I passed a Magpie before entering the wildlife garden. On this occasion no small mammals had passed through my “footprint tubes”. Plenty of Ox Eye Daisy flowers stood proud beside the pond. In the water were some eight Smooth Newts and two Newt Nymphs resembling tiny fish at first glance. The carpet of algae had further spread reducing the clear open water. At the pond edge both a Black Cap and Dunnock visited, only the later took a drink. Whilst the Flag Iris flowers had gone over the large Water Lilly buds still had not opened. Amongst the white flowers there was still Lady’s Smock, Bramble and Elder. A Song Thrush broadcast out of sight whilst the House Sparrows (some of which are nesting in structures intended for House Martins) made regular visits from building to garden. A Speckled Wood basked and spread its wings in the sunlight of a ride. Climbing up above head height Bittersweet flowers drooped from an Elder.
Outside the garden Hawks Beard flowers opened to the sun. Upon the Common Wares inevitably a Whitethroat was heard and seen. It was a delight to at least here then finally see a Yellow Hammer above the quarr calling from scrub. A familiar Stonechat male made a welcome appearance.
Individual Jackdaws flew over the gully, whilst a Carrion Crow perch on the telegraph post top below. Was it a Raven or Carrion Crow that flew past, the call is my best indicator! Wild Thyme flowered near the measured mile markers. In places the exposed clay soil was baked hard and was dried with deep cracks.
Off the gully mouth some twenty-five Guillemot were amongst two rafts upon the sea a appeared to drift west. A Shag flew past heading east whilst several Herring Gulls flew and called off the Guillemot ledge.
Holm Oak at the small copse displayed pale fresh growth as a Gatekeeper passed over the meadow.