Friday afternoon I was lucky enough to observe a Woodmouse meandering through the nettles beneath the canopy of the Large Copse
Peering over the fence into the wildlife garden I spotted a Bullfinch before it disappeared into a Buddleia bush. It was shortly followed by a Blackbird whom met a met therein. Meanwhile the bird box at the centre has become increasing obscured by another Buddleias growth. The young hungry Great Tit chicks called from within and the parents continued with their feeding runs. An Elder bush showed full bloom, whilst Yellow Vetchling had petals showing of flowers yet to open. Of course, this plant is most memorable for its stem hugging upward pointing leaves.
Beside Lighthouse Road two white orchid flowers were yet to open. However, the white flowers of Wild Onion appeared from a “ditch” between meadows ad gully. A Swallow completed a small South Field – Small Copse circuit before heading east with another.
A Green Woodpecker flew up the gully and disappeared into a blooming Hawthorn on the field boundary. Whilst trying to spot the Song Thrush that sang from the Upper Gully scrub I managed to see a Black Cap. It was another good day for Stonechats. One male managed to call and retain the insect in its beak. At one point perched in a triangular formation was a male Blackbird, Stonechat and a Dunnock upon a ridge Bramble bush. Upon the wares a Chaffinch and Goldfinch briefly shared the same scrub clump.For a change a high-flying Cormorant headed west at coast path height.
With the somewhat overcast conditions I was lucky to see any butterflies. Upon the coastal ridge an Adonis Blue male sat with wings spread catch the suns rays where it peeped above the cloud. The butterfly was surrounded by Horseshoe Vetch flowers which were still put the taller grass stems were tickled into movement by the breeze. In contrast a pair of Speckled Wood butterflies flew in a dizzying mating circle and were seen in a sunny shelter spot beside near the Upper Gully footbridge.
In field ten the electric fence line created a grazed / un-grazed boundary. At least twenty-four Hereford Cattle sat and ruminated. This did not suggest rain but meant they were passing part digested vegetation from one gut to another. Cattle having for stomach chambers!