Despite yesterdays brief shower, it did not measure on our rain gauge. This morning’s breeze and cloud was welcomed. Despite the breeze upon the wing were Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers in relatively equal numbers. I few Micro Moths were briefly seen.
I made for the meadows knowing that in the coming weeks they should be cut. Ground hugging leaves of Plantains created a rough mat both sides of the field gate. The wind brushed through the sward and I believed it may have rattle Pale Fax seeds in their pods. One Six Spot Burnet Moth cocoon was seen on a grass stem.
I enjoyed the pink blooms of Rest Harrow, yellow of Horseshoe Vetch, Ragwort, Bristly Ox Tongue and the more orange Fleabane. Miniature Quaking Oat Grass head seemed much smaller this year…
In Saxon a Woolly Thistle showed blooms and seeds to come whilst a healthy-looking Spear Thistle showed neither. Today’s fruits included Honeysuckle, Rosehip, Elder, Sloes, Haws and Blackberries of course! A healthy Pin Cushions Gall hosted Gall Wasp grubs upon a Wild Rose. Old Man’s Beard cloaked the hedgerows near the dove and held blooms. Elsewhere, the sheen from its elongated seed hosting sails were seen. Gooseberry sized seed burrs were upon Burdock beside the drove awaiting passing mammals to become transporters. Wild Bay Willowherb pink flowers were beside a hedge. Standing upon a stone stile I only just made out there being one Roe Deer amongst the tall meadow sward of field one.
Field Scabious appeared with occasional flowers as did the delicate yellow of Lady’s Bedstraw. Holding a winged insect in its beak was a Song Thrush as it paused upon a Hawthorn. Pink and yellow blooms of Honeysuckle peered above a wall. I delighted in getting to see some of this year’s Dyers Greenweed although none of its yellow flowers remained. Hereford Cattle grazed the upper gully, luckily the positioning of an electric fence was such that I could still clamber over a stone stile into the slop on Lighthouse Field. Trilling Wrens were heard and a trio of Carrion Crows upon Lighthouse Green.