With temperatures already reaching 27.4 degrees this morning I was in for a rather sticky walk round the meadows. Heading out past the bird hide, where I’m greeted by Skylarks singing in the sky and Crickets clicking away in the verges. The soft stems and leaves of Fleabane line the edge of the path accompanied by Wild Carrot with there large white flower heads dropping down into the path. Bramble is smothered in pale pink flowers, buzzing with activity.
Through the gate into south field where the butterfly bonanza begins there’s Meadows browns and Skippers going in all directions. Field Bindweed creeps around the bottom of the tall grass the pale pink flowers like little jewels on the floor. More pale pink flowers from Rest Harrow also dot the meadow, while bright yellow Hawksbeard stand tall along with the grass, flowers heads twisted towards the sun.
Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Small and Large Skipper Butterfly’s are fluttering in all directions, low over the meadow out of the way of the breeze. Bright pink Pyramidal Orchids stand out against the green background in the meadows, tall Agrimony stems sway in the breeze. The fluff flower heads of Lady’s Bedstraw add a splash of white to the meadows colour pallet.
Having a rest just above the mile markers, more Skippers, Marbled White and Meadow Brown, flutter around a path of Birds-foot Trefoil. Heading into the bird hide to find some shade. Blue Tits flit in the branches of a Buddleia, while in a tree nearby a Greenfinch sits in the very top branches before other joins it and they fly off.