As I headed into the woods where a cuffuffle in the branches of the Holm Oak alerted me to two Grey Squirrels whizzing around.
Continuing along the activity trail I succeeded in crossing the balance steps and logs and checked the swings!
A few Painted Ladies and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth buzzed around the Hemp Agrimony and American Willowherb.
Across into the meadows and despite the brown appearance of the Crested Dog’s-tail, Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog, Rye and Quaking Grasses they still look wonderful. Tall swathes of the round seeds of Pale Flax most noticeable, while the purple flowers of both Greater and Black Knapweed provide more splashes of colour.
An occasional flower of Tufted Vetch rambling across the plants while the reddish pink of Red Bartsia lines the path edge in places.
The sound of a Blackcap tweeting on the bushes, drew binoculars to my eye to search, eventually spotted amongst the leaves of the Ash, along with Dunnock and Song Thrush.
A flock of Goldfinches flew overhead, and Skylarks hovered above the fields, bursts of sound coming from both of these species.
Lowering myself to the ground to look at some of the smaller downland plants, the white flower of Eyebright - with purple green and yellow stripes – noted first, along with a few Squinancywort (although now mostly dried as was the Wild Thyme).
However I was pleased to see the Bastard Toadflax, also known as Stars-in-the-grass because of the tiny white five petaled flowers. Clambering over the thick stems (for the size of the flower) the shiny blue Down Sheildbug, and on another plant one of their bright red nymphs.
A few Small Scabious plus the larger Field Scabious adding more colour to the morning, as did the brightly marked Clouded Yellow butterfly and the flashy blue Emperor Dragonfly.