Yesterday, in the wider Purbeck countryside I saw my first Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars of the year. The black & yellow minibeasts munched most helpfully on Ragwort leaves, but never enough to reduce the need for our controlling said plant! Distinct and firm Blackberry fruits showed in an early red / brown state.
It was no surprise but still a pleasure to have Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns dance before on the paths through the meadows. Within the shelter of the east west drove a Red Admiral stopped to bask in full sun upon baked clay. This led me to investigate the pond in north eastern corner of Johnston Meadow. Keeping to the field edge and trying to follow a deer track I took deep stride through the waist high sward. I passed two Roe Deer Forms on my way, consisting of flattened grass where the mammal had rested.
First, I saw exposed pond liner and dry stones, however, there was a definite spongy, boggy remnant albeit having been invaded by Common Reed. Underneath the Reeds moved by the breeze there were the healthy saucer size leaves of a Water Lilly and those of Bogbean, it was only the white flowers of Marsh Bedstraw that showed. Bracken dominated former scrub margin. Returning into the Meadow a clump of bottle brush stems of Common Toadflax showed their delightful yet unusual flowers which possessed “spurs”. Between Oxeye and the Upper Gully, a fallen drystone wall section had been dismantled which revealed that the entire stretch was leaning and migrating towards the upper gully. I notice the pink flowers a downy leaf of Rosebay Willow Herb over a far sturdier wall!
Over eight acres a Kestrel spent a little tome hovering over the tall sward. Clearly this meadow provided excellent cover for the Small Mammals it was seeking as well as for those Skylarks still nesting upon the ground. It was another day of their summer song. Both a hidden Cock Pheasant and Cockerel added to the familiar sounds of Whitethroat. A pair of Magpies happily explored the Meadow ignoring the other activity.
Upon the wares a Rabbit chose to sit upon the cushion that was an Ant Hill giving it and improved view through the grassland. Easily overlooked is the dainty white flowers on Enchanters Nightshade which can be seen under woodland cover before the castle.