Perched on the buddleia outside window is a stunning Red Admiral butterfly, the red and white wing markings flashing in the sunshine, on the same bush a Painted Lady also basks as does a Small Tortoiseshell, wings flapping as it feeds on the deep purple flowers each with a spot of orange at their centre.
Out on the park this morning another few species spotted included Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper in the fields and on the hedges, and on the downs a Common Blue and a Marbled White.
Floating across the field was a Green Woodpecker, the dull green rump easily spotted. Overhead a flock of Goldfinches twittering loudly, their gold wing flashes flashing as they land on the tops of the Hawthorn.
The black and white flitting of Swallows across the gully caught the eye as they moved while the sound of a Bullfinch ‘squeaking’ from the midst of the sloes covered Blackthorn.
In the Wild Clematis a tiny Willow Warbler moved, the greeny-yellow and eye stripe the identifying features, while a Chiffchaff perched for a moment alongside allowing for a quick comparison.
The highlight today though was the sight of my first Wheatear of the summer, this stunning sandy coloured bird was perched on the top of the electric fence post on the downland, moving along the line with flash of its white rump. A second Wheatear stood erect on the dry-stone wall between the two fields.
A quick stop to check and chat to the Hereford Cattle which were munching happily on the Tor Grass on the slopes of the wares.
Crawling across the ground was a Peacock butterfly caterpillar, the black spiny insect lumbering as it moved.
Loads of flowers still in bloom including a mass of Red Bartsia lining many of the meadow side paths, this dull red, purple flower looks a little like a piece of furry Heather, but is no relation. Along Lighthouse Road the splashes of bright orange is Montbretia and the two-tone yellow by the quarr is Common Toadflax.