Up above the waning gibbous the Skylark makes its foray
I stare up at the sky
And this scene hits my eye
It’s true what they say. That’s Amore
This morning my first wildlife sighting was a House Sparrow ferociously attacking its own reflection in a car’s wing mirror. I considered intervening but decided against it. The fight looked like a stalemate anyway. Elsewhere, Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches went about their business without resorting to violence.
Dog Roses poked their flowers out of the hedgerows as I set out. Our resident Honey Bees were buzzing away happily in their pillar. I wonder if they’ll be able to make some Durlston honey to sell? We’d need a blowtorch to get at it though.
South Field’s boundaries were laced with Honeysuckle plants, appropriate enough. I entered Large Copse past a very pleasant patch of Pale Flax, the soft blue white colouring a pleasant change from the more vivid yellows and pinks of the rest of the meadow. Three Meadow Brown butterflies fluttered past, the first of many. I’d counted 19 by the end of my patrol.
The entrance to Saxon Field was dominated by a huge mat of Birds Foot Trefoil with a few tentative Pyramidal Orchids popping in to strut their stuff. Up above a hauntingly beautiful waning gibbous moon hung suspended in the sky. A Blackbird whistled tunefully from its perch in a Blackthorn bush. A strange mix of pieces that came together to form a very attractive scene.
As I continued on I made further butterfly sightings, with Small Skippers, Speckled Woods, Adonis Blues and Orange Tips all making an appearance.
The Highlight of my morning was in Johnson Meadow, where I was treated to a particularly splendid Skylark display. The bird began to rise just as I arrived, and I followed its ascent up over the moon into the sky, its song peeling out over the countryside. When it reached its apex it ceased flapping, and managed to hold position by riding the morning breeze. It maintained this stationary glide for around 20 seconds, before slowly beginning to descent. I was over the moon as well.