I began by exploring the wildlife garden pond having been drawn in by the Broad-bodied Chaser (blue body) that basked upon the fence. Underwater was an inch-long Newt nymph. A Freshwater snail was inverted hanging from the surface tension of the water. Another pair of these conical shelled molluscs were mating. Still below the surface a Water Boatman “rowed” whilst a Pond-skater negotiated the surface. I manage to see that at least one Damselfly nymph had emerged from the water, but weather it was the empty skin or the living insect on the stem of emergent vegetation I could not tell. I saw what I believed to have been a Blue Tailed Damselfly pass over the pond. A Green Woodpecker was only heard.
It is the Big Butterfly Count time (https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/) and in the garden there were six Marbled White, three Ringlets, three Gatekeepers, a Speckled Wood and so many Skippers that confused me! I disturbed a Roe Deer that it crashed through scrub until it emerged onto one of the Bird Ringing rides. A Six Spot Burnet Moth was active whilst a Buff Tailed Bumble Bee visited Bittersweet flowers. A Wayfaring Tree held leaves large than my hand! Amongst the familiar flowers I spotted St. John’s Wort in bloom.
I head off to the Goat Plot passing Rest Harrow, Wild Thyme and Eyebright amongst Rabbit grazed grass. I was to see a pair of Six Spot Burnet Moths mating end to end. It was hot in the Goat Plot as the sun was reflected off the sea. Here there were two Meadow Browns, eleven Marbled Whites and Skippers of course. I heard the striation of Grasshoppers when they rubbed their rear legs against part of their wings. One of these short antennae insects was a Meadow Grasshopper. Reptile sheet 1 was cool to the touch such that a Garden Snail clung to its underside.
A pair of Swallows flew over Goat Plot whilst boats headed west. A Carrion Crow called prior to perching upon the lowest Mile Marker. A trio of Jackdaws perch upon one of the Lighthouse outbuilding. Woodpigeon were occasionally seen. It was already hot reading 21.7c, however, our maximum temperature so far was on 15th July.