A glorious morning, with very warm sunshine and a gentle easterly breeze.
Off to the downland to check on the herd of Hereford cattle, but lots to admire on the way beginning with the wonderful song of a Skylark, accompanied by a Meadow Pipit and Chiffchaff. A burst of tunes from the Chaffinch alongside the lovely tinkling of a Goldfinch.
Fluttering just above the mass of grasses was a Dark Green Fritillary, the large size and orange (not green) colour making me see it, before it landed on the purple flower of a Greater Knapweed, this allowed a really close up look at the wonderful markings.
Many other species also in flight including Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper and Small Blue.
Taking off from the path ahead of me was a Green Woodpecker, the flash of yellow and green, this bird had been probing, with its exceptionally long tongue, one of the many Yellow Meadow Ant hills we have on the Park.
The seabird numbers are dwindling, with only a few Guillemots remaining on the lower cliff ledge. These are the latest breeders and have about 7 chicks between them, hopefully if all these adults stay around the chicks (the youngest just 6 days old) will be able to fledge. This will take just over another week – fingers crossed.
A juvenile Greater Black-blacked Gull standing alongside its parent on Tilly Whim and a young Shag stood nearby.
A wonderful display of flowers on the downs with Restharrow, Squinancywort, Eyebright, Common Centaury alongside the yellow and brown Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Standing on a mound was a female Roe Deer, alongside was its youngster.