An early start to my Sunday patrol, took me around the gorgeous meadows, where the Common Spotted Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids are showing wonderfully. The triangular shaped dark pink flowers of the Pyramidal contrasting with the paler and more even tubes of the Common Spotteds.
As I enjoyed the sight, more flowers noticed including the white multi-flowered head and stiff ribbed stalk of Corky-fruited Water-dropwort – what a great name!
Also the round yellow balls of Hop Trefoil alongside the Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Lesser Trefoil. Large patches of Ox-eye Daisies accompany the pink Sainfoin and Wild Carrot.
Sadly the blanket of Pale Flax is now just a scattering, most of them now turned to a mass of round seeds heads.
Flitting along the paths and through the grasses Meadow Brown butterflies, who seem to the be early risers, as both Small Heath and Small Blue were only spotted later on my walk!
As I sat on a stone stile enjoying the performance of the Skylarks overhead, a male Roe Deer was visible amongst the tall grasses, just his tan neck and head topped with a pair of antlers to be seen.
Closer by a blue bottomed fly landed on the leaf of the Ivy and another larger blue bottomed fly on the Rough Chervil where a bright green beetle was already takin advantage of the nectar.
Although Pheasants are not a native bird, the male perched on the dry-stone wall was spectacular, the sun reflecting copper and blue off its chest and head.
At the bottom of the Johnston Meadow the yellow spikes and dark leaves of Dyer’s Greenweed are showing well, while a group of Goldfinches distracted me with their antics.
The pale pink flowers of Dog Rose rambling across the hedges, a couple have the tell-tale signs of a Gall Wasp having laid its egg in the plant, in the red hairy ball of a Robin’s Pin Cushion – a fascinating lifestyle!
As a Rabbit bounded into the Bramble scrub a Lesser Whitethroat emerged from the top, while I also had the delight of watching Common Whitethroats, Chaffinches and Chiffchaffs as they busied themselves feeding their chicks.