Up in a cloudless sky a Waning Gibbous moon was clear to see. However, a haze obscured views of the Isle of Wight today.
Upon leaving the centre I briefly cleared up the picnic debris which had been extracted by Gulls or Corvids no doubt from an inappropriately loaded dog bin. A glorious day with plenty of Early Purple Orchid, Early Spider Orchid and Cowslips still in flower to enjoy. Whitethroats continued to be the most noticeably vocal birds at present whilst of course the Skylarks, Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches played their parts!
In the sun upon a fence panel of the wildlife area a Bloody-nosed Beetle paused during its climb. Dark flies with their dangling legs hovered near head height being St Mark’s Fly (they tend to emerge near the Saint’s day of April 25th), legs dangling, body hairy but completely harmless. At the Small Copse upon an Ash several Drone Flies trunk basked in the sun showing amber triangles on each folded wing. One Speckled Wood rested upon the generously sized leaves of Winter Heliotrope. Wall butterflies were inspecting the adjacent drystone wall. Crane- flies scattered as I disturbed them whilst walking through taller grass.
Finally I found a few purple Tufted Vetch flower amongst the many tendrils and leaves. Yellow Rattle leaves giving the promise of flowers yet to come. A thick mat of Burdock leaves had developed near the quarr despite being in the shade of Blackthorn. We will have to wait longer for the Burdock’s marble sized sticky burrs!
Herford Cattle we spotted on the limestone ridge in field 6 and check that the second heard were secure behind the electric fence in part of Saxon Field.
Calling whilst flying a Jackdaw was chasing off a Kestrel.
I saw my third Goldfinch of the morning as I peered into the wildlife area. Paddling in the pond margin was one Carrion Crow with a misplaced feather on its right wing.
Did I briefly glimpse a Swift or perhaps it was a Swallow? Certainly there were House Martins hawking over the meadow.