Another warm dry sunny day, with Dorset officially in a drought now, the effects are very present across the meadows as I head out this morning. Grass that is usually waste hight is barley scratching an ankle, the paths once a lush green now a dusty dirt track through the field, with cracks appearing everywhere as the ground continues to bake.
Even with the lack of water Fleabane hugs the edge of the path in 34 with tall Wild Parsnip flopping over and into the path. Blackthorn bushes are covered in sloe berries now starting to turn purple, though they are not as plump as they could be.
South field in awash with Greater Knapweed in, the dark purple flowers standing out against the dull dried out grass. Though even these aren’t as tall as they usually are only just poking out above the grass. Wild Carrot fills in the gaps the knapweed leaves, there large white flower heads starting to go to seed, curling tightly in on themselves. Rest Harrow forms clumps along the edges of the path the pale pink flowers poking out of the strikingly green foliage compared to all surrounding grass.
Through to field six to see the Hereford Cattle, two emerge from some scrub soon followed by three calves zooming out and hopping around and playing with each other. Over head the light twittering of Meadow Pipits passes over head as they bounce there way across the field.
Back along the top of the lighthouse field where Gatekeeper Butterflies flutter across the top of the grass and path in all directions, orange patches on there inside wings, almost looking like eyes making them identifiable. Passing a Sycamore where the twinkling sound of Goldfinch can be heard coming from its branches. Towards the end of the field several Chiffchaff can be seen hoping amongst the branches of a patch of scrub coming in and out of twisting branches as they search for this morning’s breakfast.