A busy early start to the day, with a collapsed gate post (and therefore gate), a check on the cattle to find they have chewed through the water pipe (got wet while fixing!), otherwise the Herefords are doing a good job grazing the Tor Grass, amongst other species.
As I moved the fallen gate off the path, a flock of Goldfinches were twittering, their gold wings markings flashing as they moved, catching my attention.
The ‘wheezing’ sound of Greenfinches came from the Elder bush, a different yellow coloured wing marking from the Goldfinch.
A patch of Enchanter’s Nightshade along the path, delicate white flowers in a straggly spike. Alongside the Lords and Ladies have many dark green seeds.
A short search for the elusive Down Bug amongst the Bastard Toadflax, not spotted today - but was earlier in the week, but this small beetle is hosted by this small white flowered plant, its red larvae feeding on it.
Despite the dry weather many flowers are still to be enjoyed including the bright purple Knapweeds – both Greater and Lesser blooming across the meadows, as it Wild Carrot, Fleabane and Field Scabious. The shorter and I would say slightly darker, Small Scabious also in flower, as is Tufted Vetch, Lucerne and the many small delicate four-petalled yellow Lady’s Bedstraw.
Tall spikes of Agrimony, many of the flowers beginning to turn to seed, and will be grabbing hold with their velcro like hooks as your socks or dogs walk by!
The vetch Tall Meliot is now in bloom while the shorter Dyer’s Greenweed have all but gone over, the large seed pods ripening well.
Back to the walling centre to meet the stone delivery, which will help the volunteers to rebuild one of the nearby dry-stone walls – they come along every Thursday