadows are superb, a covering of Ox-eye Daisies gently swaying in the wind, while the blue Pale Flax shimmers as the wind gently blew through.
As I looked for Orchids, both Southern Marsh and Common Spotted seen in the fields, low to the ground Lesser Trefoil and Red Clover were flowering, while occasional spots of brilliant cerise pink Grass Vetchling spotted. This a single pea-like flower on the top of what looks like a grass stem.
A patch of flowering Crosswort – a green and yellow flower on a soft furry square stem.
A Small Elephant Hawkmoth on the Honeysuckle, almost well hidden from site, the green and pink colours well camouflaged but on this occasion the shape sticking out.
A large blue Dragonfly whizzed by, id not known at this point!