A report of a damaged gate provided the direction for this morning’s walk, as I headed out across the meadows the wonderful patches of Black Knapweed were providing a purple shimmer, while the white mass of Wild Carrot is probably the most abundant flower at the moment.
Emerging from the midst of the field were 6 Skylarks, one of which hovered and then disappeared back down again carrying food in its beak – just a reminder that these amazing birds, may still have chicks in the nests on the ground – so please avoid disturbing them by keeping you and your dogs to the paths.
Swooping overhead a few Swallows, in silhouette, unless they came low when the deep blue colours could be seen.
Lots of seeds now in the fields and a flock of finches was enjoying the feast, as Greenfinches (the flash of greeny-yellow on the wing), Goldfinches flash of bright yellow on the wing) and Linnets (white stripes on the wing).
Emerging behind me was a female Roe Deer a lovely pale chestnut colour, despite this surprisingly well camouflaged against the brown backdrop of grasses.
Most unusual to see Sloes on the Blackthorn already, these bluish fruits are not normally seem in July, the old folklore was that they should only be picked after the first frost !!!
Moving around in the scrub a Common Whitethroat and a family of Stonechats – a chunkier shape than the sleek warbler.
On one of the fluffy purple tops of the Woolly Thistle was a Red-tailed Bumble Bee, while another of these magnificent plants was attracting a Marbled White to sit for a moment.
A Thick-kneed Flower Beetle (such a great name) wandering on the yellow flowers of Bristley Ox-tongue while orange Soldier Beetles patrolled the Widl Parsnip. Across the grass aiming for the Lady’s Bedstraw was a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the twinkling green stars as female Glow-worms (actually another beetle) attempted to attract a male.