A Green Woodpecker called loudly as it took off from the Yellow Meadow Ant hill where it had been probing for the occupants. This hill showing a wonderful variety of wildflowers including a mat of the small purple Wild Thyme.
From amongst the grasses in the meadows, the chirping of the Meadow Grasshoppers could be heard, on looking closely these short-winged grasshoppers spotted in a variety of colours – including green, brown and pink!
A movement from the Wild Clematis in the hedgerow drew my attention, and the huge – well 3” long – Great Green Bush-cricket walked across the leaf. The wings striking out behind the body as it moved. Seeing this reminded me to look for other orthoptera, and Field Grasshopper, Striped-winged Grasshopper, Long-winged Conehead, Dark Bush-cricket, Grey Bush-cricket and the recently arrived Roesel’s Bush-cricket were found without much trouble.
Butterflies galore, particularly Gatekeepers, a quick count of 35 within 5 meters, some in flight, others basking wings open on the leaves of Ivy, Black Bryony and Bramble.
Another brood of Small Blues in flight these tiny butterflies look blue and grey while when perched they are dark brown. Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Ringlets also to be spotted.
The final Guillemots are still on the cliffs, just four adults remain with 3 chicks, these have managed against the odds to get to fledging age – the youngest hatching 16 days ago. A relief so far, as it is unusual for such late hatchers to escape being meals for Herring Gulls.
On a straggly Hawthorn were 4 Skylarks, the dark streaks on the necks contrasting with the pale bellies. It been a good year for Skylarks, with singing throughout and these superb birds occupying many of the meadows – thank you for keeping to the paths, it really helps their success.