Despite some spectacular lightning storms last night, just a trace of rain in the rain gauge last night – all ‘sound and fury’, but very little water to soften the ground before another sweltering day!
At the top of Taskers Meadow it was a little like standing inside a snow globe full of butterflies, with many dozens of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns whirling around me as they feed on Bramble flowers. Still plenty of the beautiful red and black 6-Spot Burnet Moth on the wind, with their golden chrysalises to be found on many of the grass stems in the meadows. Red Admirals, Small and Lulworth Skippers and a Silver-Washed Fritillary also on the wing.
Last night’s moth trap was also a good one with 48 species recorded. Highlights included Beautiful Hook-tip, Brussels Lace, Four Spotted Footman, Ruby Tiger, Dusky Sallow and Peach Blossom (aren’t moth names great!).
Plenty of other insects around, including a gleaming Southern Hawker Dragonfly, a Bloody-nose Beetle, plodding over the hot tarmac near the Learning Centre and a deafening chorus from Meadow Grasshoppers in the sun-drenched meadows.
Skylarks carol high overhead, with an early Wheatear, perched on the old water tank in 8 Acres Meadow. Also on the wing, a Kestrel hanging in the air above the Lighthouse Field, Long-tailed Tits bustling along the Drove and a Buzzard spiralling up and up above the back meadows. Swallows swoop and swerve above the Learning Centre pond, with a few Swifts, hoovering up ‘aerial plankton’ high above.
A huge variety of plants to enjoy in the meadows, from the ‘golden suns’ of Rough Hawkbit, bright yellow spikes of Agrimony, golden ‘daisy’ flowers and silvery leaves of Fleabane, and rich purple Greater Knapweed.
On the shorter downland turf, Wild Thyme, Ladies and Hedge Bedstraw, Squinancywort, Bastard Toadflax, Eyebright and Birdsfoot Trefoil (known in Dorset as Grandmother’s Toenails – have a look at the long, curved seedpods to see why!).
Burnet Rose is covered in globe-shaped, ruddy hips, while Wayfaring Tree, Sloe and Bramble are also starting to fruit.