Weather: Sunny, warm, light wind
Taskers Meadow is a hive of activity this morning. Among the sighing grass heads of Tall Fescue, Cocksfoot, and Yorkshire Fog, are fiery Red Sorrel mix with lemony Cats Ear. I watch the Marbled White and Speckled Wood butterflies flutter from Red Clover to Wild Carrot, Ribwort Plantain to Pale Flax seeming barely to land before darting off again. Everywhere there are the bright wings of Six-spotted Burnet moths; they appear to be mating on every available plant.
In the Sycamore and hedgerow Chaffinch and Blue Tits call. A raven soars over Little Copse, calling out, and a Blackbird pair chase one another across the path. Around me bees drone and grasshoppers hum, heard but never seen. Hovering over a Field Bindweed, a Hoverfly looks almost suspended in air, its wings move so quick.
Centenary meadow is quiet, no Skylarks, just the distance cawing of Crows. The fuzzy heads of Field Barley and Wall Barley grow near to each other, distinguished by their single versus double layers of seeds. Knotweed, sister plant to the Scottish Thistle, throw spots of rich purple across the field and tall Ox-eye Daisies swivel their heads amidst the grasses. Golden Kidney Vetch and Horseshoe Vetch sway beside the path contrasting nicely with the sweet purple of Pyramidal Orchids.
Along Lighthouse Field a Seven-spot Ladybird rests on a Woolly Thistles flower which looks nearly ready to open. I can’t wait to see it when it does. A Bloody-nosed Beetle crawls amongst the Salad Burnet, male I think, by the small size of his bottom. Looking out to sea, the water is a clear and dazzling blue; the horizon looking distant in the haze. A single sailboat moves swiftly in the wind.
As I pass Large Copse, a young Carrion Crow sends forth a croaky call. At me, or its mother, I’m not entirely certain.
Diary written by Rosaline McGraffin