Beneath the carpet of cloud there was great visibility to the Isle of Wight, whilst the vegetation beneath wore a light dew. My first encounter being a House Sparrow amongst the wildlife garden hedgerow. Amongst the cover there were “fried egg” like Wild Rose flowers. My footprints were left in a patch of damp clay. Visiting Bittersweet flowers was a Bumblebee as a Blackbird rested in an Ash tree.
From Buys Brigade I heard a Song Thrush but saw a good triangle of Hay Rattle and my first Knapweed and Ragwort flowers of the year. I was soothed by the melodic calls of Wood Pigeon and Herring Gulls. Just outside the Large Copse fresh Sycamore masts had developed whilst the flowers withered away. Under the woodland canopy Garlic Mustard flowers had converted, mostly, to needle like seed pods. Within the adjoining paddock hedge white flowers of Privet had emerged. Plenty of small tight sloe decorated the Blackthorn. Adders Tongue fern was difficult to find as plenty of Fleabane leaves and a variety of vetch growth had developed. My year’s first Grasshopper instar passed. It would need to grow and shed its skin several times before I would be able to identify it! Tiny Quaking Grassing seed “lanterns” lived up to their name. Skylark song was occasionally punctuated by bleating Sheep. In Saxon fresh shiny Black Bryony leaves clambers over dead Blackberry stems. It was a delight to find some more Bee Orchids amongst the bounty of Common Spotted Orchids.
Lady’s Bedstraw was out beside the drove. In Johnston Meadow I spotted a one Meadow Brown on the wing. One Common Broomrape stem stood near to where a Skylark took flight from. Both the cockcrow of a Pheasant and Chiff Chaff calls reached my ears.
Along the gully I was delighted to see the “lemon & custard” flowers of Common Toadflax. A pair of Bullfinches were spotted as they exchanged nest duties. Another pair was that of Stonechats. Offshore the sea was calm as both coaster brand “MM” and one Gannet headed towards the Solent.