Hot. That’s how I’d describe the weather at 8 o’clock this morning. Butterflies were already out in full force – Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, and Marbled Whites appearing at every corner of the park.
Around from the Learning Centre, one of George Burt’s iron bollards has quite literally become a hive of activity. A continuous stream of Honeybees pass in and out of a small bolt hole, some returning with their pollen baskets full, and others departing to go and collect more, whilst inadvertently pollinating thousands of flowers across the meadows.
As I’m watching the bees, I notice a caterpillar (later identified as that of a Dark Dagger Moth) crawling its way to the top of a nearby fence post. It’s striped colouration of white, orange, and black undulating in a wave like motion as it feels its way around with upright hairs nearly as long its entire body!
Speaking of moths, yesterday we counted 220 moths inside a moth trap at the Shed across 39 different species. These numbers included 75 Common Footman, 20 Four Spotted Footman and 2 Black Arches – specially mentioned just because they are just so pretty!
I head out towards South Field, hearing a Green Woodpecker crossing between the copses before I turn towards the gate. An Emperor Dragonfly whizzes past me, as I watch a family of fresh feathered Blue Tits and their parents hop cautiously around the Ash Tree; possibly finding their wings for the first time!
Whilst I’m walking around, I notice the time on my phone reads 0930 – I swear I’ve only been out for half an hour?! Suddenly it switches back to 0830 and I realise I must have stepped into France for a second!
The meadow is seasoned brown as many plants have gone to seed. However a beautiful array of purple Knapweed, pink Common Restharrow, yellow Wild Parsnips, and a mass covering of white Wild Carrot can be seen amongst the dry grasses.The cheery chirping of a charm of Goldfinches grows gradually more intense as I approach a patch of scrub ahead of me. One by one they all flit away into the sky.