Even after last night’s heavy rain and more spectacular lightning storms, it still feels rather humid this morning, with just the gentlest breath of wind to stir the air.
The grey skies overhead are more than made up for by the riot of colour in the meadows, which are looking stunning at the moment.
In some fields, great swathes of tall pink Sainfoin form dense drifts, while the first of the Ox-eye Daisies bob gently, surrounded by the slender stems of Pale Flax and here and there, the elegant white flowers of the in-elegantly named Corky-fruited Water Dropwort (a more delicate member of the Cow Parsley family).
The bright yellow ‘dandelion’ flowers of Rough Hawkbit sit alongside Meadow Buttercup and Yellow Rattle, while Common Vetch tangles around their stems.
Some wonderful displays of Common Spotted Orchid to be found, with a single ‘swarm’ in South Field numbering well over a hundred! My first Bee Orchids of the year in bloom nearby, growing next to the remains of an Early Spider Orchid – a close relative, now gone to seed.
Here and there, patches of lime-yellow Crosswort form close stands, with the unusual peach flowers of Common Broomrape (a parasite of grasses) also in bloom.
On the downs, Wild Thyme, Early English Gentian, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Milkwort, Horseshoe Vetch and Salad Burnet form a colourful and varied carpet.
Skylarks are in good voice above the meadows, with the scratchy song of Whitethroats, the monotonous calls of Chiffchaffs, the wheezing of Great Tits, ‘tapping’ of Stonechats, excited chatter of Long-tailed Tits and keening of a Peregrine also heard.
Guillemots hurry in and out below the Coast Path, along with Razorbills, Fulmars, Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Sandwich Terns and Shags, while along the clifftop, Thrift, Kidney Vetch and Sea Campion are all in flower.