Out of the Learning Centre and the Ravens are calling, cronking back and forth to each other, communicating some kind of breakfast plot. Walking across Boys Brigade and I stop to smell some fresh Elderflowers. Every year I like to make Elderflower cordial and I look forward to my next day off to go foraging along my local trailway. One thing to remember, the Elderflowers taste better if picked on a sunny day. Now who would of known!!!
Skirting along the edge of Taskers and the Common Spotted Orchids are out in abundance, their attractive pinky tones standing out in a field of multicolour. But the Bee Orchid that Harry told me about earlier that could be found in this field eluded me! As I walk along the Drove a frantic constant twinkle like song came the flowering Hawthorn. I stopped and stared, but couldn’t see anything. Then something flitted past. I managed to see the white eye stripe and realised it was a Firecrest, one of the UK’s smallest birds. There were many but the one I spotted was carrying nest material in its bill. Then a Carrion Crow gave out an alarm call and the Firecrest shot off into the thick cover. Nearby there was a Willow Warbler calling from a branch, a Whitethroat on an adjacent hedge by a stile, a Chiffchaff, calling out its name, floated over from another field and on top of a Sycamore Tree was a Mistle Thrush, otherwise known as a Storm Cock, as they like to call from vantage points and work through their broad song range prior to a downpour. Moving into Centaury Meadow and there is Pale Flax, Ox Eye, Black Mustard, Cowlsip, Sainfoin (what an amazing name that is!), Wild Carrot and along the drystone wall edge their were Teasels. Also I managed to spot a Small Blue butterfly, about the size of a 5p. Other butterflies seen today were Small Heath, Speckled Wood and also a few Common Blues, the one I studied was rubbing its hind wings together in a slow methodical way. Back across the Downs and a Lesser Whitethroat was calling from the hedge line, Chalk Milkwort weaved through the grass and Yellow Rattle stood proud alongside the reddish buds of Saffron. And just before I got back I had a fantastic treat, 2 plump, beautifully sheened Bullfinch, their black heads glistening. Such a stunning bird but maybe not as stunning as the Blue Budgerigar that’s been seen in the Gully for the past few days. We will post a picture of that onto our Facebook later!