Swifts are aptly named they’re quick and agile
With small legs and hollow bones so fragile
The Car park provided my morning mystery bird, clearly a Finch by the marks on the wings, but without any distinctive colouring. I’m putting my money on a Juvenile Chaffinch.
Walking across South Field, patches of flowerless Common Vetch lined the pathways, with Red Clover and Ox Eye Daises scattered across the meadow. A solitary Gladiola had set up shop near the Small Copse, a garden escape no doubt. You can see more of them by the Lighthouse. I also stumbled across a large Field Mushroom, thriving in the newly moist soil.
Passing Small Copse a Swift whistled by my ear, performed a rapid U-turn and whizzed by me again, disappearing over a patch of scrub. Impressive.
Half of Saxon Field has received a short back and sides from our resident Hereford Cattle, their former grazing area clearly visible. In the remaining longer Tor Grass, the dappled yellows of Birds Foot Trefoil and Yellow Rattle keep the place colourful. Approaching the Gulley my ears picked up the sound of a displaying Skylark, evidently the wind has dropped enough for them to resume their flamboyant performances.
Cresting up on to the Downland, the patchwork of flowers was now dominated by Horseshoe Vetch, with blue mats of Chalk Milkwort also in abundance and the odd Wild Carrot thrown into the mix. A small group of Great Tits chattered to each other as they flitted between bushes. Their plumage was rather dull and their chirrups sounded odd, so I’m guessing they’re also juveniles from this year’s crop of eggs.
I had an orchid hunt on Lighthouse Field and discovered two Pyramidal Orchids. A nice find, but they weren’t the orchids I was looking for. Beside the lighthouse a Rock Pipit hopped along the ground, attempting to take wing against the strong wind. Plucky little thing.