A quite glorious morning, bright warm sunshine making the butterflies jink backwards and forward, a good species list for the meadows and hedgerow accumulated during my patrol including – Gatekeepers galore flitting across the Brambles, and scattering of Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites in the fields. The stunning Red Admiral basked on the leaves of the Ivy as a Painted Lady and a Peacock flew nearby.
The more specialised Lulworth Skipper are to be found around the Tor Grass nearer the cliffs the small dull brown butterfly easy to spot.
A sudden burst of noise as a Green Woodpecker took flight from the grassy path ahead of me, followed by the chuckling of a family of Magpies.
These sounds for a moment overtook the wheezing sound of Grasshoppers – both Field and Meadow singing loudly from amongst the flowers and grasses.
High above me Swallows were swooping about, a delightful sight to watch, interrupted by the appearance of a Kestrel.
At my feet one small patch of meadow included Red Clover, Red Bartsia, Wild Carrot, Rough Hawkbit, Hop Trefoil, Black Medic, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Agrimony, Tufted Vetch and Autumn Hawkbit all in flower providing a mass of reds, pinks, white, yellows and purples.
From the below the scrubby hedge the pale pink clump of nettle type flower poked through, this small patch of Betony showing well.
Along the hedgerow insects everywhere – flies, bees especially noticeable – it is at this time of year I make the effort to learn more of these more difficult species – and fail! However Honey Bees and Buff Tailed Bumble Bees both on the Blackberry flowers, a picture winged fly on the Dogwood leaves and 2 very different species of Hoverfly on the Bay.
Also on the Dogwood was a most strange looking creature – about 5mm long and bristly around the outside and shiny black on the top! Yet to be identified…..
Last night a superb view of a Tawny Owl as it flew past me, its face looking so flat and disc like as it passed in complete silence.