As I headed out to the downland, the sky was grey and overcast, but from it came the wonderful fluid song of a Skylark. After a long search I eventually spotted the Skylark, a tiny dot wavering below the clouds.
The tall stems of Wild Clary topped with a purple flower head, alongside the pale green heads of the Wall Barley, one of the many grasses identified including Crested Dog’s Tail, False Oat Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Timothy and Quaking Grass, all such different shapes as the ‘flowers’ open up.
Sliding across the short turf an Arion Ater, a huge black slug (over 4” long), with a large blob of goo on its rear end! The damper weather better for molluscs as Brown-lipped Snail, Wall Snail and Garden Snail all sliming across the ground.
A flash of white caught my attention as a female Bullfinch flew above me, followed by the bright pink chested male, both sporting their white rump.
Towards the Quarr, another flash of white - this time on a body, allowed me to watch a Stonechat and along side it at least two youngsters, more fluffy and less marked, but still making a ‘chat’ call.
Landing in the Blackthorn bush just behind was a Cirl Bunting, the greeny yellow head fairly noticeable as it perched, hopefully they have produced young again this year.
A wonderful selection of wildflowers along my wander, including Yellow Vetchling, Stinking Iris, Wild Carrot, Salad Burnet and Black Horehound. Showing what a wide variety of shapes, colours and sizes exist.
Out in the furthest fields the Hereford Cattle herd are grazing, this group of mothers and new calves working hard to help keep the downland in good condition, with mostly short grasses, flowers and bare patches of earth providing great habitat for a huge number of insects.
A stroll late yesterday evening saw Bats swooping around, 20 counted as they flitted about, mostly looking like Pipistrelles.