A walk along the meadow path, and I heard the calling of a Great-spotted Woodpecker from high up in the trees, after quite a bit of searching the black and white markings of this bird eventually found, as it pecker and probed at the tightly clenched cones of the Macrocarpa tree.
From behind me came the loud call of a Green Woodpecker, the yellow rump most obvious as it flew past, the flight path rising and falling as it yaffled.
A single Swift zoomed across the sky and a little later two Peregrine Falcons screeched after a Feral Pigeon – the outcome unknown as they all disappeared from view behind the woods.
An eruption of dark and chestnut brown fluttering Gatekeeper butterflies from along the hedgerow Bramble patch, belied the reason for the alternative name of this insect of Hedge Brown. As I watched, well over 80 fluttered and flitted along, masses also basking, looking similar to brown leaves of the Hedge Bindweed and Black Bryony they were on.
Rising up from the dry brown fields was a Skylark, as it hovered above, a young Song Thrush darted nearby drawing my attention elsewhere.
The meadows still contain lots of wildflowers including clumps of pale purple Marjoram, a scattering of Pale Flax and spikes of yellow Agrimony. Low to the ground the Bird’s-foot Trefoil, providing splashes of deep yellow as is Meadow Vetch alongside the paler round heads of Hop Trefoil. Although much of the Corky-fruited Water-dropwort has turned to corky fruits some flowers still remain in the fields alongside the other white umbels of Wild Carrot.
The bird ringers reported migrant movement from above, which included 8 Crossbills, 2 Garden Warblers and some Willow Warblers. Also on their list were Bullfinches, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus Great and Blue Tits. The highlight however was a young Treecreeper – proof that they bred here this year.
The moth trap last night encouraged 3 species of Hawkmoth to drop in – the pink and green Elephant, the black and pink striped Privet and the greyish Poplar – all of which can be seen at the Castle while we keep them safe for the day before releasing later.
Other species recorded were Buff Ermine and Buff Arches, Swallowtailed, 4 different Yellow Underwing – Large, Lesser, Broad-bordered and Lesser Broad-borded!