Today's weather: Cloud with sun peaking through, strong breeze
Despite the breeze and cloud it has been a good insect morning. In terms of butterflies there were seventeen Marbled Whites, two Ringlets (dark wings with a whitish fringe) a number of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers. Plenty of Skippers were on the wing which, I was unfortunately not able to distinguish and suitably a Speckled Wood beneath a Sycamore. Speckled Bush Cricket and a Buff Arches, Reddish Light Arches were caught in Katie’s moth trap.
With all these insects to feed upon some eight House Martins were counted upon the wing. Over the weekend I had observed a trio of Green Woodpeckers with at least one appearing to be a juvenile. Today I saw two juveniles sat upon the parapet of Lighthouse Road Bridge. Their size and shaped suggested Woodpecker but their patterns and colours appeared wrong. It was not until their vivid green rump flash was seen in flight followed by their distinctive call, that I could be certain of their identity.
It was great to see the impact of the cattle grazing in 10A. It means the landforms such as Purbeck Quarrs and Ant Hills are clearly defined. Meanwhile the cattle are keeping on top of the Tor Grass but avoiding the Stinking Iris, Bramble and Scrub.
Fortunately this tight grazed grass is good for insect basking (Marbled white and Meadow Brown noted) and flowers such as Wild Thyme and Birds foot Trefoil remain on the slopes. In comparison over the drystone wall stile into the Wares I had vegetation up to the knee and even face! This longer vegetation was hiding Grasshoppers and Bush crickets striating. I caught a female Short Winged Cone head, with its ovipositor (egg laying spike on abdomen) enabling to sex it.
There were large, sizes of Frisbees, Field Mushrooms in Saxon which have been nibble by a host of wildlife. Both Blackthorn and Hawthorn are laden with firm unripe fruits.