Wandering towards the Large Copse butterflies were flitting, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites over the flowers, the bright brown of the Small Skippers buzzing as well, while along the hedge the two-tone brown of a Gatekeeper spotted, and standing on the large leaf of Black Bryony was a dark brown Ringlet, as it closed its wings the creamy rings on the underside could be seen.
A group of 3 Painted Ladies circling around each other going upwards as they did, drew my attention to the tree and the Long-tailed Tits which were teasing morsels of food from under the rough bark of the Macrocarpa and from the patches of Lichen growing on it, fascinating to watch as the pink and black birds hung and balanced while finding food.
Stopping to check no further drips from the connection on the water pipe (adjusted yesterday), the tall yellow flowers of Agrimony covering the meadow along with the deep purple of Greater Knapweed.
Onto the short turf area to look at a patch of Bastard Toadflax, which is also called Stars-in-the-grass, due to the delicate 5 petals. On close inspection of this tiny plant I was delighted to spot, the bright red nymphs of the Down Shieldbug which feed on this plant. Looking again, a slow movement allowed me to see the dark blue body with white ‘V’s of the adult Down Shieldbug.
Other flowers to see in this area were Eyebright, with its purple and yellow lines along the petals, Squinancywort (slightly pinkish tinge), huge patches of Wild Thyme, some smothering the tops of the large Meadow Ant hills.
As I continued across the meadows, the sound of Meadow Grasshoppers was all around, a wonderful chirring, formed as they rub their hind leg against their wings!
Overhead a Raven was croaking and the scratchy calls of a Common Whitethroat were coming from the Wild Madder covered Blackthorn it perched on.