An early wander around provided the sound of some Goldfinches tinkling as they flew from the dead seed heads of Creeping Thistle onto those of going over Bristly Ox-tongue. The sun reflecting off the wings bars to give a bright yellow splash, their white and red marking less obvious.
Deeper in the meadows a Skylark was hovering just above the wonderful array of Greater Knapweed flowers, a swathe of purple colour. In between these flowers are the deep yellows and orange of Bird’s-foot Trefoil, dull pinks of Red Bartsia and although at their best earlier in the season still some of the delicate pale blue of Pale Flax and patches of Hop Trefoil, Black Medic and Field Scabious.
Fluttering amongst the flowers plenty of Marbled White butterflies to keep me amused, the black and white chessboard markings making a super contrast against the mass of Wild Carrot. Meanwhile the dark edging of the Gatekeeper was looking perfect when they basked on the leaves of Black Bryony
Overhead the screeching sound of a Peregrine as it soared above, the body seemed to me chunky in shape, when seen again later, stationary as it perched, the striped chest was easily visible.
Near the Castle a flash of brown spotted, turning I was able to admire the small furry Weasel which was bounding speedily across the ground in front of me, about the size of a long sausage is how I describe it!
On the purple flowers of the Buddleia, a Humming-bird Hawkmoth was probing for nectar, its long proboscis aiming unerringly into the centre of every one of the tiny flowers, quite fascinating to watch. As it hovered the almost orange undersides showing up amidst the blurr of wings.